Family Portrait: Celebrate Kwanzaa with Le Ferria Lee Thomas PAGE 31
Philly tops HRC city survey for fourth year PAGE 5
Find out what all the ‘Carol’ buzz is about from director Todd Haynes PAGE 29
Antigay cab incident comes before city PAGE 2 commission Dec. 25-31, 2015
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PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 39 No. 52
Ex-Boy Scouts leader to helm org that helps LGBT youth By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Dozens gathered in Allentown last week for the introduction of a former Boy Scout leader as the new chief executive officer for a nonprofit that includes initiatives to help gay and transgender kids with housing and life skills. Thomas Harrington took over at Valley Youth House, an Allentown-based organization with offices in Philadelphia. The nonprofit announced his appointment last Wednesday and held an introduction ceremony last Friday. “What really has drawn me to Valley Youth House is its focus on serving all kids regardless of who they are,” Harrington told PGN by phone after his introduction in Allentown. “They’re at a vulnerable point in their lives — maybe they’ve run away, been kicked out, need help finding a job and stable housing. I’ve always been interested in helping our most vulnerable young people.” Harrington had PAGE 16
Top Stories 2015 By PGN Staff This was a banner year for LGBT rights. Nationally, marriage equality was finally won and trans visibility reached new heights. Locally, Philly celebrated its unparalleled position in LGBT history as we continued to make history. Like any year, there were downs that came with the ups, and injustices that followed victories. But, good or bad, each of the big LGBT stories we saw this year served to deepen conversation about, and among, our community. Let’s take a look back at the LGBT highlights of 2015.
VICTORIES Marriage equality is won nationwide Marriage equality became a reality across the country in a landmark June 26 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia, called the decision a “threat to American democracy.” “Enjoy the happiness of the moment,” said Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter at a rally on Independence Mall the day of the ruling. “But none of us can be free until we’re all free. None of us have rights until all of us have rights. Let us end discrimination of all kinds in the United States of America because that’s who we are – that’s why we’re Americans.” The decision in Hodges v. Obergefell, which challenged Ohio’s ban on same-sex marriage, found that the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to marry. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the 5-4 opinion that said denying same-sex couples marriage rights constitutes a “grave and continuing harm.” “The imposition of this disability on gays and lesbians
serves to disrespect and subordinate them,” he wrote. “The Equal Protection Clause, like the Due Process Clause, prohibits this unjustified infringement of the fundamental right to marry.” Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan joined Kennedy in the majority opinion. In a scathing dissent, Chief Justice John Roberts, along with
Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs becomes permanent There were a number of LGBT victories at the polls in November, including the success of a ballot question that made permanent the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs. Thanks to legislation introduced by City Councilwoman Blondell PAGE 24
Kathryn Knott convicted in gay bashing By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
SANTA SLIDE: Santa Claus came to town — and got down — outside Philly AIDS Thrift Dec. 19. The big guy in red drove through the area atop his classic El Camino before posing for photos with kids of all ages inside the store. Philly AIDS Thrift donates its proceeds to local HIV/AIDS causes. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Kathryn Knott, dressed in a light-blue sweater and black pants, wept silently last Friday as the “guilty” verdicts started coming. After four days of testimony and three days of jury deliberations, the 25-year-old Southampton woman was convicted of simple assault, conspiracy to commit simple assault and two counts of reckless endangerment in connection with the September 2014 attack on gay couple Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught. The jury acquitted her of two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault — which are all felonies — as well as one count of simple assault and one count of conspiracy to commit simple assault. Her convictions are all are second-degree misdemeanors, each of which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison and up to a
$5,000 fine. Knott will come before Judge Roxanne Covington Feb. 8 for sentencing. She remains free on bail until then. Assistant District Attorney Mike Barry, the lead prosecutor on the case, told PGN this week that he hasn’t determined what his sentencing recommendation will be. Prosecutors said Knott was part of a group that physically and verbally attacked Haught and Hesse at 16th and Chancellor streets Sept. 11, 2014. The melee started, they said, when Kevin Harrigan, a friend of Knott, made a derogatory comment about the men being a couple. Harrigan and co-defendant Philip Williams accepted plea deals this fall and will receive no jail time; Knott rejected a similar plea deal and instead took the case to trial. More than 20 witnesses took the stand during the trial, including both victims, who testified that Knott punched Hesse in the face during the incident. Three of Knott’s convictions regarded her PAGE 7