Philadelphia Gay News Dec. 31, 2010 - Jan. 6, 2011
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Vol. 34 No. 53
PGN
Top Stories 2010 PGN Staff In the last 12 months, the LGBT community has been on a collective rollercoaster, with setbacks and progress, crime and redemption, and a few draws. On the positive side, the community saw the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” as well as the introduction of a statewide civil-union bill and the passage of several local nondiscrimination ordinances. For the first time, the city raised a rainbow flag over City Hall during Gay History Month. On the negative side, several pro-LGBT legislators and candidates were defeated in November’s election and New Jersey’s marriage-equality bill failed. In Philadelphia, the ongoing dispute between the city and the Cradle of Liberty Council roiled on, with a jury ruling, a proposed settlement and a community not satisfied with the pending outcome. The issue of bullying and LGBT teen suicide gained mainstream attention after several gay — or perceived gay — teens took their own lives. WINS Marriage amendment fails in PA For the third consecutive session, an effort
to amend the state constitution to ban samesex marriage failed in the Pennsylvania legislature. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted in March to table the so-called Marriage Protection Amendment, proposed earlier this year by Sen. John Eichelberger. The 8-6 vote to table came from the same committee that, two years ago, voted 10-4 in favor of advancing a similar measure. Eichelberger had announced his intention to introduce the measure last year and received sharp criticism for his comment on a radio debate that same-sex couples were “allowed” to exist. State sees first civil-union bill A few months after the first marriageequality bill in Pennsylvania was introduced to the state legislature, a measure to allow civil unions also surfaced. In April, Rep. Mark Cohen (D-202nd Dist.) introduced the state’s first civil-union bill, with 31 cosponsors. It was sent to the Judiciary Committee but did not see a vote. Although both Cohen’s bill and Sen. Daylin Leach’s marriage-equality legislation did not advance this session, the legislators said they intend to reintroduce them next session.
Federal legislation losses By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer The 2009-10 federal legislative session boasted some landmark LGBT victories, although there were several LGBT-rights measures that failed to advance through the Democratic-controlled Congress, which soon will include a sharp influx of Republicans. The legislature did hand the LGBT community two very important victories: the October 2009 passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate-Crimes Prevention Act and the December 2010 repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Beyond those, however, there were several LGBT measures that died with little progress this session. Employment Non-Discrimination Act The federal measure that would ban employment discrimination against LGBT individuals died again this year. ENDA has been introduced in every legislative session but one since 1994 and,
while the House approved the measure in 2007, no votes were taken on the bill in the past session. Out Congressman Barney Frank (DMass.) introduced the House bill in June 2009 and it was sent to the Education and Labor Committee, which held a hearing in September of that year. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Senate version in August of that year, and it died in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee. Both bills saw their highest level of support yet, with 203 cosponsors in the House and 45 in the Senate. Respect for Marriage Act The first legislative effort to repeal the federal ban on same-sex marriage was initiated in this session. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in September 2009, seeking to lift the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. See LEGISLATION, Page 3
Progress in the suburbs With an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination bill stalled in the state legislature, several suburban municipalities have taken it upon themselves to advance LGBT rights. The governing council of Doylestown in August and Lower Merion in December unanimously approved similar nondiscrimination protections for LGBT residents and visitors. With the success of both pieces of legislation, the state now has 18 municipalities that prevent LGBT discrimination. A handful of other municipalities, such as Radnor, Bethlehem and Haverford, are considering similar bills. The Hatboro Borough Council approved an LGBT-nondiscrimination ordinance in a 4-3 vote this fall, but the town’s mayor later vetoed it, and an effort to override the mayor’s rejection failed. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repealed This year saw one of the biggest LGBTrights victories in recent history as Congress repealed the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers. While the House of Representatives approved a repeal measure in May, the initiative, which was attached to a defense-authorization bill, stalled in the Senate, failing two cloture votes this fall.
Decade notables The past 10 years have seen a wealth of progress for the local LGBT community, as it gains visibility and influence within Philadelphia and beyond. Philadelphia’s position as a bastion of LGBT history was solidified in 2005 when the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission approved the placement of the Gay Pioneers Historical Marker at Sixth and Chestnut streets, which tells of the 1960s Annual Reminder protests. The Gayborhood also received its own boost with the April 2007 installation of 36 rainbow street signs. The initiative was spearheaded by the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus and supported by the city and, since 2007, an additional 32 signs have been put in place. Also elevating the city’s place as an LGBT tourist destination, Philadelphia hosted the 2010 U.S. Mr. Gay competition in November, and the city won the bid for the Amateur Sports Alliance of North America’s World Series in August 2011. Within the city, the LGBT community has also seen extensive growth. The transgender and ally commu-
MURPHY (RIGHT) AT THE 2009 VOICES OF HONOR TOUR KICKOFF TO REPEAL “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL” PGN file photo
Following the long-awaited publication of the Pentagon’s report on the policy, which largely showed there would be little risk in repeal, and a series of Senate hearings on the measure, the repeal effort gained momentum at the end of the year. Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy See TOP STORIES 2010, Page 7
nity came together to organize the first Transgender Health Conference in 2002, which has gained national prominence. LGBT health facility Mazzoni Center expanded its reach in 2008 with the launch of the LGBT Family and Community Medicine primary-care practice. The community’s financial infrastructure saw a boon with the 2002 launch of LGBT grantmaking agency Sapphire Fund, while the business community launched LGBT chamber of commerce Independence Business Alliance in 2007. In 2008, Mayor Michael Nutter hired the city’s first director of LGBT affairs, Gloria Casarez, to provide direct outreach to the LGBT community. The local LGBT sports scene gained momentum with the launch of the Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League, Gryphons Rugby and Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association. And the community saw inclusion in mainstream sports with the start of Gay Community Nights at the Philadelphia Phillies, 76ers and Flyers. ■ — Jen Colletta