pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 40 No. 53 Dec. 30, 2016 - Jan. 5, 2017
Our favorite photos from 2016 PAGES 8-9
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Family Portrait: Jose Colon-Laird conquers challenges with PAGE 29 positivity
Mazzoni’s long-running HIV/AIDS group shifts PAGE 2 format
Person of the Year 2016: Deja Lynn Alvarez By PGN Staff Whether it’s providing support for homeless LGBT people, connecting those in need with services or speaking out against injustice, Deja Lynn Alvarez has made a mark on the LGBT community this year. “Deja Lynn Alvarez is a tireless advocate for LGBTQ people throughout Philadelphia,” Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement to PGN. “Her dedication to the most vulnerable and marginalized among us reflects her passion and commitment to the service of Philadelphians. Philadelphia is a better city for having incredible people like Deja here and dedicated to working with and for us all.” Home for Hope Alvarez’s primary work in the LGBT community is as the director of the LGBTQ Home For Hope. The home, which changed its name from The Divine Light LGBTQ Wellness Center earlier this year, is the first shelter in Pennsylvania to specifically serve LGBT individuals. Home for Hope celebrated its first anniversary in September. Sakina Dean, the owner of Home for Hope, had the vision of opening a shelter for LGBT people last year and shared the vision with Alvarez. “We went through the building and [Alvarez] was just
amazed,” Dean said. “And she said, ‘Listen, I’m on board however I can assist you with this. I want to be a part of this.’” Alvarez came on board as the director in November 2015. Among her responsibilities, she oversees residents and the facility, provides formal and informal counseling and leads fundraising. The organization is is supported by donations but Alvarez often buys food and other supplies out of her own pocket. “I needed someone who wanted to do this from the heart and work with me when we were able to get on our feet and she did that,” Dean said. “She has been dedicated. She’s been advocating. She’s been a fighter for the people. I feel confident that I can sleep at night knowing that somebody loves just as much as I do.” Dean mentioned that Alvarez’s willingness to sacrifice her own finances says “so much about a person’s character.” She called Alvarez a “hero” and “a beautiful woman.” “All of our ladies, especially from our trans community, look up to her because she is a vision of hope,” Dean said. “She came from right where they are coming from now and look at the accomplishments that she has done. She’s a gift. She’s my gift and I’m just gracious and very grateful to have her.” Alvarez’s work was recognized by DVLF, which named PAGE 6
ALVAREZ AT THIS SUMMER’S WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH COUNTER-PROTEST AT MAZZONI CENTER Photo: Juan David Franco
Training to offer resources on racism, discrimination By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: More than 75 people attended William Way LGBT Community Center’s annual potluck on Christmas Day. The center’s ballroom was bedecked in holiday colors, and volunteers served a full, and filling, holiday meal with all the fixings. Photo: Bob Skiba
The LGBT community will learn ways to report discriminatory and racist acts during a training next month at William Way LGBT Community Center. The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations will hold a free Know Your Rights workshop Jan. 11 in which agency officials will teach participants how to identify discrimination, how to protect oneself and details about the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, a law prohibiting discrimination, including against LGBT people. The training is part the PCHR’s initiatives to create resources for the LGBT community, which came as a response to PCHR’s Oct. 25 hearing addressing allegations of racism in the community. “At the public hearing, it became clear to us for more members of the LGBTQ community to know exactly what the PCHR does,” said PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau. “We want people to know about all of the protections under the Fair Practices Ordinance, how to file a complaint and the PCHR’s internal process that occurs after people file a complaint.” Landau and PCHR Deputy Director Pam Gwaltney will lead the training, which will include a presentation, handouts and a Q&A segment for participants. “We have handouts and guides that break Fair Practices down into simpler forms so everybody will understand
how to exercise their rights when needed,” Landau said. Landau said she hopes the training will clarify the differences between racism and discrimination while showing how the PCHR can combat each situation. “If somebody throws a racial epithet at you on the street, that’s racism. If your employer yells a racial epithet at you and fires you, that is discrimination,” Landau said. “The PCHR wants to make sure to clarify the remedies available to people based on what they’re experiencing. “If it’s a hate or bias incident, we’re going to engage the police,” Landau added, explaining how the PCHR would deal with different situations. “If it is racism that doesn’t rise to discrimination, we could engage in conflict resolution and mediation tactics and facilitate a dialogue to help create a better understanding between people.” Landau recognized that racism continues to persist in the LGBT community, which she said highlights the importance of individuals knowing their rights. “Sadly, racism in the LGBTQ community has been happening for decades,” Landau said. “And we heard many situations loud and clear at our public hearing that it continues. PCHR is determined to do everything we can to eradicate the racism and discrimination that is happening in our community so that 30 years from now, we are not reliving the same situation as we are now.” PCHR’s Know Your Rights training will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 11 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. n