Philadelphia Gay News Vol. 34 No. 51
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Dec. 17 - 23, 2010
OutFest video shows city’s rainbows to youth
Lower Merion bans LGBT discrimination By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Lower Merion last week became the 18th municipality in the state to ban LGBT discrimination. The township commission of the Main Line locale unanimously approved a measure Dec. 8 that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, housing and employment. The ordinance also created a human-relations commission to investigate discrimination complaints. The 12-0 vote came just two days after the mayor of Hatboro vetoed a similar ordinance that borough council had passed last month. Both municipalities are in Montgomery County but, because of the veto, Lower Merion will now be the first in the county to adopt an LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance. This week, the Haverford Township Commission voted to delay a vote on its proposed nondiscrimination ordinance. The 5-4 vote to table the measure came Monday
after debate among the commissioners about the possible costs associated with the bill. The Lower Merion law went into effect immediately, and applications for the human-relations commission are being accepted until Jan. 4, after which the township commission will select the panel. The measure was first addressed during a council meeting this past summer by Jason Landau Goodman, a University of Pennsylvania student and a lifelong Lower Merion resident. Goodman said last Tuesday’s meeting was the first time in which a small group of detractors surfaced, although they were outnumbered by the large contingent of LGBTs and allies who turned out in favor of the ordinance. “There were a few people who spoke against it but before that night not one Lower Merion resident had come before the board to speak in opposition to the ordinance,” Goodman said, noting that the measure has seen widespread support since its introduc-
By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
RIGHTEOUS RAGE: More than 60 supporters of Riders Against Gender Exclusion added their names to the SEPTA Rider’s Bill of Rights, which RAGE presented to the transit agency at its public meeting Dec. 15. In the document, RAGE outlined the protections to which all SEPTA riders are entitled, marking the first time a formal declaration is believed to have been drafted. RAGE has been calling on SEPTA to remove its gender markers from its transpasses, maintaining the passes are discriminatory against transgender and gender-variant individuals. SEPTA has said it cannot consider such a change until a new fare See ORDINANCE, Page 6 system is in place. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Hopes for DADT repeal enter final hours The U.S. House this week again passed a measure to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and all eyes have turned to the Senate as the end of the session closes in. Advocates are urging the Senate to approve the measure before Congress recesses for the holidays, or else it could face a tougher battle next year, when Republicans take control of the House. As of press time, a vote on repeal had not yet been scheduled in the Senate, but Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said this week he may ask legislators to return to session in the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and even work up until Jan. 4, if important measures still need to be addressed. The House voted 250-175 Dec.
15 in favor of the repeal legislation. Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th Dist.) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) introduced the bill the day before. The House bill was put forth under the header Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009, a measure the Senate already passed. By doing so, the House can now send the bill back to the Senate and circumvent a committee vote. Since the Senate already approved the business measure, the bill will be given “privileged status” and be considered before other measures. The House approved the same repeal measure, sponsored by Murphy, in May as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, 234-194.
However, the defense bill stalled in the Senate this month after procedural squabbling led to the failure of a cloture vote, with nearly all Republicans voting against proceeding on the measure, many of whom said the Senate must first address the taxcut proposal. Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the stand-alone repeal measure on Dec. 10. The Senate bill has 44 cosponsors, including Pennsylvania Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey. After voting on the tax-cuts measure Wednesday, the Senate voted to begin debate on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. In the one-hour debate on the measure prior to Wednesday’s House vote, supporters and oppo-
nents picked apart the recent Pentagon report on the law, as well as remarks made by military leaders in Senate hearings. Several Republicans said Congress was rushing the repeal effort, and that there were more pressing issues lawmakers should focus on, while supporters of the bill commented on the importance and urgency of lifting the law. Murphy urged his fellow lawmakers to “do what’s right for national security.” “Enough of the games. Enough of the politics,” Murphy said. “Our troops are the best of the best and deserve a Congress that puts our safety and national security over rigid partisan interests and closedminded ideology.” ■
Following several highly publicized suicides by gay youth this fall, this year’s annual OutFest paid special tribute to LGBT young people, with dozens of students taking the stage to thunderous applause and choruses of “It gets better” from throughout the neighborhood. But thanks to a film crew on hand that day, that support will continue to reverberate far beyond the Gayborhood. “It Gets Better — Philly’s Video” hit the Internet last week and has thus far been viewed by nearly 2,000 YouTubers. The initiative was the brainchild of director/producer Mel Orpen and producers Brian Wigganton and Rudy Flesher, who collaborated with co-producers Matt Thompson and Brooke Jinheebae Boroughs. Out writer Dan Savage sparked the “It Gets Better” video effort this fall in response to a spate of youth suicides, encouraging LGBTs and allies to submit short videos to demonstrate to struggling youth that happiness is attainable. Orpen, an independent filmmaker and See VIDEO, Page 14
UN-ITING FOR RIGHTS: Bruce Knotts, openly gay chair of the United Nation’s Human Rights Committee, answers a question from the audience following his keynote speech at a Dec. 10 Human Rights Day celebration at the National Liberty Museum. The event, organized by the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia, this year focused on LGBT issues — a first for the local observance. In addition to the conversation with Knotts, the event, which drew about 75 people, featured a panel discussion with local LGBT leaders and a — Jen Colletta film screening. Photo: Scott A. Drake