PGN Dec. 9 - 15, 2016 by The Philadelphia Gay News

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

Vol. 40 No. 50 Dec. 9-15, 2016

Family Portrait: Jermel Johnson’s graceful moves PAGE 31

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

PA media group files brief in Morris case

Holiday happenings in the Philly metro area

Person of interest sought in letter-bomb crime

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PAGE 23

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Another gay-bashing defendant raises self-defense claim

PA judge hears arguments on trans students’ restroom case

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com A national LGBT legal organization argued last week that a Pennsyvlania school district should suspend a policy forcing transgender students to use school restrooms matching their biological sex. Attorneys from Lambda Legal and those representing Pine-Richland School District presented arguments Dec. 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Lambda filed a lawsuit in the fall on behalf of three transgender students — identified in court papers as Juliet, Elissa and A.S. — after the school board voted 5-4 in September to reverse its longstanding practice of allowing students to use the bathroom consistent with their gender identities. “What we want is for the policy to not be enforced as the case is moving forward and that’s the nature of our request and what’s currently before the court,” Lambda Legal staff attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan told PGN. Judge Mark Hornak did not release a timeline for when he would rule on the district’s motion for dismissing the suit nor on Lambda Legal’s request for the policy to be lifted immediately. “The passage of this fearbased policy sent a terrible message to the whole school community that marked Juliet, Elissa and A.S. as students who are different and somehow not worthy of a safe and equal PAGE 19 learning envi-

EDUCATION IN MOTION: Members of the LGBT employee-resource group at Campbell’s networked with attendees at Mütter Museum’s World AIDS Day event Dec. 3, which Campbell’s sponsored. About 85 people received rapid HIV tests by Bebashi: Transition to Hope, with each person tested receiving a free ticket to the museum. The event featured educational and art displays focused on the history of the disease and the importance of testing, with a focus on reducing stigma. Photo: Scott A. Drake

There was a flurry of legal filings last month in the federal suit against three people accused of physically and verbally attacking a gay couple in Center City. Kevin Harrigan, Philip Williams and Kathryn Knott are the subjects of a civil suit by Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught, who contend the trio hurled antigay slurs while physically assaulting them in September 2014 at 16th and Chancellor streets. Investigators maintain Harrigan directed an antigay comment at the couple and then pushed Hesse, prompting Hesse to shove Harrigan back, who they say then punched Hesse multiple times.

Prosecutors say Williams “bum rushed” Haught after someone in the group exclaimed that Haught hit one of the females in the group, and Knott struck Hesse. In a filing Nov. 11, an attorney for Harrigan argued his client acted in self-defense during the melee. Harrigan “was in the process of defending himself from the real and perceived threat of bodily injury arising from the actions” of the plaintiffs, Harrigan’s attorney, William Barrett wrote. If the plaintiffs suffered injuries, they “were caused or contributed to by conditions or persons over whom defendant had no control and for which defendant is not responsible,” Barrett said, adding that any damages and PAGE 21

ACT UP Philly member arrested in World AIDS Day protest By Jeremy Rodriguez Jeremy@epgn.com An ACT UP Philadelphia member was arrested Dec. 1 while protesting in Washington, D.C. Jose DeMarco was among 10 HIV/AIDS activists who were detained at 2:30 p.m. while protesting Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s and Chairman of the House Budget Committee Tom Price’s plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to a tweet posted by Health Global Access Project, DeMarco said as he was arrested, “In 2016 we should not be here still fighting for things we’ve already won.” “MediCare, MedicAid and the ACA are the difference between life and death for millions of Americans with HIV,” DeMarco said in a statement released prior to the protest, held in conjunction with World AIDS Day. “Paul Ryan and Tom Price are planning to pull the rug out from under us, but we’re not going to let that happen.” DeMarco said the protesters approached Ryan’s office armed with alarm clocks, which

they gave to Ryan’s staff after requesting to speak with him. “We got in and then the staffers came out to the door,” DeMarco said. “We handed them alarm clocks and told them to wake up [and to] tell Paul Ryan to wake up. These cuts are going to kill us.” DeMarco said the staff stated they could only deliver the protesters’ message and the demonstrators linked arms and sat on the ground as a form of protest. The action lasted for about 10 minutes prior to the arrests. “There are racist, homophobic bigots that are going to make people’s lives miserable and cause sickness and cause death,” DeMarco said. “That’s actually what I was thinking about when they locked me up.” ACT UP Philadelphia held a meeting Dec. 5 at The Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany to discuss the protest and the needs of the HIV/AIDS community in the incoming presi-

dential administration. Other organizations involved in the protest were African Services Committee, ACT UP New York, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), DC Fights Back, Health GAP, National Nurses United (NNU), the Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC), the Treatment Action Group (TAG), Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) and VOCAL New York. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

LOCAL PGN

State news-media association files brief in Morris case By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association this week filed an amicus brief in support of a lower-court order recognizing the certification of a police-dispatch record associated with the Nizah Morris incident. PNA was founded in 1925 and represents more than 300 news-media outlets across the state. PGN has been a member of the association since 1987. Morris was an AfricanAmerican trans woman found with a fatal head wound in 2002, shortly after a “courtesy ride” from Officer Elizabeth Skala in the Gayborhood. Her homicide remains unsolved. Inexplicably, Skala initiated a traffic stop while assigned to respond to Morris, who was intoxicated. Last year, PGN requested from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office a certified copy of computer-aided dispatch records for Skala’s traffic stop.

In June, Common Pleas Judge Linda A. Carpenter ruled the D.A.’s Office certified an incomplete dispatch record for Skala’s traffic stop as its only responsive record in a 2015 affidavit. The D.A.’s Office received the incomplete record from PGN in 2013. However, the D.A.’s Office refutes that its affidavit certified the record from PGN, and is appealing Carpenter’s ruling in Commonwealth Court. PNA’s brief urges Commonwealth Court to uphold Carpenter’s ruling. “PNA files amicus briefs in cases where the outcome could affect the news-media industry, particularly when the case involves a PNA member or impacts the media’s ability to gather news and report on it,” said Melissa B. Melewsky, PNA’s media-law counsel. “In this case, the certification requirement of the state’s Right-to-Know Law is at issue. The court’s holding has the potential to impact how this provision of the law is inter-

preted and applied by agencies throughout the commonwealth.” PGN’s appellee’s brief, filed on Nov. 30, maintains that if certification is revoked, the public won’t have sufficient proof that the D.A.’s Office doesn’t have a complete dispatch record for Skala’s traffic stop. PGN’s brief also notes the possibility that the D.A.’s Office engaged in “gamesmanship” when indicating in prior submissions that it was willing to certify dispatch records for Skala’s traffic stop. “Judge Carpenter’s ruling holds the DAO accountable for its obligations under the Right-to-Know Law to make a good-faith effort to locate a complete [dispatch record for Skala’s traffic stop],” PGN concluded in its brief. “Her ruling also addresses legitimate concerns that the DAO engaged in gamesmanship in response to multiple Right-to-Know Law requests for a complete [dispatch] record.” The D.A.’s Office has 14 days to file a reply brief. n

Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between Nov. 21-27. Information is courtesy of Sixth District Crime Analyst Officer Robert Savino. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice. com or call 215-686-TIPS. INCIDENTS — There were two thefts from parked vehicles reported Nov. 21-27: in the 1000 block of Spruce Street and 1000 block of Pine Street. — There was one theft of a bicycle reported Nov. 21-27: in the 1000 block of Pine Street. ARRESTS — At 4:40 a.m. Nov. 21, Sixth District Officer Ticcino issued a citation to a 28-year-old man for trespassing on the property of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 900 Walnut St. — At 9:20 p.m. Nov. 22, Sixth District Officers Gable and Teetz arrested a 34-year-old man in the 1300 block of Walnut Street who has a warrant out for allegedly vandalizing Philadelphia Police motorcycles outside the Lowes Hotel on a prior date. — At 4:20 p.m. Nov. 23, officers from the Service Detail arrested a 28-year-old man outside 1101 Market St. for a probation violation. — At 3 a.m. Nov. 24, Sixth District Officer Thornton issued a summary citation to a 29-year-old man in the 200 block of South 13th Street for being intoxicated in public. Thornton also transported the man to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for treatment for intoxication. n

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

News & Opinion

10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Transmissions Mark My Words Street Talk 12 — News Briefing

Columns

19 — Out Money: Where there’s a will ... 20 — Thinking Queerly: Resiliency in a Trump era

Arts & Culture

23 — Feature: Holiday happenings 31 — Family Portrait 32 — Out & About 35 — Scene in Philly 36 — Comic 38 — Q Puzzle

SIREN SONG: Drag entertainer Cherry Pop hosted and performed at the fourth-annual “Code Red: Breaking the Silence” event Dec. 3. The fundraising show is held each year to commemorate World AIDS Day and moved to TLA for the 2016 event. The production raised $16,000 through ticket sales, raffles and tips, which will go to Mazzoni Center and AIDS Fund. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Creep of the Week: Betsy DeVos, whose white privilege extends beyond race.

PGN 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506 Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com

Publisher Mark Segal (ext. 204) mark@epgn.com

The latest William Way archives exhibit tells the story of gay coffeehouses of years past.

Editor

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

Advertising Manager Greg Dennis (ext. 201) greg@epgn.com

Advertising Sales Representative Prab Sandhu (ext. 212) prab@epgn.com Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com

Tribe of Fools strips Christmas down to its bare essentials.

Art Director/ Photographer

Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com 267-736-6743 Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com

Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America

“I knew it would be a rich experience to recreate the coffeehouse physically and to tell the different stories of the people who performed there. Even though it was just called the gay coffeehouse, it was meant to encompass everything.” ~ John Anderies, William Way archivist and curator for the gay coffeehouse exhibit, page 15

“The Nutcracker” returns for its traditional stage spectacular.

Copyright © 1976 - 2016 Copyright(s) in all materials in these pages are either owned or licensed by Masco Communications Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliate companies (Philadelphia Gay News, PGN, and it’s WWW sites.) All other reproduction, distribution, retransmission, modification, public display, and public performance of our materials is prohibited without the prior written consent of Masco Communications. To obtain such consent, email pgn@epgn.com Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 1976-2016 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155

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

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

Person of interest, reward announced in letter-bombing case By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Investigators have zeroed in on a person of interest connected to the letter bombing that severely injured a Center City gay man. At a joint news conference Dec. 1 of the Philadelphia Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI, investigators released surveillance stills captured of the person they say placed an explosive package outside Jim Alden’s apartment last month. The individual was described as Asian and could range in age from late teens to early 30s. Though investigators used male pronouns, they acknowledged they are not certain of the person’s sex. The individual was carrying a duffle bag and wearing a baseball cap and a dark hat with flaps, which they said suggested an attempt to mask the identity, as well as a blue jacket, blue jeans and white sneakers. To view the video, visit www.you-

JIM

tube.com/watch?v=cLNpR2qaZ6s&feature=youtu.be. Anonymous tips can be made by calling 215-686-TIPS. Investigators first captured the person on surveillance at Seventh and Pine streets and at several points on the route to Alden’s building at 18th and Pine. The package was placed at the residence around 9:30 p.m. Nov. 20. Alden was on vacation and didn’t return until the early-morning hours of Nov. 22, at which point he opened the package, which he believed contained his asthma medication, in his kitchen. The package was rigged to explode when the flap was opened, and Alden suffered wounds from shrapnel to his chest, face and hands, and lost parts of two fingers.

Investigators said they are certain Alden was targeted, as the package was addressed to him, but they have not determined a motive. Alden was shown the surveillance video and stills and does not recognize the individual, investigators said, nor has an idea of who could have targeted him. The possibility of this being an antigay hate crime was raised at the news conference, and Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan emphasized that investigators continue to pursue all leads. ALDEN “Our minds continue to be open,” he said. Investigators also announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. “This device was a very dangerous device. It was a destructive device. It caused significant injury to the person and it could have resulted in death,” Sullivan said. “So obviously we’re taking this very seriously.” A friend of Alden set up a crowdfunding site to help with his medical bills and loss of income during his recuperation (www. youcaring.com/jimalden-700809). More than 400 donors have contributed, with more than $24,000 collected by presstime. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

LOCAL PGN

Creating Change offers free conference attendance and networking to volunteers By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com The Creating Change host committee is looking for volunteers for the National LGBTQ Task Force’s annual conference, which will be held at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Jan. 18-22. Interested participants will have the opportunity to attend portions of the conference free of charge and to network with other attendees. As of presstime, the committee needs 150 volunteers for daily operations and 30 volunteers for community housing. Anyone over age 16 who lives in or within close proximity to Philadelphia can register as a volunteer on Creating Change’s website. A one-hour orientation program will allow participants to sign up for shifts on a first-come, first-serve basis. These sessions will be held noon-6 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Creating Change co-chair Aneesah Smith said many people “have misconceptions of what it means to volunteer for Creating Change,” such as believing they have to attend all five days of the conference. This is not the case, Smith noted. Instead, they sign

up for a minimum shift of four hours on the day of their choice. When participants aren’t working their shifts, they can attend workshops at the conference for the remainder of the day with no charge. “What they’re getting is a full day of the conference, which is almost about $200 a day,” Smith said. Additionally, volunteers can provide no-cost housing options for conference attendees. Interested participants can fill out a form on which they answer questions such as the type of sleeping space they are willing to provide, how many people they are willing to host and whether they are willing to provide transportation to guests. There are also questions related to pets and smoking. While there is no compensation for participating hosts, Smith said the option provides good connections. “Folks that need the housing are very grateful for the opportunity and have a great deal of respect for their hosts,” Smith said. “It sometimes ends up with really good friendships that people make [with each other].” The National LGBTQ Task Force enforces its policies on sexual harassment, underage drinking and drug use

on community-housing participants. Smith said the program has been successful in past years, but said there are other ways to participate, such as presenting a donation to put conference attendees in a nearby hostel. “[Some people may say], ‘This doesn’t really feel good to me — hosting someone in my personal home — but I’d still love to give back,’” Smith said. “So there are other ways that they can help people with housing if they can’t open up their own home.” In addition to a “thank you” dinner being held a few weeks after Creating Change, Smith mentioned the positive aspects of volunteering. “I think what people ultimately get out of [the experience] is witnessing a community of almost 4,000 LGBTQ people and their allies and how we come together to celebrate,” Smith said. “Creating Change is such a great conference. There’s none like it in the world that brings together this many people.” To volunteer for daily Creating Change Conference operations, visit http://bit.ly/volunteerCC17. To volunteer as a community-housing host, visit http://ngltf.convio.net/ site/Survey. n

THAT’S A WRAP: Stella D’Oro stepped into the spotlight during “Santa Baby” in the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus holiday concert last weekend at Prince Theater. “All Wrapped Up” featured holiday classics along with favorites from the chorus’ last 35 years. The Saturday matinee had to be postponed a few hours as the theater, and much of Center City, lost power due to a PECO issue. Photo: Patrick Hagerty

We’re celebrating pride. Today and tomorrow. At PECO, we’re committed to LGBT inclusion and equality. That’s because we believe that working with individuals with different perspectives and backgrounds drives some of the most powerful outcomes. It’s just one reason why the Exelon family of companies was recently recognized with the “2016 Corporate Equality Index Best Place to Work for LGBT Employees” award. But it’s not about the recognition. It’s about celebrating pride. Today and tomorrow. Learn more at peco.com

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LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

Philly companies scored on LGBT equality By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Six Philadelphia companies earned a repeat perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual ranking of companies on their LGBT policies and programs. HRC released its annual Corporate Equality Index this week, with 517 of the 887 companies evaluated earning a perfect score. Philadelphia companies earning a 100 were Aramark; Blank Rome, LLP; Comcast NBC Universal; Dechert, LLP; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP; and Pepper Hamilton, LLP. All of them also scored a 100 on last year’s CEI. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia was the city’s only new company to join the list, earning a 70. Five Philly businesses reported increases from last year’s scores: • Ballard Sphar, LLP: 95 (85 last year) • Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: 95 (80) • Duane Morris: 95 (85) • Saul Ewing: 95 (85)

• Urban Outfitters: 85 (10) Pep Boys stayed steady at 45, and Crown Holdings continued with a 0. The average score for the 45 Pennsylvania companies that were rated was an 80. “Even in the face of relentless attempts to undermine equality, America’s leading companies and law firms remain steadfast and committed to supporting and defending the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people,” said HRC president Chad Griffin. “The unprecedented expansion of inclusive workplaces across the country and around the globe not only reflects our progress, it helps drive it. As we enter a new chapter in our fight for equality, support from the business community will be more critical than ever to protect our historic advancements over the last decade and to continue to push equality forward for workers, customers and families around the world.” To see the full report, view www.hrc. org/cei. n

Former high-school coach sues archdiocese for $5 million By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com John P. Duffy, a former baseball coach at Pope John Paul II High School, is suing the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for $5 million, claiming he can’t find another coaching job after archdiocese officials allegedly insinuated that he engaged in unspecified criminal behavior. The suit, filed in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court earlier this year, accuses various archdiocese officials of defamation, civil conspiracy and other wrongdoing. The high school is located in Royersford, and Duffy served as its head baseball coach from January-November 2014. Duffy’s suit contends that after his contract wasn’t renewed, archdiocese officials insinuated to numerous parents that he had a criminal past. Duffy doesn’t have a criminal past, yet officials conveyed to parents that he engaged in unspecified “heinous” and “untoward” conduct, according to the suit. According to the suit, archdiocese officials told Duffy’s supporters: “With all we know about Coach Duffy, I can’t believe any parent would want him to coach their son,” and “If you know what we know, you’d see it our way.” Duffy cleared state and federal background checks, including a state Department of Public Welfare background check for child abuse, according to the suit. Duffy, 43, was a popular coach who was dedicated to the betterment of his players, according to the suit. After his con-

tract wasn’t renewed, several protests were held, and more than 300 students signed a petition to get him retained. But a school administrator would only tell Duffy that officials “wanted to take the baseball program in a different direction and it was in the best interest of [the school],” according to the suit. In defense papers, archdiocese officials denied defaming Duffy and/or engaging in a civil conspiracy. They said Duffy became involved in a dispute with a baseball umpire in May 2014 and “aggressively bumped his chest into the umpire to intimidate him.” Duffy was suspended for the next four games, and attended anger-management classes. However, defense papers don’t give a specific reason for the non-renewal of Duffy’s contract. For his part, Duffy denied initiating physical contact with the umpire and said his discipline was unjust and excessive, according to the suit. Kenneth A. Gavin, an archdiocese spokesperson, had no comment for this story. When Duffy’s departure was announced in 2014, Gavin issued this statement: “Pope John Paul II High School is grateful for [Duffy’s] service and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.” The case is in the discovery phase. Last week, Duffy’s attorneys received hundreds of documents from the archdiocese. A jury trial tentatively is set for 10 a.m. June 5, 2017, in Courtroom 483 of City Hall, with Common Pleas Judge John M. Younge presiding. n

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Project TEACH celebrates 20th anniversary by honoring past graduates By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com When Asha Molock was diagnosed with HIV in 2001, she did not know anything about Philadelphia FIGHT and its educational program, Project TEACH (Treatment Education Activists Combating HIV). While receiving care at Lankenau Hospital in 2002, Molock heard about the program from another person who was also HIV-positive. Molock enrolled in a class to learn more about being a peer educator for others living with HIV/AIDS. “Walking in the doors of Philadelphia FIGHT, I just felt like I could let my guard down in the classroom,” the 66-year-old said. “We share the same experiences. It was like family to me. I felt very comfortable there.” Project TEACH will celebrate its 20th anniversary Dec. 9 with an awards luncheon. For two decades, the program has provided information about activism, health care and prevention to individuals with HIV/AIDS. Since its launch in 1996, TEACH has graduated more than 3,000 students from its classes, which run twice a week for eight weeks. The program eventually expanded to include different tiers in addition to the original Project TEACH. This includes TEACH Outside, Latino TEACH, Women’s TEACH, Youth TEACH, Frontline TEACH and Faithful TEACH. Each program includes varying class lengths and missions. The anniversary celebration will feature a member of each class being honored for their commitment to TEACH’s mission. Molock, a 2002 graduate of the original Project TEACH, will be among the seven recognized graduates. Molock said TEACH taught her how to read her lab reports, something she didn’t understand prior to taking classes. “When you go to the doctor’s office, you don’t know anything about what’s going on and they don’t really have the time to sit down and explain it to you. You don’t really know what questions to ask,” Molock said. “From the information that I got from Project TEACH, I was able to have a conversation with my doctor and I noticed she started treating me differently when she found out I had information.” Molock recalled one particular lesson she learned about medications from Project TEACH. After one of her medications gave her nightmares as a side effect, Molock’s doctor tried to change

up her regimen. Rather than do a trial-and-error process with new medicine, Molock asked for a phenotype test so the doctors could test her resistance to different medications. Molock learned about this test from TEACH. “I was empowered by [TEACH] to be more proactive in my health care and to be more meaningfully involved because when you can sit down and talk to your doctor about what you learned, they actually involve you more in your care,” Molock said. Since graduating from TEACH, Molock has written a book called “Gaining Strength from Weakness: 101 Positive Thoughts for HIV Positive

“When you go to the doctor’s office, you don’t know anything about what’s going on and they don’t really have the time to sit down and explain it to you. You don’t really know what questions to ask. From the information that I got from Project TEACH, I was able to have a conversation with my doctor and I noticed she started treating me differently when she found out I had information.” People.” This book began as messages she wrote to herself and stuck on her mirror. FIGHT, which Molock acknowledged in the front of her book, will give out the book at the luncheon. FIGHT executive director Jane Shull refers to TEACH as the “heart and soul of FIGHT.” “It feels really good that we’ve been able to do it for this long and keep it going,” Shull said. “People still want to come so it means we’ve managed to stay relevant after all of these years.” Molock said being in this community is “empowering” and helps break any internal stigma. “My hope is that Project TEACH will always be there for other men and women who continue to need support in the future,” Molock said. n

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EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Betsy DeVos

Editorial

Discrimination doesn’t pay With Trumpocalypse a few weeks away, it may be tempting to assume, rightfully so, that the new administration will be tone-deaf to progressive causes. However, we have to hang onto a glimmer of hope that someone — anyone — who has the ear of the president-elect and his top advisors will understand the reality that marginalizing LGBT Americans is not a smart move. To support that notion, all they have to do is look to North Carolina. Election Day was a boon for the Republican Party in the South, as the Trump victory swept the GOP into state offices and to greater majorities in legislatures. But, one office that withstood the GOP wave was the North Carolina governor’s seat. A month after Election Day, incumbent Republican Gov. Pat McCrory finally conceded to Democrat Roy Cooper. Pundits squarely put McCrory’s loss in his championing of HB 2, controversial legislation that forces transgender individuals to use restrooms and facilities that match their birth-assigned sex and strips locallevel LGBT-nondiscrimination protections. It was blasted as the most anti-LGBT measure in the nation — and not only made McCrory the target of LGBT and progressive organizing, but also fostered strong pushback from the corporate sector. Businesses pulled investments from the state, and even the National Collegiate Athletic Association yanked its championship games. The wallet of North Carolina took a hit but the real impact of McCrory’s efforts to codify LGBT discrimination weren’t realized until Election Day (or four weeks later, when he finally threw the towel in). Even though a majority of the state voted for Trump, they still sent a decisive message with their votes for Cooper that oppressing LGBT people is not going to cut it in 2016. Trump’s victory dealt a serious blow to the optimism many in the LGBT community had grown accustomed to from having an LGBT-supportive president for the past eight years. But Cooper’s victory is the shining beacon we all need right now. North Carolina went red. It’s a largely rural, middle-class state, Trump’s bread and butter. But still, its voters took a stand against a politician who sought to use his position to restrict rights. Politicians generally have a self-serving nature, and Trump fits that mold to a T. If he’s smart (?), he’ll recognize McCrory’s missteps and not make the same ones himself — or let those under his purview do the same. n

We want to know!

School sux, amirite, guys? Pencils, books, LGBT folks. In teachers’ dirty looks. Ugh. Who needs it? 2004, Betsy and her I mean, the very idea of public education husband Dick were funded by tax dollars sprang from the mind major players in the of some lunatic named Thomas Jefferson, successful effort to who I’m pretty sure is best known for “mov- get an antigay-maring on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky.” riage amendment Not to mention public education’s biggest into Michigan’s flaw: It isn’t driven by profit. I mean, who constitution. They is getting rich off of this scheme? And if donated $200,000 to nobody’s getting rich, then what’s the point? the effort. Which is why I’m so excited that Donald The DeVos family Trump has tapped Betsy DeVos, super-mega has given lots of money to rabidly antigay zillionaire and major hater of public schools, groups like the National Organization for to head the Department of Education. Marriage, Focus on the Family, Heritage Now, if you live in Michigan, you probFoundation and the Family Research ably already know DeVos (not personally, Council, of which Betsy’s father is a foundbecause you are probably a peasant she’d ing member. never talk to). The DeVos family fortune The reason why the “public” part of educomes from Amway, the direct-marketing cation is so crucial is that it is supposed to company that hawks vitamins, make-up and be free for all children. Dismantling the pubhousehold-cleaning agents. You know, that lic-school system would mean leaving the shit your crazy cousin sells and is always most vulnerable to fend for themselves. And trying to get you to sell too, but insists is not LGBT students are in that category. “True educational equity requires schools a pyramid scheme. The DeVos family, which basically owns that serve the most at-risk students, includthe GOP in Michigan, has been kicking pub- ing students of color; students with disabillic education in the groin for years in the ities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Great Lakes State, queer and/or quespushing for pubtioning students; and The DeVos family fortune English-language lic-education dollars to be funneled into learners,” GLSEN comes from Amway, the religious, charter and executive director direct-marketing comfor-profit schools Eliza Byard said in a instead. Betsy and her pany that hawks vitamins, statement. “Vouchers family are big fans of and tuition-tax credvouchers, which par- make-up and houseits do not advance ents could use toward hold-cleaning agents. You this cause. As we tuition at a school have seen over the that won’t teach your know, that shit your crazy past eight years, fedkid to read, but will civil-rights overcousin sells and is always eral teach your kid that sight of education is Jesus used to ride on essential to ensure trying to get you to sell dinosaurs. that all students in too, but insists is not a But why do so this country have many right-wing con- pyramid scheme. real access to opporservatives hate pubtunity.” lic school so much? DeVos claims Because public school is the perfect mix of she wants all kids to have a good educaright-wing triggers like government (always tion. Unfortunately, what she’s unleashed in incompetent!), taxes (always bad!), unions Michigan is absolutely not accomplishing (always thugs!), thinking (always dangerthat. ous!) and the separation of church and state But hey, maybe DeVos won’t totally stran(not a thing!). gle public schools and squash all efforts to Not to mention the fact that the federal make life easier and education better for gov’ment wants to protect LGBTQ kids. LGBT students. Unfortunately, the signs are The Education Department’s Office of Civil bad at this point. n Rights under President Obama is doing D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian things like fighting anti-LGBT discriminaliving in Michigan with her wife and son. She tion and advocating that trans students be has been writing about LGBT politics for over a treated like human beings. decade. Follow her on Twitter Now, DeVos is not such a big fan of @MamaDWitkowski.

If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community. Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.

OP-ED PGN

Youthful optimism First, let me say what this column is not This column was written with two people about. in mind: Tony Russomanno and Mark Horn. One of my closeted friends who has been About six months after the Stonewall riots, totally outraged by the election just dropped and as a part of Gay Liberation Front in New off at the PGN office a bundle of hats embroi- York, we created the nation’s first LGBT dered on the front with the slogan “Make youth organization, Gay Youth. We called ourAmerican Smart Again.” Many of selves G.Y. for short. Our mission us are angry and President-Elect then was to reach out to young Donald Trump’s choices for the gay people — and at that time, new government are making us 99.9 percent of LGBT youth were nervous, but let’s bottle that anger in the closet; they had to be — for when it will need to be used. and explain that there was hope That time will come only if our in the future and a community for rights or those of any Americans them. are infringed upon. We need to Our fliers clearly stated that conserve our angst in order to our goals were both political fight. With that, let me give you a and social. We even surprised little hope. our older comrades in the Gay Thanks to two events this week, Liberation Front with our media the future looks a little brighter to outreach directed at LGBT youth. me. The first was the Philadelphia We went on radio and even TV Gay Men’s Chorus annual holiday shows. We also were the first concert. At the pre-concert party, Mark Segal LGBT organization to speak at a PGMC leaders talked about the high school — and if you want organization’s outreach program, in which to see how far this community has come, all the members of the group perform at area you have to note is how that high school we schools. Members then read letters they had visited in Oceanside, Long Island, reacted to received from young, closeted students who our talk. One of my mementos of those days were in their audiences about how the simple is a copy of the Spider Press, the newspaper act of out gay men singing at their school had of Oceanside High School. There on the cover given them courage to come out or a vision is a picture of Russomanno and myself with of a possible future. One of the students the headline, “Gay Activist Lecture: They Are actually got on stage at the PGMC event and Not Neurotic.” After all, it was Oct. 23, 1970. To witness the modern outreach to LGBT explained how the group’s visit to her school youth, one of the most endangered segments had changed her life. It was a touching tribof our community, makes me proud and ute that showed how one organization can thankful to our community organizations that change perceptions for the next generation and empower them with positive role models. understand the needs of LGBT youth and Later in the week, The Attic Youth Center try to make their lives a little easier. They’re sent five interns to the PGN office to learn showing them, and us, that the future is more about how a newspaper works. Again bright. n these were high-school students. Their visit Mark Segal is the nation’s most-award-winning made me see how the simple act of commucommentator in LGBT media. His recently pubnication among our out community members lished memoir, “And Then I Danced,” is available and youth can and will make equality a realon Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or at your favority, and also give hope to young students. ite bookseller.

Mark My Words

Transmissions

Gwendolyn Ann Smith

Doing it for ourselves Our president-elect is stacking the deck against us — this, in spite of his claims that he would be a supporter of LGBT rights, and a past history of same. But it is more likely that the vice president-elect is the power behind this throne, and he has a long history of anti-LGBT actions, including taking money earmarked for HIV treatment and using it instead to fund life-destroying “conversion therapies.” The new cabinet includes Sen. Jeff Sessions, who wanted to see same-sex marriage barred under the constitution, and preferred that hate-crime bills do not include LGBT people. In the Department of Education, it’s GOP donor Betsy DeVos, who, like VP-elect Mike Pence, is an advocate for

conversion therapy. I doubt we’ll see the DOE do much to support trans students from here on out. And, a possibility in the Department of Homeland Security is Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke. There’s plenty one can say about him, but I’ll just leave this one quote from Clarke to make his views on people like me as clear as the finest crystal: “Folks, more evidence that transgender persons suffer from mental disorders more than physiological disorders,” Clarke said on his podcast, “The People’s Sheriff,” in June. “Too often in this assault on the First Amendment, and this very totalitarian attitude from the left that any freakish lifestyle, any marginal lifestyle, is now considered part of the norm, and they’re shoving it down our throats … If you’re

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

Street Talk What should be a priority for the city's Commission on LGBT Affairs? "Address LGBT-youth issues. Make sure there's an adequate safety net for LGBT youth in Philadelphia. If we can Erik Backlund provide social-science social researcher Gayborhood support for LGBT youth to help them avoid pitfalls such as substance abuse, homelessness and sex work, all the better. Everyone benefits in society."

"I'm a musician. Why not turn the old Boy Scouts building into a creative outlet for the community? It could be an Kevin Minor art studio, student/musician a recording Society Hill studio, even a venue for large concerts. LGBT bands could perform. A lot of LGBT kids have an affinity for punk rock. That building could be a great venue for them to express themselves."

"I'm concerned about racism in the Gayborhood. The new commission should hold community forums aimed Frankie Rowles at ending, graphic designer or at least Gayborhood lessening, racism in the Gayborhood. It's a problem. The commission should make use of all forms of communication, including social media. I just want people to be nice to each other."

"Do whatever it can to stop the violence. No one should be victimized by violence simply because of their social Andrew Taitelman status. You accountant should be Fairmount able to be yourself, walk down the street and not worry about a physical altercation [with someone]. I hope the commission encourages law enforcement [officials] to help end these acts of violence."

not careful when you engage in this conversation, they’ll look for the trap, and they’ll catch you saying something that’s clumsy or not well-articulated, and then they’ll just attack you. They’ll attack you with it. ‘Transgender-phobic’ and all this other nonsense.” I don’t consider myself a pessimist, but I can feel a sense of creeping dread from these and other cabinet choices. That dread, I should note, goes far beyond just all-things-transgender, as I look at some of the most virulent racism, xenophobia and outright fascism that I’ve seen in all my years now moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. I truly worry just how bad things will get, and if we’ll survive long enough to steer this ship to calmer waters. What’s more, I’ve had to hear my

so-called allies on the left hand-wringing about trans rights, and trying to pin their failure to beat Donald J. Trump on myself and other transgender people. I refuse to be their scapegoat, but I know they’ll nevertheless be lukewarm at best when it comes to defending trans rights over the next few years. So I’m sure you can understand that I cannot help but envision all or most of the trans-rights gains we have seen over the last eight years crushed by this incoming administration in one way or another. With this is mind, I am now in the midst of getting my paperwork together for my passport. While I’ve been perfectly willing to skate along with little more than a driver’s license and Social-Security card declaring my correct PAGE 13

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

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News Briefing City Council passes diaper-changing bill On Dec. 1, Philadelphia City Council passed a bill requiring all publicly accessible restrooms in city-owned buildings to have diaper-changing tables. The vote was 16-0, with City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson absent. The bill was introduced by Councilmember Cindy Bass. Her senior policy advisor, Angela Bowie, said the diaper-changing tables will be installed in all men’s and women’s restrooms in city-owned buildings. The bill doesn’t affect private businesses. “Lots of stay-at-home dads are taking care of babies and traveling with babies,” Bowie told PGN. “They need places to change their babies’ diapers, just like moms do.” She said it may take about a year to install the tables. “There’s no deadline for the diaper-changing stations to be installed,” Bowie added. “It’s ongoing process that will continue as city buildings are upgraded and renovated.” Bowie also said Bass realizes that many stay-at-home dads are gay. “Obviously, Councilwoman Bass is a huge supporter of the LGBT community. And she would do anything to make sure there’s fairness and equity, particularly when it comes to all types of families.” In an email, Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for Mayor Kenney, said: “We support the bill and we will sign it.” — Timothy Cwiek

Humane League gala returns Animal lovers can celebrate efforts to end animal suffering at the Humane League’s annual gala. “The Humane League Gala: A Celebration for the Animals” will return to the Goldilocks Gallery, where guests can enjoy vegan appetizers and desserts, drinks, a silent auction and live perfor-

mances. Jack Griffin, president of Metropolis Farms, will be the guest speaker of the evening. Metropolis is the first indoor vertical farm in Philadelphia and the first vegan-certified farm in the nation. Additionally, guests will hear from the Humane League’s executive director, David Coman-Hidy, and its Philadelphia grassroots director, Rachel Black, about the organization’s accomplishments. Alternative-rock band Blue Hippopotamus will supply live music for the gala. Chef Lenka Zivkovic will prepare a multi-course vegan dinner, which VIP ticketholders can enjoy with Griffin. Gold-level VIP guests will also receive an 8x10 print of a rescued farm animal. The gala takes place 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at 723 Chestnut St. The VIP dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. Visit events.thehumaneleague. com/philly to purchase tickets.

IBA hosts holiday party Tickets are selling out fast for the Independence Business Alliance’s Holiday Party. The annual event allows nearly 200 LGBT allies, organizations and professionals to network with each other this holiday season. “With renewed purpose, strength and compassion in 2017, we will unite and fight to make sure that a safe and inclusive space where LGBT business owners and allied supporters can be themselves and thrive, continues to exist for our community,” IBA said in a statement. The party, which will take place at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts’s Washington Foyer, includes an open bar along with appetizers and carving stations featuring turkey roulade and Szechuan marinated London broil. Tickets are $65 for members and $85 for non-members. IBA’s holiday party will take place 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at 118-128 N. Broad St. Visit thinkiba.com to purchase tickets. —Jeremy Rodriguez

Cosby deposition OKd A judge this week ruled that a deposition in which Bill Cosby admitted drugging women to have sex with them can be used

by the prosecution representing a lesbian who accused the actor of sexual assault. The deposition has been a source of contention in the case of Andrea Constad. Cosby alleges former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor promised he wouldn’t bring criminal charges against Cosby if he agreed to the deposition in a civil suit filed by Constad; criminal charges were later filed once DA Kevin Steele took office. Judge Steven O’Neill said Monday that the pledge from Castor had not been proven in court. Cosby’s trial is scheduled for June.

Stonewall opens winter registration Stonewall Sports is now signing up players for winter play. Registration for dodgeball and volleyball is open until Dec. 12. Dodgeball begins Jan. 8. Teams can have anywhere from 12-18 players. Register at http://stonewallphilly.leagueapps.com/ leagues/dodgeball-(indoor). Competitive volleyball starts Jan. 17 and recreational volleyball commences Jan. 19. Teams can have from eight-12 players. Register at http://stonewallphilly.leagueapps.com/leagues/ volleyball-(indoor).

‘Allegiance’ to play one day only Broadway hit “Allegiance” will be broadcast in theaters nationwide Dec. 13. The musical is based on the life of star George Takei, who was forced with his family into an internment camp during World War II. Takei, who is gay, went on to become a director, author and actor, best known for his role as Sulu in “Star Trek.” Takei has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, and has said the president-elect’s statements about a Muslim “registry” are suggestive of the prelude to internment. “Allegiance” plays at Riverview Plaza 17, 1400 S. Columbus Blvd.; Bridge UPenn 6, 4012 Walnut St.; and theaters in the suburbs and New Jersey. For more information, visit allegiancemusical.com. n — Jen Colletta

PGN TRANSMISSIONS from page 11

gender — and only the former being fully updated with the correct gender marker — this administration has forced my hand to get my paperwork in order as soon as I can. Passports are one of many things that were improved during the Obama administration, which made it far easier for people to update the gender marker. As it stands now, one can get a full 10-year passport with appropriate certification from a physician stating that one has had appropriate treatment for a gender transition. And while I am not planning any big trips in the immediate future, a passport still stands as a valuable identity document and proof of your citizenship. It’s plenty possible that these rules will be wiped away once the president-elect and his cabinet begin their reign. I mentioned that I am not a pessimist, even though I am rushing around to get a passport in order and secure myself against some potentially dark years ahead. I’ll tell you why, too: Even though we face some difficult times, I am seeing our community step up. Not only our various trans and LGBT organizations seemingly coming out of an eight-year hibernation — or at least a year-and-a-half hiatus since the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized same-sex marriage — but a generation of activists are stepping back up to the plate, joined by more than a few new faces. We see the dangers and are preparing to push back as much as we can. As a generation before me said, “We’re not going back into the closet.” What’s more, there has been a new move formed just days after the election, and it is where I turned for advice on securing my passport. Started as a hashtag on Twitter, #translawhelp has since evolved into translawhelp. org, and serves as an online database of legal resources for the United States trans community. More than this, they have been helping transgender people in need to cover the costs of these documents, and have worked to put trans people in touch with lawyers and others willing to help out on an urgent basis. I hope that this is the start of something bigger, and we see a future of solid advocacy for the trans community. I also would like to think that the spirit of community Trans Law Help and others are engendering will help the trans community become stronger and more resilient during the years to come. Perhaps, if we cannot look to the Trump administration or a wishywashy Democratic Party, we shall be able to help ourselves. n Gwen Smith will have to handle her other paperwork too. You can find her at www. gwensmith.com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

Dem official urges LGBTs to ‘be strong’ after election By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com The rainy evening did not prevent 40 Democrats from gathering at the William Way LGBT Community Center last Wednesday to discuss next steps after the presidential election. The Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club invited Mitch Kates, political director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, to speak about what the community can do in preparation for Donald Trump’s presidency. “I am not going to spend much time — maybe a second or two — bitching about what just happened,” Kates said, referencing the Nov. 8 election. “I’m tempted to throw a chair through the window but that wouldn’t be appropriate. So let’s talk about what happens now.” Kates continued by urging the audience to participate in local elections. He mentioned Pittsburgh City Council’s recent legislation to ban mental-health workers from using conversion therapy on minors. “I am the vote-local guy and I am a very

big believer in local campaigns because those are the people that affect your lives each and every day,” he said. Additionally, Kates said there are “a lot of people who have been around a long time” in the Democratic Party. However, he emphasized the need for new engagement as well. “We need new blood and we need new energy,” Kates said. “We need new ideas. This is not a small little clique or club. We need more folks involved and engaged so I want everybody — and you tell your friends in your networks — to find out what the local committees are in your area. Find out about your county party [and] what opportunities there are to do that. There will be opportunities in your state committee as well. Those are part of the infrastructure of the Democratic Party.” Kates noted the majority of the country has Republican leadership due to the party’s involvement in local elections. Currently, 31 out of 50 states have Republican governors. “We’re not the puppet masters that

WikiLeaks likes to pretend that we are,” Kates said of the Democratic Party. “We’re not but we are only going to be successful if we are all working together and we are all doing something and we’re not waiting. There is no waiting. We’re not going to wait for Donald Trump to take away our civil liberties and all that shit. We’ve got to work now. We have to start winning those

“We’re not the puppet masters that WikiLeaks likes to pretend that we are. We’re not but we are only going to be successful if we are all working together and we are all doing something and we’re not waiting. There is no waiting.”

local offices now.” Kates also issued a call to action for Democrats to use their anger in a positive way. “We have to be strong,” he said. “We can’t hang our heads. We can be pissed off, but we need to take that energy and really be positive and start climbing our way out of that deep hole that we’re in.” Kates said it was a “great sign” to see the large number of people in attendance at William Way, despite the rainy weather. He thanked Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club for the opportunity. “I love to see so many people on a really nasty night a couple weeks out after an election while most people are still at home contemplating life,” Kates said. “But you showed up. Let’s keep it going.” One of Kates’ closing statements featured a reference to the 1985 film “The Goonies.” He used the film to show how “we can” get through a Trump presidency. “Because I’m a product of the ’80s, I live by the motto, ‘Goonies never say die,’” Kates said. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

The gay and lesbian coffeehouse comes to life again By Matty Bennett PGN Contributor It’s hard to imagine a coffeehouse today running on such a small budget that all the workers are volunteers, all the baked goods are brought from home and all the furniture is either found or donated. But in the 1970s and early ’80s, that’s how the gay and lesbian coffeehouses of Philadelphia survived — on the hard work and dedication of the gay community and its drive to create a safe space. “You could buy a cup of coffee for a quarter,” Tom Wilson Weinberg said. “You could just sit there and be with your friends. There was no pressure to buy anything, no pressure to leave. It was a safe, warm, welcoming place to go. It was a lovely environment.” The Philadelphia Gay Coffeehouse, which opened in 1973, was not just a coffeehouse — it was a community center. It was a gathering place for political meetings, lectures and a space for events like poetry readings, plays and musical performances. From 7-9 p.m. Dec. 14, the William Way LGBT Community Center will host “Cup of Good Cheer: A Winter Evening Coffeehouse of Song & Verse,” which seeks to recreate and pay homage to the coffeehouse era. The event celebrates the more-than 10 years of gay and lesbian coffeehouses in Philadelphia and will bring back performers such as Wilson Weinberg. There will also be an open-mic portion of the evening for poetry, music and more. The event runs in conjunction with the current William Way exhibit “Something’s Brewing: History of the Gay & Lesbian Coffeehouse in Philadelphia.” John Anderies, William Way archivist and curator for the exhibit, is excited for the event and exhibit to celebrate the coffeehouse history. “I think there’s a wonderful kind of

Discounted Holiday Portraits Through Dec. 15th Scott A. Drake 267-736-6743

casual atmosphere about the coffeehouses,” Anderies said. “It’s a great opportunity for people to come together and learn more about each other, meet each other and be supportive of one another in the community. This is a venue that doesn’t really exist anymore in the community, so it’s nice to pay a nod and do our best to revisit that.” The exhibit began to manifest back when

The exhibit, which runs until Jan. 27, features a small coffee counter, a piano, tables with chairs and walls filled with large photographs of the original coffeehouses, poems, fliers and many other artifacts from the era. The texts in the exhibit detail the history and transformation of the coffeehouses through the years. Anderies, in conducting an immense amount of research for

A PORTION OF THE ARCHIVES DISPLAY Photo: Scott A. Drake

Anderies started working at William Way two years ago. He was doing inventory when he found a box of cassette tapes from old coffeehouse performances with people’s names on them, like Hank Baron and Pink Debbie. Anderies wondered who they were and, as he gradually started learning more about the history of the coffeehouses and began to connect with the regular performers of the time, the exhibit came to life. “I knew it would be a rich experience to recreate the coffeehouse physically and to tell the different stories of the people who performed there. Even though it was just called the gay coffeehouse, it was meant to encompass everything.”

the exhibit, found the women’s stories and the lesbian coffeehouses particularly interesting. “For various reasons, women’s stories still remain somewhat untold,” Anderies said. “Partially, sort of the nature of the LGBTQ community is that the public face has been about the white man, but the women were such an important part of the community. Particularly, the women felt the power structures being male-dominated, and they felt the need to establish their own spaces. In general, the women’s story is not told as much, or hasn’t been told, and I found that fascinating, realizing that I could shed some light on it. It’s also a story for the women to tell themselves,

so hopefully there will be more of that as well.” The gay and lesbian coffeehouses were not only safe spaces for community members, they offered an alternative to the gay bars, which some at the time felt were repressive. “One of the things that was special about the coffeehouse was that, other than Giovanni’s Room, which had just been founded before the coffeehouses, there were very few alternatives to the gay bars, especially to socialize,” Wilson Weinberg said. “The gay bars were the only game in town, so the coffeehouses provided an environment for people who didn’t want to be in a place where drinking was the main activity.” The coffeehouses also offered a space where patrons could experience performances that were purposefully gay-centered. Wilson Weinberg remembers auditioning in front of a small committee in order to get to perform at the coffeehouse. His music combined the political with the comedic, and his lyrics were explicitly gay. A pianist auditioned before him and played a few classical pieces. “The pianist gave me a ride home after the audition, and he said that he thought my songs were funny, but that he was embarrassed by the lyrics,” Weinberg said. “I realized then that I could understand where he was coming from. We all listened to songs growing up about guys and girls and heterosexual love, but I think maybe it was jarring to hear gay lyrics.” While many of the performers were folk singers, there were all kinds of musicians, and popular songs of the time were often performed. Not all the pieces were explicitly gay, but the coffeehouses created a space where gay lyrics, poems and plays were accepted and celebrated. “The coffeehouses were of their time,” Anderies said. “It wasn’t all folk music, PAGE 21 but in the community it

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PGN FINANCES POLICY from page 1

ronment,” Gonzalez-Pagan said in a statement. “Senior year only happens once. Juliet, Elissa and A.S. only want to graduate knowing that their school respects them for who they are. Let them enjoy this year free from harassment, and the stigma of a discriminatory policy that is demeaning, degrading and unlawful.” Gonzales-Pagan said the school district argued that this is an issue about privacy because of “being in the same room as someone else [with] any ideological differences.” “I think that ignores the reality that regardless of whether you’re transgender or cisgender, we don’t all have the same anatomies,” Gonzalez-Pagan said. “We don’t all have the same bodies for a whole host of different reasons. It’s not really about protecting any students’ privacies but really about fostering and validating discomfort that some people have with transgender people based on misunderstandings.” Gonzales-Pagan noted that the hearing illustrated that “there has really never been any incidents, any complaints to the school” about transgender students in the restroom except for one instance where a female student noted to her parents that there was a transgender girl in the same restroom as her. “I wouldn’t call it a complaint,” Gonzales-Pagan said. “I would call it an observation.” Juliet said in a statement that she feels like she’s “walking on eggshells” when she comes to school. “It’s not right to be made to feel that way just for being who I am,” Juliet said. Elissa also pointed out the differences that occurred since the policy was enacted. “Everything was fine at school,” Elissa said. “For years, I was accepted for who I am, before some parents decided to make a fuss. We just need it to go back to the way it was, when there was no problem.” PGN reached out to representatives from Pine-Richland School District, who declined to comment. n

And online at epgn.com

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

Everything you need to know about a will but haven’t thought to ask Q: My partner and I are in our mid-40s. We know we should probably have wills and other documents prepared, but we just keep putting it off. Is it really that important?

tained under specific circumstances. Drafting a will

Ideally, your will should be drawn up by a lawyer, and you (and your heirs, if possible) should be familiar with its A: You are certainly not the only couple general form and contents. Although it’s who has put off getting their documents your legal right to do so, it’s usually not a prepared. But this is one area where progood idea to draft your own will. You may crastination can be disastrous. I strongly not be aware of the statutory encourage you to make the requirements that exist in your commitment to yourself and to particular state for establishing each other to take this importa valid will. State requirements ant step. vary and some states may have different standards for witness Everyone knows the imporing a will, or require specific tance of preparing and mainlanguage that must be included taining a will, yet many people for the will to be considered have never written one. To valid. Having your will at least those who haven’t, take note: reviewed by a lawyer can safeIf you die intestate (without guard against potential proba will), the intestacy laws of lems down the road. the state where you reside will When meeting with a lawdetermine how your assets will Jeremy yer to draft your will, bring be distributed. And if minor children are involved, a judge Gussick the proper information. Such a list typically includes proof may decide with whom they of your real property, such as will live. your home, along with documentation On the other hand, if you take the time that shows how much you paid for it. Also to prepare a will, you’ll be the one who bring a list of intangible property such as determines how your property is distribyour bank and investment accounts along uted and who will care for your minor with your latest statements for each; a children when you’re gone. Simply put, copy of any life insurance policies; and a a will is one way that provides peace of list of your debts. mind and the immense satisfaction of knowing that you have taken the necessary One item that individuals often overlook when drafting their will is a list of prosteps to pass on the fruits of your life’s fessionals they want contacted, such as a labor to your loved ones. financial advisor, insurance agent, banker or lawyer. Also bring the names of any What is a will? executor or guardian named for your chil A will is a legal declaration that enables dren. you to direct the disposition of your Key decision points assets upon your death. You can divide your assets any way you want, as long as guidelines are presented clearly in writing. Spouses/partners can write their wills jointly or separately, although most legal While wills generally address the bulk of professionals recommend the latter. One your assets, there are a variety of items reason is that joint wills generally bind that are not covered by the instructions the surviving spouse to dispose of propin a will. These items include community erty per the will’s terms despite future property, proceeds from life-insurance changes in circumstances (including tax policy payouts, retirement assets, assets law changes). owned as joint tenants with rights of survivorship and investment accounts that are Also, if you have young children, an important provision is the selection of a designated as “transfer on death.”1 guardian who would raise your children in the event of your death and the death of Types of wills your spouse. If you die without a will and have minor children, a judge may appoint Following are some of the more common types of wills and their intended uses. a guardian for them, and there is no guarantee that the court’s appointment will • A simple will provides for the outright coincide with your own wishes. distribution of assets to beneficiaries. This type of will is best for individuals with The post-will process small, uncomplicated estates. • A pour-over will passes assets into an Once your will is completed, keep an existing trust or trusts. original copy on hand, although it’s per• A living will expresses an individual’s fectly fine to make photocopies for family last wishes regarding whether and how members and friends. Keep the original in the person wishes his or her life to be sus-

Out Money

a secure place, such as a home or business fireproof safe. If that can’t be arranged, keep it in your lawyer’s office or with the clerk at your local probate court, who will hold it for safekeeping in a sealed envelope. Wherever you decide to keep your will, make sure that its location is known by family members or close friends. It’s also a good idea to review your will every five years. Your family circumstances or financial fortunes may change, as may federal and state laws. When things do change, periodically reviewing your will with your lawyer (and revising it if necessary) will help to ensure that its contents conform to current laws and regulations and that it reflects your current status and desires. There are also attorneys who specialize in working with LGBT singles and couples, who may have a better understanding of our often-unique planning needs. This is something to consider when selecting a professional to help you with your documents. n Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning and retirement income needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2016 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager as mentioned in Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including Delaware Valley Legacy Fund and the Independence Business Alliance, the Philadelphia region’s LGBT chamber of commerce. OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, you can contact him via email at jeremy.gussick@lpl.com. This article was prepared with the assistance of DST Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions. LPL Financial Representatives offer access to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., an affiliate of LPL Financial. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by DST Systems Inc. or its sources, neither Wealth Management Systems Inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall DST Systems Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscribers’ or others’ use of the content. Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2016, based on total revenues. **Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2016 Five Star Wealth Managers

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

MENTAL HEALTH PGN

locations in Philadelphia CENTER CITY BUSINESSES WEST OF BROAD

Adonis Cinema, 2026 Sansom St. • Art Institute, 1622 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 2300 Market St. • The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St. • Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St. • Dan Tobey R/E, 1401 Walnut St., 8th floor • Dr. Wakefield’s Office, 255 S. 17th St., Suite 2306 • Drucker & Scaccetti, 1600 Market St., Suite 3300 • Drexel Partnership, 1427 Vine St., 3rd floor • Latimer Deli, 255 S. 15th St. • MANNA, 12 S. 23rd St. • Marine Club Condos lobby, Broad St. & Washington Ave. • Metropolitan, 115 N. 15th St. • PA Law Project, 2122 Chestnut St., Suite 1600 • Safeguards Lobby, 1700 Market St., 18th floor • Sansom St. Gym, 2020 Sansom St. • SOSNA offices, 19th & Christian sts. • Stir, 1705 Chancellor St. • U Do It Laundry, 15th & Spruce sts. • Westminster Arch Apts., Vine St., 3rd floor •

WEST PHILLY Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Drexel University, 4001 Walnut St. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Metropolitan Community Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Redcaps Corner, 4812 Baltimore Ave. • Saturn Club, 3430 Sansom St. • Saxby’s Coffee, 40th & Locust sts. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •

NORTH PHILLY

1 Shot Coffee, 1040 N. Second St. • 2601 Parkway Condos lobby, 2601 Pennsylvania Ave. • Barnes & Noble, 1700 N. Broad St. • Bebashi, 1217 Spring Garden St. • Beth Ahavah, 615 N. Broad St. • Bridgeview Place Condo lobby, 315 New St. • Colonnade Condos lobby, 1601 Spring Garden St. • Community College CCP Lambda, 1700 Spring Garden St. • Congresso de Latinos, American St. & Lehigh Ave. • Front Street Cafe, 1253 N. Front St. • GALAEI, 149 Susquehanna Ave. • Logan View Apts. lobby, 17th & Callowhill sts. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Packard Apts., 317 N. Broad St. • Philadelphian Condos lobby, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. • Sammy’s Place, 1449 N. Fifth St., 1st floor • SILOAM Ministries, 1133 Spring Garden St. • Temple University Student Activity Center, 1755 N. 12th St. • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • Whole Foods Market, 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. •

SOUTH PHILLY

Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge sts. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • Tiffin Restaurant, 1100 Federal St. • Wedge Medical Center, 1939 S. Juniper St. •

PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS — OTHER Almost Paradise, 742 Frankford Ave. • Awbry Aboretum, 1 Awbry Rd. • Caribbean Pharmacy, 3825 N. 5th St. •Elfant Wissahickon Realty, 8962 Ridge Ave. • Fantasy Island Books, 7363 State Road • Harry’s Natural Foods, 1805 Cottman Ave. • Infinity Jewelers, 3528 Cottman+ Ave. • Infusion Salon, 7133 Germantown Ave. • Morris House, 5537 Woodland Ave. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphia University KANBAR Center, 4201 Henry Ave. • Philly Pharmacy, 9475 Roosevelt Blvd. • Riverhouse Condo, 3600 Conshohocken Ave. • WCAU TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road • Weaver’s Way, 559 Carpenter Lane • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • WPVI TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road •

LIBRARY BRANCHES Andorra Branch, 705 E. Cathedral Road • Blanch A. Nixon Branch, 5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway • Donatucci Branch, 1935 Shunk St. • Falls of Schuylkill Branch, 3501 Midvale Ave. • Fishtown Branch, 1217 E. Montgomery Ave. • Frankford Branch, 4634 Frankford Ave. • Independence Branch, 18 S. Seventh St. • Joseph E. Coleman Branch, 68 W. Chelten Ave. • Kingsessing Branch, 1201 S. 51st St. • Lehigh Branch, 601 W. Lehigh Ave. • Lovett Branch, 6945 Germantown Ave. • Main Branch, 1901 Vine St. • McPherson Square Branch, 601 E. Indiana Ave. • Northeast Regional, 2228 Cottman Ave. • Ogontz Branch, 6017 Ogontz Ave. • Richmond Branch, 2987 Almond St. • Rodriguez Branch, 600 W. Girard Ave. • Roxborough Branch, 6245 Ridge Ave. • Southwark Branch, 932 S. Seventh St. • Welsh Road Branch, 9233 Roosevelt Blvd. • West Phila. Branch, 125 S. 52nd St. • Whitman Branch, 200 Snyder Ave. • Wynnefield Branch, 5325 Overbrook Ave.

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Human resilience in the Donald Trump era Upon Hillary Clinton losing the elecconditions. Everyone’s level of resilience tion, a distinct grim tone to people’s sharis unique depending on genetic factors ing immediately cropped up in my therapy as well as environmental ones like how practice. Expressions of overt sadness, our childhoods went, the way our parents anger, disbelief and fear were treated us and what types of par for the course during the coping skills were modeled first couple of weeks after the for us in the home. In the last results. Although, interestingly, several decades, researchers’ these feelings were not just understanding of human resilabout Donald Trump and the ience has changed substantially. onslaught of poor choices to It was once believed that varcome politically. Many people ious traumatic and stressful expressed a variety of increased events would cause distinct and negative emotions related to potentially permanent disruptheir personal lives as well as tion to one’s ability to have postheir overall outlook on being itive and enjoyable experiences. a human being in ways that Now, it is more commonly would not have been typical believed that humans possess an just a few weeks prior. ability to recover from a whole The election results quickly variety of difficult events and cast a gloominess across liberal Kristina Furia are not largely obstructed from America, one that generalized future fulfilling experiences. to seemingly everything. Yet, just as my In short, we now know that human beings concerns for the well-being of my clients have bounced back: a yo-yo effect, if you (and all liberal Americans) reached an allwill. time high, a clear shift became apparent. In many ways, a national event as unprecedented as a man like Donald Almost everyone started to work past the doom and gloom of the results with almost Trump taking the highest position in the same sharpness with which it all hit. our country is a trauma-inducing event. While there are exceptions to every rule, Especially for minorities — with the threat I attribute the shift largely to the fact that of rights being taken away and physical, people just want to feel good. When things mental and emotional safety being called are difficult, we want to into question — it is We must rely on our feel better. We unconnot going too far to sciously seek out ways that real daminherent resilient qual- suggest to make that possible. age has been and likely This was true even in ities to help us conwill continue to be the initial week followdone to people’s mening the election. I heard tinue to experience tal state. As such, we a lot about too much must rely on our inherpositive emotional drinking, too much ent resilient qualities states and to not eating and too much to help us continue to sleeping, to name a become overly bogged experience positive few indulgences. These emotional states and down by the hits that to not become overly were the first attempts at feeling better. Now, bogged down by the are sure to come. one month since we hits that are sure to learned that our councome. A couple of key ways to hone resilience try is to be run by an underqualified, is to practice good self-care (whatever that self-serving egomaniac, people’s attempts means for you) and to build and rely on to feel better look not just different, but more efficient. People want to organize for community initiatives and a strong support system. As members of the LGBT commuaction, they want to implement programs nity, we are superiorly positioned to come within their workplaces geared towards together as a community both for support protecting minorities, they want to engage and for activism. in community building. The way to feel better has become realizing that we are not The next four years are going to be uncertain and tumultuous; however, as powerless. resilient human beings and as members of I share this with you because I think it is incredibly important in this moment that a truly impactful community, we are inherwe look for signs of hope wherever we can ently equipped with the wherewithall to find it. One distinct sign of hope presently come out on top. n is realizing the resilient nature of most Kristina Furia is a psychotherapist committed to people. working with LGBT individuals and couples and Psychological resilience is defined as owner of Emerge Wellness, an LGBT health and wellthe ability to adapt to life tasks in the face ness center in Center City (www.emergewellnessphilly. of social disadvantage or highly adverse com).

Thinking Queerly

PGN DEFENSE from page 1

injuries were the result of “intervening and superseding” acts of others, including the plaintiffs and Williams and Knott. Williams’ attorney went on to submit a cross-claim against the other two defendants, whom he said are “solely responsible” for Hesse’s and Haught’s injuries. Harrigan’s filing was similar to one submitted this fall by Williams, in which he also raised the self-defense issue and also suggested his co-defendants were solely responsible. Williams issued a reply Nov. 16 denying the arguments in Harrigan’s filing and requesting the cross-claim be dismissed. Trace Palmer, an attorney for the couple, submitted a response to Harrigan’s filing Nov. 22. “Plaintiffs’ injuries and damages were proximately caused by the conduct of all parties against whom plaintiffs have filed suit,” Palmer wrote. The court also last month ordered attorneys for Hesse and Haught to comply with Barrett’s request for discovery materials. A discovery date of Aug. 7 has been set for materials relating to the case to be collected by both sides. The criminal cases against the three are resolved — Knott rejected a plea deal and served five months in prison after being found guilty of four misdemeanors, while Harrigan and Williams pleaded guilty to one felony each and were sentenced to community service and probation — and Hesse and Haught are seeking at least $500,000 in damages through the civil suit. A settlement conference is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 4, 2017, and, if no agreement is reached, the case is slated for trial Dec. 4, 2017. n COFFEEHOUSE from page 15

may have run its course. Sometimes I think we’re very event-focused; you hear about an event, you show up, you experience it and you move on. In that way, the regularity of the coffeehouse, where you knew you could just drop in any time, is less available today.” Even though the gay and lesbian coffeehouses of Philadelphia no longer exist, their history is still important, and the idea of safe spaces in the LGBT community remains relevant. “A lot of people are saying, and it is a valid point, ‘We don’t need queer spaces as much as we used to,’” Wilson Weinberg said. “The bars tend to be more integrated, and the climate has been pretty comfortable to go wherever we want and we don’t have to pretend to be otherwise. But I still think queer spaces and safe spaces are important, especially for queer people of color and transgender people. “I don’t think we have yet reached a place, nor do I think I want us to, where we outgrow those spaces. I think that it’s important to have spaces that belong to us still today.” n

If you have stories or experiences you’d like to share from the coffeehouse era, or to learn more information, email archives@waygay.org. For more information about the exhibit, visit www.waygay.org.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

PGN

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AC ul t ure rts

FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly

Page Page Page Page Page

36 31 32 38 35

PAGE 36

WIDE WORLDS OF WONDER: Longwood Gardens (clockwise from top left), RiverRink Winterfest, Christmas Village (twice), Christmas Light Show at Macy’s, Christmas Village Angel, Grand Illumination Celebration at Peddler’s Village in New Hope.

Places to see and visit this holiday season By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Now that we’re in the holiday sweet spot between Thanksgiving and whatever late-December holiday you celebrate, there is no better time to take in all the sights and sounds, pageantry and glitz that come with the season. Philadelphia and its surrounding areas are so loaded with history and tradition that residents and visitors alike can’t help but get a little swept up in how the region shows off for the Christmas season.

Yeah, we know your schedule is crammed with shopping, parties, work and visiting with friends and family. But there are a lot of visually and culturally arresting places to visit in the area this season. So do yourself a favor and check out at least one or more of the following attractions. A Philly tradition since 1956, the Christmas Light Show at Macy’s in Center City, 1300 Market St., electrifies an expansive wall inside the historic Wanamaker Building with 100,000 LED lights and the sounds of the Wanamaker Organ multiple times each day through Dec. 31. Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest turns

Penn’s Landing into a frozen riverfront park with an Olympic-size skating rink overlooking the Delaware River, a ski chalet-style lodge and a winter garden with a holiday tree, through March 5. For more information, visit www.riverrink.com. The Holiday Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave., is a miniature winter wonderland complete with a quarter-mile of model-train tracks featuring seven loops and tunnels, 15 rail lines and model trains that cruise past scaled and brightly lit replicas of historic monuments and Philadelphia landmarks, through Dec. 31. Attendees can also take part in crafts for the kids and enjoy the

winter garden. For more information, visit www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.shtml. NRG presents Christmas Village at City Hall, 1400 JFK Blvd. The traditional, open-air German Christmas Market is open daily through Christmas Eve. Shoppers can peruse high-quality international gifts and decorations and enjoy holiday sights and sounds with a new carousel in the courtyard, live music, children’s activities, a weekly happy-hour series and photos with Santa Claus. Admission is free. Prices vary for food, drink and other merchandise. For more information, visit www.philachristmas.com. PAGE 24

FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

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WINTERLAND from page 23

From Dec. 15-18, the Philadelphia Museum of Art hosts its Festive Tradition Trolley Tour, a guided tour that shows off the Yuletide decorations of historic homes of Fairmount Park: Woodford, Strawberry Mansion and Cedar Grove. For more information, call 215-763-8100 or e-mail visitorservices@philamuseum.org. Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road in Kennett Square, presents A Longwood Christmas through Jan. 8, with musical-inspired displays throughout their indoor and outdoor gardens. An 18-foot Fraser Fir decorated with a garland of musical instruments takes center stage in the Music Room, while organ sing-alongs, strolling carolers and performances fill the gardens with festive cheer. The holiday horticulture showcases more than 6,000 seasonal plants. At night, visitors can walk among a half-million lights and warm up at three fire pits. For more information, visit https://longwoodgardens.org. Get your holiday running shoes on in Manayunk for the Third Annual Rudolph Run 9-11 a.m. Dec. 10. Holiday attire is recommended for the 3-mile run along the Manayunk Canal. The Manayunk Development Corporation will hand out red noses and jingle bells to everyone feeling festive. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ events/525675194301375/. East Passyunk Avenue gets transformed into an icy winter wonderland for the second-annual Arctic Ave. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 10, courtesy of Ice Sculpture Philly. There will be five live-carve sites, and the shops and restaurants along the avenue will have dozens more ice sculptures. There will also be tons of great holiday sales and refreshments, and the Joe King Trio will stroll the area playing holiday songs. For more information, visit www. visiteastpassyunk.com. Up in New Hope, Peddler’s Village, 2400 Street Road, gets lit up with 1-mil-

lion lights for the Grand Illumination Celebration. Make sure you stop in to see the locally made gingerbread-house display. For more information, visit www. peddlersvillage.com. History buffs can gather on the shores of the Delaware River 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 11 for the annual reenactment of General George Washington’s river-crossing, which took place Dec. 25, 1776. At Washington Crossing Historic Park, 1112 River Road in Washington Crossing, more than 200 reenactors row across the river, and spectators can take part in colonial-era games and demonstrations. Or catch another reenactment Dec. 25. For more information visit www.washingtoncrossingpark.org. While you’re up that way, the Bucks County Visitor Center in Bensalem will be filled with holiday cheer with 25 uniquely themed trees lighting up the main gallery during the 11th-Annual Bucks County Holiday TreeFest. The six-week celebration features decorated trees, musical entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus, who will even take pet photos on select dates through Jan. 5. For more information, visit www.visitbuckscounty. com/events/treefest. Further west, shoppers can celebrate the season at King of Prussia Town Center’s inaugural Winterfest 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 10. The brand-new Town Center is featuring local school-choir performances, ice sculptures from Fear No Ice, winter-themed activities, a cookie-decorating and hot-chocolate station by Davio’s North American Steakhouse and more. Attendees can also sample the area’s newest restaurants while looking for items on their holiday-shopping list. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ events/1303486219682091/. Get out there and have some fun. Hopefully we’ll see some of you, happy and healthy, under the glow of Christmas lights somewhere around town this holiday season. n

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Sideshow group to debut new performance at Tabu By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Dead Flowers Circus-Sideshow, an LGBTQ-friendly performance group, is debuting its new show, “The Smokin’ Gun Revue: Winter Holidaze Edition,” Dec. 17 at Tabu. The troupe has been operating for four years, producing variety shows, benefits and festivals throughout the area, largely in South Philadelphia, striving to make the city a weirder place, one show at a time. The Smokin’ Gun Revue’s host, Mister E., known as Jason Lutz offstage, says being the group’s ringleader can be somewhat taxing. “My role can be very demanding because I am the producer, a performer in the shows and the emcee most of the time,” he said. “It’s a lot to take on and the work is not just the nights of the shows; it feels like a round-the-clock job but it’s OK because I love doing it. Sideshows are wild and fun, or at least they should be. Ultimately, people want to be entertained.” Lutz added that he doesn’t want Dead

Flowers to be lumped in with the numerous burlesque troupes that call Philadelphia home. “We are more of a circus-sideshow,” Lutz said. “Embracing sexuality and burlesque, especially the comedic side of it, is something that is highlighted in our shows but we feature a variety of performers. Our troupe’s identity went from heavy on the circus to two sideshow performers amongst a handful to burlesque performers, and finally at this point I feel like we’ve found our identity. The troupe is eclectic and multi-faceted.” Performances include sideshow acts, bellydancing, “oddball comedy” and “unconventional drag,” dancers, burlesque and more. “We keep it weird with our own Philly flavor. Audiences should know that our shows have an element of rock ’n’ roll to them. Anything could happen,” Lutz said. “We are a very queer-centric troupe. Half of our team identifies as LGBTQ. We are a progressive group of performers that welcome everybody and anybody.” Lutz added that the group plans on mak-

ing Tabu one of its regular performance spaces and hopes to dazzle audiences there, as well as in other venues — Dead Flowers also stages the murder-mystery Devil’s Carnival every third Tuesday at the Raven Lounge that is going to tour the area — with their boundary-pushing performances. But people will have to show up to fully find out what they have planned.

“I don’t want to give away too much,” he said. “We’ll be tackling all the major winter holidays, not just Christmas. Typically we do a troupe Pollyanna that incorporates some of our acts and stunts. Last year, I gave Miss Rachel Rottin’ a pie in the face and she gave me a live, poisonous scorpion on a leash to put in my mouth. We do a stunt called the ‘Kiss of Death,’ where the scorpion rests on my face and in my mouth to the audience’s terror and delight. You get the idea: weird stuff.” n Dead Flowers Circus-Sideshow presents “The Smokin’ Gun Revue: Winter Holidaze Edition” 9 p.m. Dec. 17 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/deadflowersphiladelphia or www.facebook.com/events/67 2166796295061/?ti=icl.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

Burlesque troupe takes on the holidays By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

directly address the audience, which Chiero described as “a rowdy and supportive crowd.” “Something we talked about as a company in preparing for this show was that 2016 has been rough, particularly for queer people,” he added. “We joked about doing a ‘Fuck You’ to 2016, but we’re trying to turn that around and create a ‘choose your own tribe,’ so to speak, kind of experience. It’s nice to work in a company that reflects my feelings. Friendsgiving is more the route to go. It’s a reflection of what I want to do, which is

Openly gay performer Zachary Chiero will be one of the featured players participating in the Tribe of Fools’ Seventh-Annual Holiday Burlesque Dec. 17 at Shiloh Baptist Church. Chiero, who has been with the troupe for five of its 13 years — his first show was “Heavy Metal Dance Fag” — teased over coffee and tea at a local Starbucks recently that he will be doing “a silly strip routine that involves Pokemon Go” and a guy he is trying to seduce. That said, Chiero admitted that he, like the other core Tribe company members, is not a stripper. “I queer it up by finding campy twists on a straightforward strip routine,” he said. “I try to maintain elements of comedy in the routine. We like to do a lot of inverting of the power structure.” While the holiday show is titled a burlesque, and the PETER SMITH (FROM LEFT), TARA DEMMY, ZACHARY Tribe promises “equal-opCHIERO AND TERRY BRENNAN portunity nudity,” there are numerous acts involving choose the people I want to be around. comedy, song and dance. “This show allows us to work with fantas“We have an incredible circus act joining us that will be using rope acrobatics,” Chiero tic performers who have worked on one of effused. “There are straight-up comedy rou- our productions before. In that larger group, tines and clowning, as well as the burlesque there are skills sets from insane puppetry to acrobatics, to comedy and dance and burand stripper teams.” He also noted that a good portion of the lesque, so it’s a great opportunity to get that family together again for the holidays.” show’s content is queer. The performer is especially proud to be “I will be flirting with Dirty Santa (Peter a member of the Tribe of Fools. Born in Smith),” he said. Dirty Santa, along with Nasty Frosty a small town in New York about an hour (Meghann Williams, who doubles as the from Manhattan, he attended Muhlenberg show’s host) and Horny Rudolf, are recurring College, which is how he came to know characters returning to this year’s burlesque Philadelphia. He later toured with the show. Audiences who have attended in the Tribe’s artistic director, Terry Brennan, who past have been following their storylines, encouraged him to stay and perform in which have developed over the years. For Philly. “I saw a lot of people I really respected example, Dirty Santa has had relationship difficulties and is going through a breakup. making a living using their art and skills. This year, the Tribe introduces Sexually I really appreciated that,” Chiero said, Anxious Rudolf. Chiero indicated that he acknowledging the work of local perform“usually ends up playing an elf helper, which ers Dito von Reigersberg and Brian Sanders, among others. I have a good time with.” With his striptease in the Holiday The performer, along with Williams and Tribe of Fool’s newest member, Tara Demmy, Burlesque, Chiero hopes to connect with have structured the show and created the con- audiences. He said that a lot of his confinective tissue that brings together a storyline dence as a performer comes from his willand links the various individual acts. While ingness to do that but he also confessed, “I the holidays are a general, unifying theme can’t think of anything I’m more nervous for the show, some skits have only a loose about. It’s nerve-wracking. Nobody can say connection to the season, such as one about while it’s happening they are blossoming a man going home for the holidays who is and having a moment. Maybe they do.” He paused for a moment and then justistopped by a very thorough TSA agent. “The show has an edge to it,” Chiero said. fied his efforts: “But what is the most fun is “It’s sexy and silly, but ultimately is about knowing that I’m doing this and it’s causing coming together and enjoying yourself in the enjoyment.” n company of others. We want it to be a really Tribe of Fools’ Seventh-Annual Holiday inclusive experience.” Burlesque Show is 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at Shiloh Baptist The Holiday Burlesque will also have an Church, 2040 Christian St. For tickets or more interactive element as host Williams will information, visit http://burlesquetof.bpt.me.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

Suzi Nash

Jermel Johnson: Climbing the ladder of the Pennsylvania Ballet Jermel Johnson is the first AfricanAmerican male principal dancer at Pennsylvania Ballet. He made a name for himself early with his impressive jumps and high energy. Johnson has performed several leading roles, including as principal in George Balanchine’s “Square Dance” and Oberon in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which led to Pointe Magazine naming him one of their standout performances of 2013. PGN: I understand you’re from Charm City. JJ: Yes, I’m from Baltimore. I left when I was fairly young. I still have family there but I haven’t been back in a long time. PGN: How old were you and where did you go? JJ: I went to the Baltimore School for the Arts and then transferred to the School of American Ballet in New York my senior year of high school. PGN: What made you want to get into dance? JJ: The New York City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” with Macaulay Culkin! It was on TV and I thought it looked like fun. My mother did a little research and found the Baltimore School for the Arts’ after-school program. PGN: That’s great that she was supportive right off the bat. JJ: Yeah, well, I had so much energy and ballet involved so much discipline that it was a great way to help me burn some of it off. PGN: What was the most trouble you got into as a kid? JJ: I was a pretty good child, I was just very active. I was also very tiny; I think challenging some of the bigger kids was about the most rebellious I got. PGN: I can’t say the same, though I didn’t really get into trouble because I was slick about things. JJ: Ha, I’m the oldest of four so there was always someone else to deflect the blame.

PGN: They both sound cool! What did they do? JJ: They’re both recently out of the military. My father did two tours in Iraq and one in Egypt. My mother was a military police officer. She’s always been involved with law enforcement. PGN: What was the best and worst thing about being a military brat? JJ: I would say the answer to both would be the discipline. I don’t do well with downtime. I just finished rehearsal and would like to relax but I’m like, “I should be doing something productive …” Downtime is nice in concept, but it’s not something I’m able to utilize. PGN: What was the family makeup? JJ: After me there’s a younger sister and then two brothers. We’re all about three years apart. PGN: What was your worst brother act? JJ: We had a messy room and one time my parents told us we couldn’t leave until it was cleaned up. I pretty much just shoved everything under [my brother’s] bed and left. He got stuck dealing with it.

up honey!” It sounds terrible but they were all friends and would bust on each other all the time. JJ: [Laughs] He’d probably scold me for my pre-show burger! PGN: You are the first African-American male to be a principal dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet. Were there a lot of other black dancers at the American Ballet Theatre? JJ: Actually at the time that I went I think there were at least three others; one of them was my roommate. PGN: Did you face any backlash? JJ: Nope. I’ve been fortunate enough to have avoided that type of ugly for the most part. But I’m the type of person that I think most people keep that kind of thing to themselves around me. PGN: There’s a little of that Baltimore spunk coming out! JJ: [Laughs] Yes, yes. What I do remem-

PGN: [Laughs] You really were a goody two-shoes if that’s the worst thing you’ve done to a sibling! JJ: I know! Well, I did cut my sister’s doll’s hair. Trying to be a little stylist and there are times when I may have taken things apart to use them for arts and crafts. PGN: You juvenile delinquent! Rogue hairdresser and crafter! Ever play any sports? JJ: I was involved in track for a little until I started ballet. I figured out early on that I wouldn’t be able to do both. PGN: How old were you when you started? JJ: I saw “The Nutcracker” when I was 11, and it was shortly after that, which is actually kind of late for a dancer but I was very flexible and used to do splits in the air before I even knew what they were.

PGN: A favorite family memory? JJ: I’ll pick a recent one. About two years ago I went home with my husband and our son, Jaden. It was their first time seeing him because they live in South Carolina now. As I walked in the door, my mother handed me Jell-O shots!

PGN: And you moved to New York by yourself? JJ: Yes, it was a boarding school-type of setup. There were lots of other people my age working and training. It was a new style of ballet for me so there was a lot to process and keep me busy. It was my first time away from home and there were people from all over the world.

PGN: Mom sounds cool! JJ: Oh yes, she also had little Jell-O shooter syringes. She was ready for us to party! Another fun memory was one of my father’s birthdays. He decided to have a ’70s theme so everybody was in bell bottoms and platform shoes, all ’70s attire.

PGN: I used to hang out with Mel Tomlinson, who was the first black principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. We’d go out to eat and he’d tease the female dancers. They’d go for a second order of French fries and he’d scold them, “Oh no, you don’t! I’m the one who has to pick you

ber about Baltimore is the club music. They would make a song out of the most random things. I remember a club mix of “SpongeBob SquarePants” and everyone lost their minds over it. PGN: What’s something exciting that happened in New York? JJ: I did some guest appearances with American Ballet Theatre while I was in school and got to meet a whole lot of superstars of dance.

PGN: How did you end up in Philadelphia? JJ: It was near the end of the school season and I’d auditioned for a few things where they said that I was too tiny or just not what they were looking for. I had a full scholarship so I just figured I’d stay at School of American Ballet for another year. On a whim I auditioned for Pennsylvania Ballet and they offered me second company, so I took it. PGN: Explain the different levels in the company. JJ: We start with the second company, which is usually for people just starting out. You do a lot of shows representing the company with community outreach, going to schools and local events while working on skills that you’ll need later: partnering, strength, style, etc. From there, you’ll hopefully get hired into the company itself. After a year or two of apprenticeship you get into the corps. After that, soloist and then principal dancer. PGN: And you are at the top of the heap! JJ: Yes, I managed to work my way up to principal. I was actually the first person to ever go from second company to principal. PGN: What are your three favorite roles? JJ: My all-time favorite is George Balanchine’s “Square Dance.” I feel like I’m flying when getting to dance like that. It’s so much fun: fast footwork, and the solo is slow and commanding and, while you’re doing it, you’re able to exude whatever emotion you’re feeling and still have it work. And Matthew Neenan’s “Penumbra”; he choreographed a solo for me in that which is one of my favorite solos ever. I’m in this awesome stretchy suit and I start with my back to the audience. It’s dark and there’s kind of this slow samba step before I really start moving around the stage. It’s really fun. For the third, I’d say … well, anything by Matthew Neenan. I just think he’s really great at utilizing the strengths of his dancers. I love his style of movement, his whimsical ideas and what he’s able to bring out of the dancers. PGN: Describe the feeling of stepping out onto the stage and dancing full out. JJ: Have you ever had someone draw their fingers up your back? Those goosebumps you get? When the curtain goes up it’s kind of like that. I’ve been doing it for so long that I can just feel the PAGE 35

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

ON SALE NOW! , HARD“VERSATILE DRIVING MUSICAL FRONTIERSMAN” THE NEW YORK TIMES

TONY NOMINATED STAR OF GLEE

MATTHEW MORRISON featuring SETH RUDETSKY as pianist and host

DECEMBER 17

Theater & Arts Bruce Nauman: Contrapposto Studies, I through VII Philadelphia Museum of Art presents the premiere of a new work by Bruce Nauman that continues the artist’s exploration of video, sound and performance through Jan. 8, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Classical Splendor: Painted Furniture for a Grand Philadelphia House Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of furniture designed in 1808 by Benjamin Henry Latrobe through Jan. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. A Christmas Story Media Theatre presents a stage play based on the beloved holiday film through Jan. 8, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-8910100.

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Found Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the new musical about a man obsessed with collecting the hundreds of irreverent, hilarious and weird notes that surround us every day, everywhere through Dec. 11 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420. Proud Season Sponsor

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker The Pennsylvania

FROM RUSSIA WITH NUTS: The Moscow Ballet gets into the holiday spirit with “Great Russian Nutcracker,” a largerthan-life production with magical props, a 60-foot growing Christmas tree and spectacular Russian-made costumes and sets, Dec. 12-13 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215-898-3900.

Ballet performs the holiday tradition through Dec. 31 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800. The Glorious Sound of Christmas The Philadelphia Orchestra performs its annual Christmas concert series Dec. 15-17 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. Korea Now: Contemporary Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents art showcasing Korean creativity in the mediums of ceramics, prints, lacquerware and metalwork through Dec. 11 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420. Live and Life Will Give You Pictures: Masterworks of French Photography, 1890-1950 The Barnes Foundation presents vintage prints of nearly 200 classic images by French photographers

and photographers working extensively in France through Jan. 9 at the Roberts Gallery, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; 215-2787000. Great Russian Nutcracker The Moscow Ballet performs the holiday classic Dec. 12-13 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. O Fortuna! Carmina Burana The Philadelphia Orchestra performs the heartpounding classic tale of drinking and debauchery through Dec. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism, 1910-50 Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of Mexican masterpieces by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Frida Kahlo, Rufino Tamayo and many others through Jan. 8, 26th Street and

the Parkway; 215763-8100. PGMC Auditions Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus holds auditions for new members 6-8 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2111 Sansom St.; visit www.pgmc.org/ audition/ to sign up for an audition slot. A Philly POPS Christmas POPS music director/maestro Michael Krajewski leads the group through an allnew holiday musical featuring internationally acclaimed pianist and vocalist Tony DeSare through Dec. 18 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. This Land is Our Land The Anna Crusis Women’s Choir performs its December concert 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Trinity Center for Urban Life, 22nd and Spruce streets; www.annacrusis. org. Vienna Boys Choir The acclaimed choir performs 8

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

A Sherry Xmas! Drag star Sherry Vine performs a holiday show with Brittany Lynn and special guests 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 16 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

Outta Town Elf The holiday comedy film is screened 2 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228.

INTO THE GREAT UNKNOWN: Cello-driven folk-rock group Rasputina is still on the road in support of its latest album, “Unknown,” coming to town with its signature brand of Victorian-themed music, 9 p.m. Dec. 16 at Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. For more information or tickets, call 215-739-9684.

p.m. Dec. 14 at Keswick Theatre, 291 Keswick Ave. in Glenside; 215572-7650. Wesley Lowery The Washington Post’s lead journalist in Ferguson, Mo., and the author of “They Can’t Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement” hosts a book event 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341. The Wizard of Oz The yellow-brick road runs through the Walnut Street Theatre through Jan. 8, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.

Music Psychic TV The industrial-rock band performs 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at

Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215232-2100. David Crosby & Friends The classic folk/ rock singer performs 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at Keswick Theatre, 291 Keswick Ave. in Glenside; 215572-7650. Pink Martini’s Holiday Spectacular The lounge group performs a holiday show 8 p.m. Dec. 15 at Keswick Theatre, 291 Keswick Ave. in Glenside; 215572-7650.

Nightlife Peek-a-Boo Revue Holiday Spectacular Philly’s premiere burlesque group gets naughty for the holidays 9 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003

Arch St.; 215-9226888. Golden Gurlz Live Drag stars Brittany Lynn, Pissi Myles, Bella Cane, Connor Michalchuk, Aeryanah Von Moi and Anne Ferguson Allen perform two classic episodes of “The Golden Girls” 7-10 p.m. Dec. 11 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675. Funny Gals Bev, Astala Vista, Sutton Fearce and VinChelle perform in a new monthly comedy series 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Tattooed Mom, 530 South St.; 215-2389880.

Linda Purl The actor and singer performs 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-5961027. Hedda Lettuce The drag star performs 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-5961027. Taylor Hicks The “American Idol” alum performs 8 p.m. Dec. 16 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808. Edward Scissorhands The fantasy film is screened 9:45 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. n

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

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

Fifty years later, Warhol, Velvet Underground back at Gershman Y By Ray Simon PGN Contributor Fans of edgy art and experimental music should check out “Underground Nights: When Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable Met The Y,” a new exhibit at the Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St. “Underground Nights” celebrates the 50th anniversary of a groundbreaking appearance by Warhol and the Velvet Underground, a band featured prominently in his multi-media show “Exploding Plastic Inevitable” at the old YM&WHA, now known as the Gershman Y. The original event took place Dec. 10-11, 1966. It was billed as a “mixed-media discotheque.” According to Cheryl Harper, the guest curator who organized “Underground Nights,” it looks “at Warhol, and the Velvet Underground, and their interaction with Philadelphia separately from 1965 through the end of the decade.” The exhibit includes artwork, ephemera and films. Part of the space is even lined with tinfoil, just like Warhol’s Factory. Visitors can see material from the artist’s 1965 solo show at Penn’s Institute for Contemporary Art and watch screen tests of all the band members, among other things. Two special events are also planned. On Dec. 14, music critic Richie Unterberger will discuss the VU. Unterberger wrote an informative book about the band, “White Light/ White Heat: The Velvet Underground DayBy-Day.” On Dec. 15, Yo La Tengo and Dean & Britta will perform. Both bands readily acknowledge their debt to the VU and its principal songwriter, Lou Reed. In fact, Yo La Tengo portrayed the Velvet Underground in the 1996 movie “I Shot Andy Warhol,” and the Warhol Museum commissioned Dean & Britta to compose music to accompany Warhol’s screen tests. LGBT viewers may be curious to see how Warhol, a gay man, and Reed, whose sexuality was fluid and transgressive, presented their work to a mainstream audience. Roughly three years before Stonewall, they eschewed camp and confronted the audience, in a sense anticipating today’s queer aesthetic. The current exhibit came about serendipitously. Last spring, Harper noticed that the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s “International Pop” exhibit didn’t recognize the contributions of the Arts Council, a group of women based at the YM&WHA that helped promulgate contemporary art in Philadelphia. Led by Joan Kron and Audrey Sabol, the Arts

Council organized a series of increasingly adventurous shows at the Y beginning in the late 1950s. According to Harper, the women, all volunteers, were brilliant but bored housewives who used their talents to organize evenings of art, music, poetry and theater. They were good at it, too. “You had all kinds of people coming to these events,” Harper said. “And they just kept pushing the envelope.” The Gershman was already planning to commemorate the anniversary of the VU’s appearance with a concert when its director learned of Harper’s intervention in the “International Pop” show. They agreed that the event should be expanded and organized it quickly. “The result truly is a musem-quality exhibition that would have taken two years to prepare, but just working like all get-out, we were able to do it in six months,” Harper said. organizing While “Underground Nights,” Harper heard from the family of a man named Sam Moskovitz, who’d taken photos at one of the original shows. Harper described Moskovitz as a talented amateur photographer who was in the right place at the right time. “When I saw the photographs I was just totally taken with them. I’ve seen all kinds of Warhol material through the years, and I thought these were really different and really very special,” she said. Six of Moskovitz’s photos have been blown up and are on display. These candid shots catch Warhol in unguarded moments and are a highlight of “Underground Nights.” Those photos complement a 66-minute video of an early version of the Velvet Underground rehearsing at Warhol’s Factory. The band members, including the striking former fashion model Nico, are just hanging out and jamming — until the police interrupt and tell them to turn it down. The Exploding Plastic Inevitable’s 1966 appearance in Philadelphia didn’t end well either. “It was absolutely panned,” Harper said, laughing. John Lombardi, who covered the performance for the Camden CourierPost, wrote: “The older people left long before the two-hour ‘assault’ could lull them, numb them, then perhaps speak to them.” That’s no surprise to Unterberger, who’s studied the band’s music and documented its history. As he noted, people at the YM&WHA were unprepared for the EPL. “They might have been expecting something relatively contemporary for 1966, but not something as radical as what the Exploding Plastic Inevitable presented.” PAGE 36

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

PGN

New Hope gets Hedda for the holidays New Liberty Place eatery is red,” she said. “I get to break out all those By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

Hedda Lettuce is, ahem … headed to New Hope to unwrap her annual holiday show “Lettuce Rejoice!” The production will feature her entertaining blend of characters, satire and music Dec. 16 at the Rrazz Room. As one of New York City’s premiere drag performers, Hedda Lettuce is accustomed to the glitz and glamour, as well as the grit and grime, of the big city. But she is definitely looking forward to bringing her holiday show back to the picturesque and quieter setting of New Hope. “I’ve only had positive performing experiences at New Hope,” Lettuce said. “The audiences are wonderful and the show is so well-received. Besides the performance experiences, which I know are going to be really great, I really do love the town. I love having a little time to roam around a bit in the afternoon. I try to get there a little early so I can go into town and do some window-shopping. I didn’t experience it in its heyday, when it had a much larger gay community. It’s more gentrified now. So it has that history that I’m excited I’m still part of. I just really enjoy kitschy small towns.” Lettuce said her holiday show is a rare opportunity to see her perform in something other than her usual green stage attire. “They get to see me wear red; I never wear

silly fun Christmas songs that I do parodies about. I get to work with a brilliant piano player and we do a lot of improvisational work on stage. I get to be really goofy and saccharine. People like it. People are in the mood to be uplifted. So I can do that.” Given the social and political climate in the country right now, we need some uplifting more than ever. “I think people on the whole are drinking more that they would otherwise, so maybe that will make them more festive,” she joked about her holiday audiences. “There’s so much negativity across the board. The climate right now is so toxic that I am happy that I have a point of purpose where my job is to entertain and make people feel lighter about things. As an artist, I feel very heavy from what’s going on. That’s a personal thing. But when I go on stage I have to translate that into comedy. It’s good for me as well and it’s good for people to come together. It’s like church. We all come together. We have a good time. And then you can go home to your family are argue about who you voted for.” n Hedda Lettuce performs “Lettuce Rejoice!” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St. in New Hope. For more information or tickets, call 888-5961027 or visit www.heddalettuce.com.

ready with ramen

By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Let’s say you’re in the holiday-shopping trenches searching for the right gift at Liberty Place. All the retail action has got you a bit puckish, if not ravenous. What will satiate that hunger and keep you going on your merry consumer way? Ramen. Yeah, you heard us. Ramen! Ai Ramen, 1625 Chestnut St., in the food court at The Shops at Liberty Place, is a fast and casual eatery from the folks who brought us Hai Street Kitchen. It serves up ramen, bao, buns and sushi with the efficiency rivaling most fast-food chains. Ai Ramen’s offerings range from veggie ($7.95) to spicy miso ($9.75), all of which can be augmented with an egg half ($.50), Chashu pork, veggie or extra noodles ($1.99). We opted for the spicy miso ramen, which hit the spot with black mushroom, red ginger and scallions. The broth was aromatic and flavorful and the noodles were plentiful and satisfying. For something a little more rich and decadent, try the miso butter ramen ($9) with corn, port and garlic butter. If the ramen is too involved for your dine-and-dash purposes, the bao buns are WARHOL from page 33

The Velvet Underground were certainly an atypical rock-and-roll band. To begin with, Reed’s lyrics tackled the gritty, urban problems young people in New York might encounter, including drugs and sex. Neither were standard subjects in pop music at the time. On top of that, the VU employed avant-garde musical techniques like high volume, eerie drones and blasts of feedback. “When we hear it now,” Unterberger said, “it sounds like high art, but to many people back then it would have sounded

well done, available with Chashu pork, shrimp tempura with spicy mayo or grilled chicken ($4 each). The tempura bao bun was tender and crunchy, with an excellent kick. Freshly made daily, the sushi rolls do the job as well as one can expect in a mall setting, with picks like spicy tuna avocado ($8.49), California ($6.79) and salmon avocado ($7.99). You won’t find any of the usual namebrand soft drinks at Ai Ramen, but they do make their own iced teas, from the unsweetened Chinese oolong tea to the lightly sweet hibiscus tea ($2.38). If you’re on the go this shopping season and typical food-court fare isn’t going to cut it, warm your body and your palette with a quick and easy trip to Ai Ramen. n

If you go Ai Ramen Liberty Place, 1625 Chestnut St. Mon.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun.: noon-6 p.m. 215-398-7895 http://ai-ramen.com

like noise, and very obnoxious noise.” A lot has changed since Warhol transformed everyday objects into works of art and the Velvet Underground’s proto-punk sound baffled listeners and critics alike. Perhaps a visit to “Underground Nights” will give people today, many of whom take Warhol and the VU’s accomplishments for granted, a sense of just how radical their art was on those two evenings back in December 1966. n For more information about “Underground Nights,” visit www.gershmany.org.

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Food and Drink Directory

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Wedding Services Directory

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PORTRAIT from page 31

energy from the audience. If the curtain goes up and there’s some dynamic lighting, you can hear them all gasp. You not only hear it, you can feel the intake of breath. All eyes are on you and you can feel everything you’ve worked for coming together. PGN: What was your biggest disaster on stage? JJ: [Laughs] My disasters are usually wardrobe-related. I used to have long curly hair that came down to my shoulder. The first time I did “The Nutcracker” I was playing a soldier doll in the party scene and I was wearing this big hat. I started doing the dance and the hat shot off my head and bounced back, hanging on my neck from the strap. In order to fit all my hair into the hat, I’d had it pulled into a high ponytail, which was now sticking up as I danced around. Another time I was doing “Romeo & Juliet.” Everyone was in tights with one gold and one black leg. In the second scene everyone was supposed to change into all black. I forgot to change and so there I was in the next scene, front row, the only one still in gold. PGN: Any hobbies? JJ: I don’t really have time. I live in Lancaster so my commute is about two hours each way. I get up at 5 and drive to the train. I get there early to warm up. I have class, then rehearsals and then I catch the 6:45 back home. But I have started doing wire weaving. I make jewelry: earrings and bracelets out of copper. It’s something I can do on the train. PGN: How’d you end up in Lancaster? JJ: That’s where my husband is from. It’s a great place to raise our son, he loves running around and we have lots of space there. PGN: Is your husband in the arts? JJ: No, he’s a firefighter and an EMT and now he is a transplant coordinator with the Gift of Life organ-transplant organization. We met on MySpace! PGN: When did you come out? JJ: I’ve always just sort of been me, but the time I first

officially said something to my parents was shortly after I came to Pennsylvania. A friend said something really ugly about a mutual friend and I felt hurt enough to call my parents and tell them about it. I was crying and upset and their response was, “OK, who do we have to come mess up in Philly?” So they’ve been supportive from the start. My second-youngest brother is also gay. PGN: What are some of the misconceptions that people have about dancers? JJ: That we don’t eat. I eat a lot. I mentioned my pre-show burger. We need to to have the energy to do what we do. But I’ll go to events and people will say, “Are you allowed to eat that?” PGN: What’s your favorite dance show? JJ: I cannot watch the dance shows. Not a fan. I used to watch a little of “So You Think You Can Dance?” because I knew some of the people on the show, but that’s it. I think in part because I don’t like the judges, some of the things they say … and they have that one judge who just keeps screaming, that drives me crazy. PGN: Aww, I watch “Dancing with the Stars.” I like the fact that with all the football players, racecar drivers, etc., they make it OK for boys to dance. JJ: I do like that aspect and they seem that they’re really passionate about it and many of them continue on. It’s amazing what dance can do for your spirit. PGN: Is it nerve-wracking being married to a fireman? JJ: No, because he’s very confident and he’s very good at what he does. He’s been in the field almost all his life and I have every trust in him. PGN: A song that always makes you happy when you hear it? JJ: Kirk Franklin’s “I Smile.” PGN: Ha! Has Kirk, with his purple suits, come out yet? JJ: [Laughs] You said it, not me! PGN: Something you enjoy that others think is a chore? JJ: Working on my dance technique. I want to be expres-

PGN

sive too, but I like to make sure that I’m technically on point. PGN: Tell me about becoming a daddy. JJ: The best job in the world. There are times when I’m on stage and I submit to the role, throw myself into it and it really feels like I’m flying, like I’m transformed. Like Beyoncé’s Sasha Fierce, you feel greater than you are. Every moment of being with my son feels like that. PGN: What role are you playing in “The Nutcracker” this year? JJ: I’m playing the role of the Chinese dancer Tea. I do Candy Cane and I’m doing Cavalier. PGN: I’ve heard that Candy Cane is a little nerve-wracking. JJ: It can be. Not only are there are kids on stage swinging hoops everywhere, you have your own hoop that you have to control and jump through consecutively and it’s really fast. I’m performing that tonight. PGN: How long have you been doing “The Nutcracker?” JJ: About every year since I was 13 at one company or another. PGN: What are the good and bad aspects? JJ: Good: You know the choreography. Bad: If you’re a dancer in America you’re going to be doing it for the rest of your dance career! But I love the Balanchine version. I know it so well that I’m able to find ways to play with it without changing the choreographing. I have a new partner for the Sugarplum dance and I just love her dancing. From our very first rehearsal, we were in sync every step of the way. It was magical, it felt like we were one. So I’m really excited to perform it with her this year. PGN: And we’re excited to come watch it! n Pennsylvania Ballet performs “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” Dec. 9-31 at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, visit www.paballet. org. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol.com.

Q Puzzle Remembering Carol Across

1. Dances like Hines 5. Mary’s little pet 9. Come together 13. Small singing bird 14. “The African Queen” author 15. Actress Adams 16. “Tell ___ the judge!” 17. Verlaine’s mother 18. Erotic opening 19. Seventies sitcom starring Florence Henderson 22. Use the Divine Miss M’s name in vain? 23. Way back when 25. B. Bean’s greatest hits 26. ‘50s dance 29. ___ Hall University 30. Clearest of head 33. Candace Gingrich’s halfbrother 34. He played Florence Henderson’s husband on 19-Across 36. Red Skelton’s ___

Kadiddlehopper 38. Family of Mary, Queen of Scots 39. He played Huxtable 41. ASCAP alternative 42. Mineo of “Rebel Without a Cause” 45. Gave a tongue-lashing to 48. “Bear” that’s not a bear 50. Group with step-kids, like 19-Across 53. Arc on Bernstein’s music score 54. Tight-assed 55. It’s for skin care 56. Dorothy’s dog 57. Office slip 58. “The Children’s ___” 59. Blows away 60. Dance instructor’s topic 61. They’re performing, in “Fame”

Down

1. Wiggle the nose like Samantha 2. Poet Rimbaud 3. Paige and Cameron 4. Snooty types 5. Star of “Hello, Dalai?” 6. Like fine wine

7. Miranda in “The Devil Wears Prada” 8. Bannon’s Brinker 9. French playwright and activist 10. Well-versed. 11. He played a transsexual in “The World According to Garp” 12. Bloom of “The Producers” 20. Place where you go straight 21. Us, to Rilke 24. Can. province 27. “A Room of ___ Own” 28. Like boobs that don’t sag 30. Hats from Kahlo’s country 31. Broadway ticket souvenir 32. Amsterdam

transport 34. Firm 35. Eleniak of “Baywatch” 36. Meas. for Dr. Kildare 37. Fellatio, for one? 40. Yokohama moola 42. Person in the Navy 43. Closetemptying cry? 44. Cake parts 46. Affleck’s “Chasing Amy” crush 47. Credo 49. Montgomery Clift’s hometown 51. Edna, for one 52. Lay an egg 53. Dupont Cir. on the Metro

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

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

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

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Religion/Spirituality Arch Street United Methodist Church Services 8:30 and 11 a.m. at 55 N. Broad St.; youth/ adult Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. prayer service; 215-568-6250. Calvary United Methodist Church Reconciling, welcoming and affirming church holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 801 S. 48th St.; 215724-1702. Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church Services 11 a.m. and Spirit at Play, an arts-based Sunday school for children, 9:30 a.m. at 8812 Germantown Ave.; 215-242-9321. Church of the Crucifixion Inclusive Episcopal community holds services 10 a.m. Sundays and 6 p.m. Fridays at 620 S. Eighth St.; 215-922-1128. Church of the Holy Trinity Inclusive church holds services 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays at 1904 Walnut St.; 215-567-1267. Congregation Rodeph Shalom Shabbat services every Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 10:45 a.m. at 615 N. Broad St. ; 215-627-6747. Dignity Philadelphia Holds Mass 7 p.m. Sundays at 330 S. 13th St.; 215546-2093, dignityphila@aol.com. Evangelicals Concerned Lesbian and gay Christian counseling; 215-8607445.

Center, 801 S. 48th St.; 215-764-6364, www.koltzedek.org. Whosoever Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia Services 11 a.m. Sundays at the University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, 3637 Chestnut St.; 215294-2020, www.mccphiladelphia.com. Old First Reformed Church

Open and affirming United Church worships at 11 a.m., summer services at 10 a.m, at 151 N. Fourth St.; 215-922-4566, www.oldfirstucc.org. Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral Progressive and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays with Holy Eucharist at 3723 Chestnut St.; 215-386-0234, www. philadelphiacathedral.org. Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Group Meets 5 p.m. Sundays at William Way. Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting worships 11 a.m., summer services 10 a.m, Sundays at 1515 Cherry St.; 215-241-7000, cpmm@afsc.org. St. Luke and The Epiphany Church Open and welcoming church holds fall liturgy 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays, summer sevices 10 a.m., at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-732-1918, stlukeandtheepiphany.org. St. Mary’s Church Diverse and inclusive Episcopal church celebrates the Eucharist 11 a.m. Sundays at 3916 Locust Walk; 215-386-3916; www.stmarysatpenn.org.

First Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds prayer services 10:30 a.m. Sundays and community worship 11:30 a.m. at 123 S. 17th St.; 215-5633853.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Welcoming and diverse congregation with numerous outreach and fellowship groups holds services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday at Third and Pine streets; 215-925-5968; www.stpetersphila.org.

First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia A liberal, welcoming and diverse congregation that affirms the dignity of all. Sunday services at 10 a.m., 2125 Chestnut St.; 215-563-3980, www.firstuuphilly.org.

Tabernacle United Church Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 3700 Chestnut St.; 215-386-4100, tabunited.org.

The First United Methodist Church of Germantown A sexual-minority-affirming congregation holds services at 10 a.m., summer services 11 a.m., Sundays, with lunch to follow, at 6001 Germantown Ave.; 215-438-3077, www.fumcog.org. Grace Epiphany Church A welcoming and diverse Episcopal congregation in Mt. Airy with services 9:30 a.m. Sundays at 224 E. Gowen Ave.; 215-248-2950, www.grace-epi.org. Holy Communion Lutheran Church ELCA Reconciling in Christ congregation worships 9 a.m. Sundays at 2111 Sansom St. and 11 a.m. at 2110 Chestnut St. in the main sanctuary; 215-567-3668, www.lc-hc.org. Living Water United Church of Christ An open and affirming congregation that meets for worship 11 a.m. on Sundays at 6250 Loretto Ave.; 267-388-6081, www.lwucc.org. Kol Tzedek Reconstructionist synagogue committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community meets at Calvary

Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church Sunday worship with nursery care, 10:30 a.m. and fourth Thursday of the month contemporary worship with Communion at 7 p.m. at 2212 Spruce St.; 215732-2515, trinityphiladelphia.org. Unitarian Society of Germantown Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 6511 Lincoln Drive; 215-844-1157, www.usguu.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration Welcoming congregation holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 6900 Stenton Ave.; 215-247-2561, www. uurestoration.us. Unity Fellowship Church of Philadelphia Diverse, affirming LGBT congregation holds services 2 p.m. Sundays at 55 N. Broad St.; 215240-6106. University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 3637 Chestnut St. preceded by “Adult Forum: Sundays” at 9:30 a.m.; 215-387-2885, www.uniphila.org.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

Community Bulletin Board Community centers

■ The Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday. ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044, center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. MondayThursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088

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

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday-Friday Library: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Volunteers: New Orientation, first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

Key numbers

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

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

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

■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 n The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-496-0330

■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658 ■ Office of LGBT Affairs — Director Nellie Fitzpatrick: 215-6860330; helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov

■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-6863318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 ■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670

Health

Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870. ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/ AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088, www. actionaids.org. GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 or 866-222-3871, www.galaei.org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appointment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215685-1821. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia Board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; free referral service at 215-6279090, www.galloplaw.org. ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly busi-

108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077. Mazzoni Center LGBTQ counseling and behavioral health services, HIV/ AIDS care and services, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652, www. mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care, as well as youth drop-in (ages 14-24) 5-7p.m. Wednesdays; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Philadelphia FIGHT Comprehensive AIDS service organization providing primary care, consumer education, advocacy and research on potential treatments and vaccines; 1233 Locust St.; 215985-4448; www.fight.org. Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center Free, rapid HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 pm. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups nesses and professionals; 215557-0190, www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgja.org/ philly; philly@nlgja.org.

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Regional organization dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region, meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; 215-8402039, www.philadelphiagaytourism.com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 9-15, 2016

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