Peter Bisuito: Laughing all the way to the gym
Murder victim’s family still hopeful after three years of waiting
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Family Portrait: H.D. Ivey is in a league of his own PAGE 29
LGBT detainees get outside support
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June 26 - July 2, 2015
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 39 No. 26
LGBT art project hits billboards throughout city Charges upheld in murder A pioneering initiative was unveiled this week that united LGBT youth of trans woman and seniors. The collaborative artwork will be displayed on billboards By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com
and bus shelters throughout the area. By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com A cross-generational LGBT art project is gaining unprecedented exposure, as local billboards and bus shelters are now carrying images from the groundbreaking effort. “Showing Face” is the result of a collaborative initiative among youth from The Attic Youth Center and seniors from the John C. Anderson Apartments. The official dedication of the project took place June 24 at JCAA. The project was made possible by The Mural Arts Program, along with The Attic, JCAA, William Way LGBT Community Center, the city’s Department of Human Services, Dr. Magnus Hirschfield Fund and Clear Channel. “This is a cross-generational project that fosters a conversation, dialogue and discourse between two often-disconnected groups in the LGBT community — seniors and young people,” said Mural Arts executive director Jane Golden. “Participants were able to talk about their history and obstacles and how they were overcome. This project shines a light on their stories and presents them in a way the whole city can see.” Golden said the idea for the project was inspired by the popular and similarly largescale Mural Arts “Love Letters” series. “We always envisioned displaying the project like a ‘campaign,’ but it was never feasible until an unplanned conversation with Clear Channel,” Golden said. During a call to discuss unrelated business, Golden said, she mentioned the idea to Clear Channel and they were interested immediately. “They came in and we had a meeting and they made a very generous donation for the billboards,” Golden said. “Now, participants and the LGBT community at large can see themselves reflected in public space. We at Mural Arts believe this the perfect example of our mission of ‘art as social change’ in action.” According to Golden, the idea also resonated instantly with William Way and other organizations that became partners of the project. PAGE 2 “ We ’v e h a d a
BRIDGING THE GENERATIONAL GAP: Seniors, youth and everyone in between gathered at the John C. Anderson Apartments Wednesday morning for the unveiling of “Showing Face,” a cross-generational art project exploring LGBT identity. The project was supported by the city, a number of local LGBT agencies and ally organizations and will be displayed on large-scale murals throughout the city. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Local Scouts to accept gay adults By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The Boy Scouts of America Cradle of Liberty Council voted unanimously last week to accept gay adult volunteers and employees into the organization. Since 2013, Scouting councils across the country have accepted gay youth, but only a handful have accepted gay adults. Cradle’s new membership and employment policy goes into effect immediately, said James M. Papada, president of Cradle. He said about 30 people attended Cradle’s board of directors meeting on June 19, when the vote was taken.
“We’re just prepared to go forward and hopefully be friends with everybody and be as inclusive as we can,” Papada told PGN. He said Cradle has 75 employees and 5,000 volunteers who serve about 15,000 youth in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware counties. Papada said the public response to Cradle’s action has been mostly favorable. “We’ve only had one negative call so far,” he said. Papada said he doesn’t expect any negative repercussions from national BSA leaders. “We informed senior executives of the BSA that we intended PAGE 17
After being delayed several weeks, the preliminary hearing of the alleged killer of a local transgender woman got off to a strong start in favor of the prosecution. Judge Patrick F. Dugan ruled that Assistant District Attorney Guy D’Andrea had met the Commonwealth’s burden of proof to proceed will all charges against defendant Raheam Felton, including first-degree murder. Felton is charged in connection with the May 18 murder of 21-year-old Londyn Chanel. Instrumental in D’Andrea’s case against Felton was testimony
from Maiya Bankz. Bankz was living in the abandoned North Philadelphia house with Chanel, Felton and another woman at the time of Chanel’s death and was an eyewitness to the alleged murder. Bankz said 31-year-old Felton was her boyfriend of approximately one year. The three had been living in the abandoned home in the 2200 block of Ingersoll Street for only a few days. According to Bankz, Felton, Chanel and the other woman, identified only as Star, returned to the house after Bankz had asked Felton to pick up some Chinese food. Bankz said she had fallen asleep waiting for PAGE 14
PAT launches HIV testing center By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Phillly AIDS Thrift’s already-expansive offerings got even broader this week with the opening of the store’s new HIV testing center. The ribbon was cut Thursday, National HIV Testing Day, on the pioneering new Philly AIDS Thrift HIV Testing Center, headquartered at the retail store at 710 S. Fifth St.
The center will offer free, rapid HIV testing on the store’s second floor two days per week, in partnership with five local agencies: ActionAIDS, Bebashi, GALAEI, Mazzoni Center and Philadelphia FIGHT, who will staff the site on a rotating schedule. Along with testing, the partners will provide free counseling, education, referrals, risk-reduction plans, condoms and lube. Bilingual PAGE 17
HIV TESTING RECEPTION AREA WITH TREASURES FROM PHILLY AIDS THRIFT Photo: Scott A. Drake