pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976 Eight-year-old taxi antibias case settled for $500
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Vol. 41 No. 49 Dec. 8-14, 2017 Family Portrait: Jack Sprance, lord of the dance PAGE 35
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Temple sets sights on improving LGBT care PAGE 5
Day in the Life of ... the guy behind Macy’s Christmas magic, Matthew Taft
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LGBTs, allies blast state rep after homophobic outburst By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com
FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE: Gloria Casarez’s wife, Tricia Dressel (from left), and mother, Elisa Gonzalez, were among the guests of honors who helped break ground for the Gloria Casarez Residences Wednesday morning. The initiative, spearheaded by Project HOME, will provide 30 units of LGBT-friendly housing for young adults in North Philadelphia. It is named for the late local leader who was the inaugural director of the city’s Office of LGBT Affairs, as well as a strong advocate for LGBT youth and the homeless. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Office of LGBT Affairs names first deputy director By Jeremy Rodriguez and Jen Colletta jeremy@epgn.com, jen@epgn.com The city this week named Evan L. Thornburg as the first deputy director for the Office of LGBT Affairs. The Ursinus College graduate will report to Director of LGBT Affairs Amber Hikes, whom she will assist, support and advise about the needs of the local LGBT community. She will also serve as a liaison
to the community and spearhead LGBTfocused educational initiatives among the public and city employees. “I couldn’t be more thrilled about Evan’s arrival to the Office of LGBT Affairs,” Hikes said in a statement. “A Philadelphia native, Evan is a brilliant, creative professional who is deeply passionate about the rights and lives of our thriving Philadelphia LGBTQ community. Her extensive expertise in LGBTQ training and education will be invaluable to the office’s goals and priorities moving forward.” Most recently, Thornburg has worked as a freelance diversity consultant, leading educational workshops, presentations and trainings at local organizations and universities. “It’s been a catch-all of spaces that needed an LGBTQ perspective,” Thornburg, 32, said. “I want to bring those experiences of educating people and doing PAGE 15 presentations into this
touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don’t.” Bradford, who is married to a woman and LGBT community members and allies has four kids, laughed off the comments. “We are officially off the rails,” Bradford this week spoke out against an anti-LGBT state representative’s in-session homopho- said at the meeting. “My intent was just to beg for your permission for about 30 secbic tirade. On Tuesday, state Rep. Matt Bradford onds.” Bradford told PGN that he was “disgusted (D-Montgomery County) touched Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler County) briefly and appalled” by Metcalfe’s remarks. “Those comments are never acceptable on the arm in what Bradford later described as a plea for more time to discuss a vote on and completely beyond the pale,” Bradford a bill related to eminent domain and roads. said. Metcalfe did not respond to PGN’s Metcalfe, a longtime opponent of LGBT rights, responded with insinuations about requests for comment. The incident happened during a meeting Bradford’s sexual orientation and affirmaof the House State Government Committee, tions of his heterosexuality. “I’m a heterosexual,” Metcalfe responded which Metcalfe chairs. It is the same committee where the proafter Bradford touched his arm. “I have a wife. I love my wife. I don’t like men, as posed Pennsylvania Fairness Act — which you might, so stop touching me all the time. would ban discrimination in the workKeep your hands to yourself. If you want to place, housing and pubPAGE 6
Advocates seek to ‘educate’ legislators in Harrisburg in wake of anti-trans bill By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A group of trans people and allies traveled to Harrisburg this week to raise awareness among lawmakers about trans issues, in light of proposed legislation that would limit or ban public funding for medically necessary trans services. The state currently funds a wide range of medically necessary trans services for eligible Pennsylvanians, including gender-confirmation surgery, hysterectomy, hormonal therapy, breast reconstruction, penectomy, vaginoplasty, mastectomy, vaginal dilation and release of labial adhesions. But H.B. 1933 would end funding for those services within the state’s medical-assistance program and Children’s Health Insurance Program. The bill had not been voted on in the state House as of presstime. “We talked, we educated and we engaged state reps around H.B. 1933 and the needs that we have as trans Pennsylvanians,” said Naiymah A. Sanchez, transgender education and advocacy coordinator for the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “It was a collective
effort.” The Republican-controlled state House hasn’t permitted public hearings on H.B. 1933. But Sanchez said legislators heard directly from trans people on Dec. 5. “The whole day was impactful,” Sanchez noted. Participants included five trans residents of Morris Home, Pennsylvania Youth Congress, GALAEI, ACLU of Pennsylvania and executive directors from several LGBT community centers in Pennsylvania. Sanchez said the experience was “empowering” for trans participants. “We were lifting their narratives,” she said. Trans advocates are planning a return trip to Harrisburg to meet with state senators in the near future. “The efforts will continue,” Sanchez said. Sanchez also commended state Rep. Brian Sims (D) for being “very supportive” of the educational efforts. On Facebook, Pennsylvania Youth Congress called H.B. 1933 “one of the most transphobic bills in modern state history.” But its sponsor, state PAGE 15