PGN Jan. 12-18, 2018 by The Philadelphia Gay News

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

Vol. 42 No. 2

Conversion therapy banned in Doylestown

Jan. 12-18, 2018

Family Portrait: Heather Raquel Phillips

PAGE 2

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

Fed review of Pulse tragedy draws criticism

PAGE 23

Bebashi holds inaugural Awareness Ball

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N.J. governor signs LGBT-inclusive bills By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com

FAREWELL FINALE: Henry Brinton (left) and Jeffrey Shaw remember friend and Venture Inn coworker Danny Ricard in front of a photo of him at U Bar Jan. 6. The final salute to the bartender drew about 50 friends and former patrons on a below-zero wind-chill day. The date was chosen to celebrate his birthday, something he loathed to do when he was alive. The event included storytelling, a lot of Dolly Parton songs and orange-vanilla-almond cake, something Ricard would make for patrons on their own birthdays. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Outgoing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) signed three LGBT-inclusive bills Monday. Two trans-inclusive resolutions, introduced in February 2017, honor Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance. An additional bill, introduced in May 2016, “requires public institutions of higher education to allow students, faculty and other staff to identify sexual orientation and gender identity on any forms used to collect certain demographic data.” Christie issued the following statement on the latter bill: “Although the provisions of this bill will allow public institutions of higher education to better assess the percentage of the LGBT population on campus, which may assist schools [in] provid[ing] more comprehensive outreach and support, I have concerns about the protection of student privacy rights.” Christie said he expects all public institutions of higher education to respect students’ privacy rights and comply with state and federal laws when maintaining records containing private student information. To honor Transgender Day of Remembrance, the governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation observing the national event on Nov. 20. Democrat Phil

Murphy will take on the governor post Jan. 16. Each year, members of the transgender community and allies will honor those who have been victims of anti-transgender violence. Transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith founded Transgender Day of Remembrance in memory of Rita Hester, who was murdered at age 34, the state resolution reads. In 1998, Hester was stabbed in the chest 20 times while in her Boston, Mass., apartment. The transgender woman ultimately died from cardiac arrest when she arrived at the hospital. Her murder was never solved. “With so many seeking to erase transgender people — sometimes in the most brutal ways possible — it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice,” Smith said in a statement. Christie also signed a resolution designating Nov. 14-20 as Transgender Awareness Week in an effort to increase awareness and understanding of prejudice, discrimination and violence faced by transgender individuals. Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino applauded the resolutions. “It’s important to recognize a larger community that is often overlooked and left out of the conversation,” he told PGN. “Transgender people are the backbone of the LGBT community and they deserve to be recognized and celebrated.” n

Prosecutor in gay-bashing case among those ousted 12th Street Gym beset by legal woes from D.A.’s Office By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

By Jen Colletta PGN Contributor

The 12th Street Gym, an LGBT-oriented business facing potential closure under new ownership of the building, is a defendant in a federal lawsuit that the gym’s insurance company refuses to cover. An Arizona woman filed the suit, claiming the gym hired Jerome P. McNeill as a masseur without conducting a proper background check. She claims McNeill sexually assaulted her in 2014 while giving her a massage at Loews Hotel in Center City. The woman contends the gym had a business relationship in 2014 with Loews to operate a gym and spa at the hotel, where her alleged sexual assault took place. Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company refuses to cover the gym in the woman’s case, noting that it already paid $1 million to settle a similar case filed by a Texas woman, according to court papers. Attorneys for the insurance company couldn’t be reached for comment. A discovery hearing was scheduled for Jan. 9 before Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Patricia A. McInerney. The Arizona woman’s case is headed for a jury trial in March before U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter, unless the judge grants a pending motion for reconsideration by the gym. McNeill, 29, recently was convicted of indecent assault in a criminal case pursued by the Texas woman. She claims McNeill PAGE 15

Three days after he was sworn in as the city’s top law-enforcement officer, District Attorney Larry Krasner ousted several-dozen employees, including the attorney who prosecuted a high-profile gay-bashing attack. Three staffers and 28 assistant district attorneys were forced to resign Jan. 5 in what Krasner’s office referred to as a “broad reorganization of the structure of the DAO” intended to bring “culture change.” Veteran prosecutor Mike Barry was among those forced out. Barry spent nearly 19 years with the D.A.’s Office, and most recently was known among the local LGBT community as lead counsel on the D.A.’s case against Kathryn

Knott, Phillip Williams and Kevin Harrigan. The trio was prosecuted for the September 2014 attack on gay couple MIKE BARRY Zachary Hesse Andrew PGN file photo and H a u g h t . Barry joined the office in March 1999, spent six years in the Homicide Unit and was named chief of the Central Bureau in 2010. Among his most notable cases, Barry prosecuted former police officer Frank Tepper for a 2009 murder and Mustafa Ali for the 2008 double murder of two retired cops. Barry said he received a call last Friday to report to the office,

despite that it was closed due to snow. Police assigned to the office met Barry in the lobby and escorted him to the human-resources department. The HR director then told him Krasner wanted his letter of resignation by Jan. 8, or else he would be terminated. “I was informed of when my last paycheck would be issued and when my benefits would end,” Barry said, adding that no severance package was offered to any of the ousted employees. “I was then escorted by police to my office where they waited while I was allowed to pack my personal belongings in my office. I was escorted to my office lobby and told I could not go back up.” A number of news cameras outside the office Friday afternoon PAGE 15 filmed the

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

Resource listings Legal resources • ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513; aclupa.org • AIDS Law Project of PA: 215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • AIDS Law Project of South Jersey: 856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org/ • Equality PA: equalitypa. org; 215-731-1447

• Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations — Rue Landau: 215-686-4670 • Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-7603686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com • SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-920-9537

• Office of LGBT Affairs — Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; amber.hikes@phila.gov

Community centers • The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. • LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce

St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu.

• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center

Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

• William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.

Health and HIV testing • Action Wellness: 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org

• AIDS Library:

1233 Locust St.; aidslibrary.org/

• AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080

• Bebashi-Transition to Hope: 1235 Spring Garden St.; 215769-3561; bebashi.org

• COLOURS: coloursorganization.org, 215832-0100 • Congreso de Latinos Unidos;

216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870

• GALAEI: 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.; 267-457-3912, galaei.org. Spanish/ English

• Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad

St.; 215-685-1821

• Mazzoni Center:

1348 Bainbridge St.; 215-563-0652, mazzonicenter.org

• Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust St.; 215-985-4448, fight.org

• Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center:

1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206

• Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207

Doylestown becomes first Bucks County municipality to ban conversion therapy By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com Doylestown last month became the first municipality in Bucks County to ban conversion therapy for minors. The borough is trekking alongside other municipalities in the state that pushed for the ban, including Reading, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Philadelphia. Doylestown Council passed the ordinance, which rules the controversial practice banning conversion therapy for minors as a form of discrimination on Dec. 18. The controversial ban prohibits mental-health professionals from practicing conversion therapy on anyone under age 18. Borough officials also say the practice of conversion therapy — therapeutic approaches to alter sexual orientation, gender identity or expression — is threatening to the health, safety and welfare of minors on the LGBT spectrum. Councilman Don Berk, who sponsored the ordinance, said it was an imperative action for the borough. “It speaks volumes to the youth — we want them to know we understand it’s not a disease. You are who you are,” Berk said. The American Psychological Association recognizes anyone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender as natural in human identity, and that such an identity is not a disease, disorder or illness that can be “converted” in therapy. While the state of Pennsylvania does not have statewide laws prohibiting conversion therapy on minors, cities have taken steps and passed legislation at a local level. Doylestown Mayor Ron Strouse said he hopes movement on the ban will encourage state action on a state level. “The ordinance passed was not any reflection of any kind of problem in the

community but a reflection that we were taking action because the state hasn’t,” Strouse said. Only nine states and Washington D.C. have banned conversion therapy. The Doylestown Council voted 7-1 in favor of the ban, with Councilman Joe Flood being the sole “no” vote. Doylestown has a Human Relations Commission, which was established in 2010 for any discriminatory complaints. The ordinance would come into play if citizens make a complaint. Strouse said it’s an unlikely scenario in Doylestown, but the footwork is done in case a problem should arise and an investigation is launched. Members of community organization Rise Up Doylestown attended the council meetings in support of the ban. The ban is significant and takes a stand at a local level against an issue that is extreme and damaging, said Marlene Pray, a community leader with Rise Up Doylestown the group and Director of Bucks County LGBTQA youth center, The Rainbow Room. “There wasn’t an impending wave of this damaging and dangerous practice but it sends such an important message to our community, mental-health providers and primarily to our youth that we believe in them — they do not need to be fixed, they need to be loved,” Pray said. She added that one of the most inspiring parts of passing the ban was sharing the story with LGBT youth. While the ban is significant, Pray said it does not eliminate or address the bullying, homelessness or drug and alcohol risks that still exist in communities and schools. “It’s important to know this is not a structural change that addresses oppression and marginalization of LGBTQ youth in our community. It’s a message of love and we have a lot more work to do.” n

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Other • Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 • Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com

• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK • PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 • Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

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Next week: New Year, New You

News & Opinion

9 — Obituary 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Mark My Words Street Talk

Columns

12 — Out Money: The evolution of retirement 13 — Thinking Queerly: Winter blues 28 — Dining Out: NoLibs gets Heritage

Arts & Culture

“When you’re talking about the women’s movement, inclusivity does, in fact, include everyone — it doesn’t matter your gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status or religion.” ~ Deja Lynn Alvarez, on this year’s Philadelphia women’s march, page 7

19 — Feature: Standups that stand out 22 — Comics 23 — Family Portrait 25 — Scene in Philly 26 — Out & About 29 — Q Puzzle

Say hello to Philadelphia’s new poet laureate, queer author Raquel Salas Rivera.

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Creep of the Week: Mike Pence, who is neck and neck with Donald Trump for Creep of the Year already.

Interim Editor

Jeremy Rodriguez (ext. 206) jeremy@epgn.com

Staff Writers

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Well-Strung duo performs on the anniversary edition of “The Amazing Race.” The two are fit as a fiddle.

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Temple alum Yance Ford documents the anguish of his brother’s murder in “Strong Island.”

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LOCAL PGN

Critics blast Pulse report commissioned by feds By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

did and wait six minutes to enter the club.” Lankford acknowledged many acts of bravery by local police and emergency A federally commissioned review of the responders. “There’s no doubt that the officers [at Orlando Police Department’s response to the Pulse Nightclub massacre is drawing Pulse] attempted to balance the risks to the criticism from some active-shooter experts. civilians who were there and the risks to Released last month, the 198-page report themselves. And, so, they were balancing was produced by the Police Foundation, a that. But they weren’t simply doing whatD.C.-based nonprofit organization, at the ever it took to rescue the victims. They were not willing to go to any lengths to request of the U.S. Department of Justice. The report commends Orlando police for save lives. They were only willing to take a “strong” response to Omar Mateen, the certain risks.” Chaos continued while Mateen was barrilone gunman who embarked on a shooting spree June 12, 2016 inside the LGBT caded with hostages in a women’s restroom nightclub, killing 49 patrons and wounding inside Pulse, according to Grollnek. “Police lost the tactical advantage at 58 others. But critics say the report fails to properly Pulse within the first 90 seconds and didn’t analyze a six-minute interval during which regain it for three hours,” he said. “They Mateen shot about 100 people inside Pulse let Mateen keep the advantage for way too long, which the report fails to criticize.” while local police remained outside. After Mateen was confined to a women’s The report concludes that police used the six minutes effectively by organizing two restroom at 2:10 a.m., police should have promptly rescued victims in other parts of “contact teams” prior to entering Pulse. But Chris Grollnek, an active-shooter Pulse who weren’t trapped with Mateen in the restroom, expert based in Lankford added. McKinney, Texas, dis- “The officers who “Once this shooter agrees. He said police was barricaded in should have entered responded to Pulse are the bathroom and no Pulse within 90 sec- human beings. I wouldn’t longer firing, they onds of Mateen’s should have gotarrival, when they had say it’s cowardice if they ten everyone out of him outnumbered. were afraid and hesitant the club much more “You never wait quickly,” Lankford outside while some- to enter the club without body shoots people backup. But, certainly, that opined. Instead, news inside,” Grollnek accounts indicate said. “You attempt to doesn’t mean we want that some officers neutralize the shooter exited the building as rapidly as possi- them to do what they did and remained outble. If [Florida] Gov. and wait six minutes to side while multiple [Rick] Scott’s family victims inside were were inside, would enter the club.” in critical condition. police have waited six According to dispatch logs, Orlando minutes to enter Pulse?” Adam W. Lankford, a mass-shooting police deployed a robot into Pulse at 3:59 expert and criminology professor at the a.m. that ordered victims inside to “stay University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, put.” About an hour later, police initiated an echoed those sentiments. “The active shooter is the source of the exterior-wall breach the report calls “an problem,” Lankford told PGN. “You have appropriate tactical decision,” adding that to focus on the source as quickly as possi- “the suspect was quickly neutralized by law ble. In other words, if you have a hole in the enforcement.” But Lankford emphatically disagrees. bottom of your boat, you don’t sit there and go into an in-depth plan on how to fix the He said the wall breach lacked “speed and hole. Every minute counts. You just fix it.” surprise,” which are essential elements for Lankford added: “The report doesn’t crit- a successful rescue. “There was a 13-minute interval between ically analyze whether the benefits of forming contact teams is offset by the number of the first explosive detonation by police [and victims who may die during the delay. The neutralizing Mateen]. That’s an outrageous period of time, which the report glosses report doesn’t raise that point.” Lankford said he wasn’t accusing over,” Lankford said. Grollnek said Orlando police underestiOrlando police of cowardice. “The officers who responded to Pulse are mated the strength of the wall and miscalhuman beings. I wouldn’t say it’s coward- culated the restroom’s location when they ice if they were afraid and hesitant to enter initiated the wall breach. “The Orlando police response to Pulse the club without backup. But, certainly, that PAGE 15 doesn’t mean we want them to do what they failed on every level,” he

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

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By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com A local HIV/AIDS-service organization will host its first ball this weekend. Bebashi – Transition to Hope will host its inaugural Awareness Ball 4 p.m. Jan. 13 to spread knowledge about the organization’s services. “We wanted to do an event where we can get the young people into a room, where we can let them know about Bebashi’s services and that we’re a service to them,” said Christopher Melvin, a Bebashi prevention specialist and organizer of the ball. The free event will include contests, music, a photographer, testing services, and resource tables and community assessments from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s POSSE (Promoting Ovah-ness through Safer Sex Education) Project. Bebashi communication specialist Brenda Alexander said this event is part of the organization’s efforts to reach out to the LGBT community. “This is part of our visibility strategy,” Alexander said. “A lot of people know the services we offer but they don’t really connect those services to Bebashi. “We definitely want to make sure that people understand that we’re here and know exactly what we do because we do so much more than just HIV/ AIDS prevention. This is just expanding upon that.” Bebashi has coordinated efforts for the LGBT community in the past. This includes SOULS (Society of Unique Love & Support), which pro-

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A hearing will be held this month regarding a civil suit filed by a South Jersey couple, who claim they were assaulted inside a local bar due to anti-LGBT animus. In May 2015, two patrons at King Street Pub in Gloucester City allegedly assaulted David Monaco and Florin Nikollaj and made derogatory comments about the couple’s sexual orientation. The couple filed a civil suit against the pub in June 2016, claiming the establishment should be held liable for the incident. One of the alleged assailants told the bar manager he was “going to f*ck with those fags,” according to the suit, adding that “the bar manager, rather than taking any action to prevent that conduct, did absolutely nothing.” A “proof hearing” on the dis-

pute is slated for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 29 before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Bernardin at the Hall of Justice in Camden. Stanley J. Bond, owner of King Street Pub, denied that his establishment is liable for any wrongdoing in the matter. In an interview with PGN, Bond said he doesn’t have money at his disposal to give to the plaintiffs, particularly since he’s already expended $5,000 in legal fees. Bond also dubbed the lawsuit “frivolous,” adding he shouldn’t be required to give any money to the plaintiffs. Bond emphasized that he supports LGBT rights. “A number of my customers are gay, lesbian or bisexual,” he said. “That’s none of my business. I find them friendlier than most people. I like everybody. It doesn’t make any difference. I’m a people person by nature.

Tell us what you think Email prab@epgn.com or call 215-625-8501 ext. 212 for more info.

Bebashi’s Awareness Ball will be held 4 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale, 1336 Spring Garden St.

Hearing scheduled in South Jersey assault case By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

MINSTER & FACCIOLO, LLC

vides sexual-health information and treatment access to underserved populations within the city’s LGBT community. Additionally, its Trans Necessities program provides accessories, clothing, wigs, binding materials and other types of clothing for trans individuals. Bebashi is also reaching out to the ballroom-dance community through this event. “The ballroom community is an underserved community in Philadelphia, so we wanted to introduce ourselves to them,” Melvin said. He added that individuals in the house-ballroom scene have been participating in a contest for the past month where they got tested for HIV/AIDS and other STDS at Bebashi or CHOP. Each person tested received one point for their house, and the house with the most points will receive a $500 prize at the ball. “We definitely wanted to do something to not just service them but also honor them for the work they do in their own community and within the LGBTQ community,” Melvin said. “In addition to that, it’s just another event to celebrate the community as a whole. Yes, there’s the Gayborhood. Yes, they have their own community of friends, but we also want to expand it outside of the Gayborhood, just to let them know, We’re here. Our services are open to you, we love you and we appreciate you.” n

I respect those folks as much as anybody else.” Deborah L Mains, an attorney for the plaintiffs, issued this statement: “Costello & Mains [Law Firm] does not file frivolous lawsuits. In our view, the conduct of the King Street Pub on the day in question constitutes a violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and does not evince support of LGBTQ rights.” In a related matter, Gloucester City police said they submitted a bias-incident report to New Jersey State Police that apparently was lost in the mail. Thus, the incident doesn’t appear in the FBI’s hate-crimes report for 2015. A spokesperson for New Jersey State Police said the agency no longer accepts hatecrimes submissions from local agencies through the U.S. Postal Service. n

Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@ epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437. Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Women’s March shines light on ‘everyday woman’ By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com Resist, persist and rise. These three words are spearheading this year’s message of hope for the Women’s March on Philadelphia. Organizers of the march already expect to see more than 45,000 people flood the city for the Jan. 20 event. “This year we really want to push the everyday woman,” said Deja Lynn Alvarez, a march co-organizer and trans activist. “This is the woman working every day and raising her children, the stay-at-home mom, the career woman who doesn’t have children, the woman who managed to come from poverty and is now a CEO of a company. We want to push the people who are laying the ground work and cover everyone’s story, not just people who are famous,” Alvarez said. The march, hosted by Philly Women Rally, Inc., was initiated last January in tandem with the Women’s March on Washington the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Women and allies flocked to the city streets to raise their voices in unity, showing support for women and individuals who felt silenced. “When you’re talking about the women’s movement, inclusivity does, in fact, include everyone — it doesn’t matter your gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status or religion. If we can agree to all come together, self-identified or born, we are part of it,” Alvarez said. “We want everybody to pretend they see themselves on that stage speaking,” Alvarez said, adding the march is inclusive of trans women. “Everyone has different circumstances. It’s time to walk in your truth. That’s going

AC ul t ure rts

to be difficult for some. The more of us that are able to do it or be in a position to do it, brings more attention and opens the door for another,” Alvarez said. The local march was created and organized for the first time by Emily Cooper Morse, who wanted to take a stand against anyone working to divide and stifle diversity. “We persist. We will continue to speak and remind everyone to use their voice. We march, rally and organize in communities to call out people who intimidate. We work to get the vote and make a change,” Morse said. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at Aviator Park, Logan Square. The march will wind to Eakins Oval, where the rally, speakers and performers will take the stage at noon. “Persistence is all the things we did throughout the year, whether it was five calls a day to our representatives or different things we can push throughout the year,” Morse said. She added the marcher will “rise” for the second year in solidarity to hold elected officials responsible, fight for women’s rights and continue to be fearless. “We feel there’s more diversity this year than last year, which has been great because we can reach out to other communities. We wanted to do something a little bit different than last year. More than anything, creating specific reasons for marching, gathering and rallying,” Morse said. For Alvarez, the march is an opportunity to open a dialogue. “I want to invite those who have criticism or doubt to reach out to any organizer. We are all readily accessible on social media. Reach out to us, send a message, and let’s have a conversation about it so we can hear the criticism,” Alvarez said. For more information on the march or to volunteer, visit the Women’s March on Philadelphia 2018 Facebook page. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

locations in Philadelphia CENTER CITY BUSINESSES WEST OF BROAD

Adonis Cinema, 2026 Sansom St. • Art Institute, 1622 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 2300 Market St. • The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St. • Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St. • Dan Tobey R/E, 1401 Walnut St., 8th floor • Dr. Wakefield’s Office, 255 S. 17th St., Suite 2306 • Drucker & Scaccetti, 1600 Market St., Suite 3300 • Drexel Partnership, 1427 Vine St., 3rd floor • Latimer Deli, 255 S. 15th St. • MANNA, 12 S. 23rd St. • Marine Club Condos lobby, Broad St. & Washington Ave. • Metropolitan, 115 N. 15th St. • PA Law Project, 2122 Chestnut St., Suite 1600 • Safeguards Lobby, 1700 Market St., 18th floor • Sansom St. Gym, 2020 Sansom St. • SOSNA offices, 19th & Christian sts. • Stir, 1705 Chancellor St. • U Do It Laundry, 15th & Spruce sts. • Westminster Arch Apts., Vine St., 3rd floor •

WEST PHILLY Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Drexel University, 4001 Walnut St. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Metropolitan Community Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Redcaps Corner, 4812 Baltimore Ave. • Saturn Club, 3430 Sansom St. • Saxby’s Coffee, 40th & Locust sts. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •

NORTH PHILLY

1 Shot Coffee, 1040 N. Second St. • 2601 Parkway Condos lobby, 2601 Pennsylvania Ave. • Barnes & Noble, 1700 N. Broad St. • Bebashi, 1217 Spring Garden St. • Beth Ahavah, 615 N. Broad St. • Bridgeview Place Condo lobby, 315 New St. • Colonnade Condos lobby, 1601 Spring Garden St. • Community College CCP Lambda, 1700 Spring Garden St. • Congresso de Latinos, American St. & Lehigh Ave. • Front Street Cafe, 1253 N. Front St. • GALAEI, 149 Susquehanna Ave. • Logan View Apts. lobby, 17th & Callowhill sts. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Packard Apts., 317 N. Broad St. • Philadelphian Condos lobby, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. • Sammy’s Place, 1449 N. Fifth St., 1st ﬂoor • SILOAM Ministries, 1133 Spring Garden St. • Temple University Student Activity Center, 1755 N. 12th St. • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • Whole Foods Market, 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. •

SOUTH PHILLY

Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge sts. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • Tifﬁn Restaurant, 1100 Federal St. • Wedge Medical Center, 1939 S. Juniper St. •

PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS — OTHER Almost Paradise, 742 Frankford Ave. • Awbry Aboretum, 1 Awbry Rd. • Caribbean Pharmacy, 3825 N. 5th St. •Elfant Wissahickon Realty, 8962 Ridge Ave. • Fantasy Island Books, 7363 State Road • Harry’s Natural Foods, 1805 Cottman Ave. • Inﬁnity Jewelers, 3528 Cottman+ Ave. • Infusion Salon, 7133 Germantown Ave. • Morris House, 5537 Woodland Ave. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphia University KANBAR Center, 4201 Henry Ave. • Philly Pharmacy, 9475 Roosevelt Blvd. • Riverhouse Condo, 3600 Conshohocken Ave. • WCAU TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road • Weaver’s Way, 559 Carpenter Lane • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • WPVI TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road •

LIBRARY BRANCHES Andorra Branch, 705 E. Cathedral Road • Blanch A. Nixon Branch, 5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway • Donatucci Branch, 1935 Shunk St. • Falls of Schuylkill Branch, 3501 Midvale Ave. • Fishtown Branch, 1217 E. Montgomery Ave. • Frankford Branch, 4634 Frankford Ave. • Independence Branch, 18 S. Seventh St. • Joseph E. Coleman Branch, 68 W. Chelten Ave. • Kingsessing Branch, 1201 S. 51st St. • Lehigh Branch, 601 W. Lehigh Ave. • Lovett Branch, 6945 Germantown Ave. • Main Branch, 1901 Vine St. • McPherson Square Branch, 601 E. Indiana Ave. • Northeast Regional, 2228 Cottman Ave. • Ogontz Branch, 6017 Ogontz Ave. • Richmond Branch, 2987 Almond St. • Rodriguez Branch, 600 W. Girard Ave. • Roxborough Branch, 6245 Ridge Ave. • Southwark Branch, 932 S. Seventh St. • Welsh Road Branch, 9233 Roosevelt Blvd. • West Phila. Branch, 125 S. 52nd St. • Whitman Branch, 200 Snyder Ave. • Wynneﬁeld Branch, 5325 Overbrook Ave.

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LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

Queer writer named 2018 Philadelphia Poet Laureate By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com Raquel Salas Rivera has a passion for poetry and dedication to impacting lives and community through writing. The queer writer has been announced as the 20182019 Philadelphia Poet Laureate. Rivera — who identifies with they/them/ theirs pronouns — came to Philadelphia more than five years ago and has since made the city home. “I really fell in love with Philadelphia and fell in love with my partner. I began to build a life here. Part of building a poetic community was tied to the fact I have been a poet my whole life,” Rivera said. The local poet, originally from Puerto Rico, found out in late November they were going to be announced as the new Poet Laureate — a civic position recognizing an extraordinary poet who continues to demonstrate commitment through poetry, engaging and inspiring others throughout Philadelphia. “This means a great deal to me because I am really invested in the notion of ‘home.’ I was building a community and family here in Philly to build a richer notion of what it meant to live here,” Rivera said. The Poet Laureate Governing Committee, a program for the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Center for Public Life Committee, selected Rivera from multiple

MAZZOni CENTER

applicants. Rivera will serve in this role for two years, succeeding Yolanda Wisher, who was named in 2016. The city poet has been published in multiple journals, including Revista del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriquena, Apiary, Apogee, BOAAT and the Boston Review. Rivera published lo terciario/the Tertiary, Caneca de anhelos turbios (Editora Educacion Emergente) and tierra intermitente (Ediciones Alayubia). “The Poet Laureate Committee continues to be uplifted by the powerful and diverse voices of poets in Philadelphia,” chair of the Poet Laureate Governing Committee Beth Feldman Brandt said in a statement. “As a poet who writes in Spanish and English, Raquel will expand our understanding of what poetry can be in Philadelphia. We are excited to see what partnerships and opportunities Raquel will create through their work,” Brandt added. This program also supports a yearly Youth Poet Laureate, whom Rivera will mentor. Both individuals will work with city residents through various events, readings and an individualized project. “I’m very excited to work with her, another poet. Part of a mentorship is I will learn as much from her, if not more. Mentor-mentee is not unidirectional,”

Rivera said about working with Youth Poet Laureate Husnaa Hashim. The two poets shared their writing at a poetry reading at the Free Library Tuesday night. “Raquel’s voice will continue to raise this position to new heights and affirm that poetry in Philadelphia is as vibrant and urgent as ever,” president and director of the Free Library Siobhan A. Reardon said in a statement. Currently, Rivera is the co-editor of The Wanderer and Puerto Rico en mi corazon — a collection of bilingual broadsides of contemporary Puerto-Rican poets published by Anomalous Press. All sales generated from this collection will be donated to help relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria ripped through the island last year, leaving many without water and electricity. The hurricane claimed more than 50 lives. Rivera is no stranger to building community strength. Last year, Rivera and partner Allison Harris launched a fundraiser to help LGBT Puerto Ricans who were impacted by Hurricane Maria. The fundraiser raked in thousands of dollars, which went toward relief efforts for Puerto-Rican LGBT evacuees. Rivera said a focal point is to continue building strong relationships between Puerto Rico and Philadelphia. “I really love Philly. I am so happy this is the city where I am. I lived in a lot of places, saw a lot of stuff and Philadelphia just snagged me. I’m so grateful I get to be here,” Rivera said. n

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Obituary David “Scoops” Dyer, radio show entertainer, 36 By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com Morning radio host and producer David “Scoops” Dyer died Dec. 24 at age 36. Dyer, who g r a d u a t e d from Temple University in 2001 with a degree in communications, was well-known for his passion in radio and film, especially in Philadelphia. Friends described Dyer as “charismatic and full of spirit.” “He was super vivacious. He was a star — positive and bright. He was my first artistic comrade. He always said, ‘If we can dream it, we can be it.’ David had soul and energy that could connect to others,” said Jess Conda, a close friend from high school. After graduating from Lenape High in New Jersey, Dyer went off into the

world to pursue different avenues in the entertainment industry. He eventually found his way to Kansas City, MS, where he became a morning radio-show co-host and producer. The on-air talent later returned to the Philadelphia area and co-founded and managed Street Talkin’ — an online magazine — where he worked with Gloria Esposito. “We would go out on the streets of Philadelphia and go to different venues,” Esposito said. “He did a lot for the gay community back in the day. He really got people to smile. He just brought out this great personality in everyone around him.” Dyer remained involved in the LGBT community through videography and events. “He was always there for his mom and he put himself out there all the time. He wanted to say what was on his mind and in his heart,” Esposito said. Memorial services for Dyer were held privately. A memorial page was set up online by Dyer’s loved ones. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

Leeway Foundation grants Transformation Awards to women and trans artists By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com An organization dedicated to supporting local women and trans artists gave away $150,000 in grants. The Leeway Foundation presented 10 artists and cultural producers who have worked at least five years to further social change in Philadelphia. These 10 grants were given to individuals who promote artistic expression and are committed to art and social justice. Recipients use visual, literary and performance arts. The recipients are: Ana Guissel Palma, of West Kensington; Catherine Pancake, Eva Wo, Kai Davis, Nehad Khader and Sheena Sood, of West Philadelphia; Cynthia Dewi Oka, of Collingswood, N.J.; Dinita “Princess Di” Clark, of Mantua, N.J.; Erika Guadalupe Nunez, of South Philadelphia; and Tawanda Jones, of Parkside, N.J.

Pancake is an out visual and sound artist whose work has been featured in the Museum of Modern Art and critiqued in international art publications including Artforum. The city artist is also an educator at Temple University. Pancake has also previously received the Leeway Art & Social Change Award and the Window of Opportunity Award. Leeway Foundation also gives the Art and Change grant away two times a year. These are project-based grants of up to $2,500 that are awarded to women and trans artists in Philadelphia. The next Leeway Transformation Award deadline is May 15. The 2018 Art and Change Grant deadlines are March 1 and Aug. 1. Both applications are available at www.leeway.org. For more information, call 215-545-4078 or email info@leeway.org. n

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LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Mike Pence

Editorial

Not just the side of a building The 12th Street Gym has become beset with a series of issues — including sexual-assault allegations, fire-code violations and overall financial woes. The location has become a staple in the Gayborhood, but we can only hope justice is served for any allegations and that safety concerns are addressed appropriately. While some of these issues may create division on the future of the gym, there is one aspect where the community seems to stand together. And that is the future of the Gloria Casarez mural. One of Casarez’s favorite painters, Michelle Angela Ortiz, designed the mural depicting the first director for the Office of LGBT Affairs. Since its unveiling in October 2015, it has become a landmark commemorating the late leader, who died from breast cancer in 2014. Casarez made her mark to ensure the LGBT community had a seat at the table. She spoke out on issues such as adopting tighter anti-bullying policies in schools, advising on pro-LGBT legislation, and a number of other initiatives that can’t fit this small space. Outside of the office, Casarez also served as a founding board member of the LGBT Elder Initiative, co-creator of the Philadelphia Dyke March and the executive director of GALAEI. While serving in the latter position, Casarez co-founded the Trans-Health

Information Project, now called the Trans Equity Project, in 2003. Trans Equity Project coordinator and hiphop artist Christian Lovehall, a.k.a. WORDZ The Poet Emcee, even memorialized the late leader in “See Ya Later … ” His song will be featured in local filmmaker Kelly Burkhardt’s upcoming film, “The Gloria! Project,” yet another medium to commemorate Casarez. After her passing, friends and loved ones made shirts and pins with the phrase “What Would Gloria Do?” to inform their daily work. Even current director of LGBT Affairs Amber Hikes has spoken on how Casarez inspired her. The mural on 12th Street Gym was painted on parachute cloth that’s firmly adhered to the wall. This means that if the building were to come down, the mural would come down with it. Should that happen, the community must fight to ensure we will always remember Casarez in that location. While a source from Mural Arts Philadelphia told us last week that it would be on a mission to redo the monument elsewhere, the hard work that went into the current one cannot be replaced. As we saw with the debate around the Frank Rizzo statue last year, monuments represent something — whether it’s love or hate. Casarez exemplified the former. She may be depicted on the side of a building, but Casarez should be frontand-center in our history. n

God bless the people in Colorado who ing things. Those hung up rainbow Make America Gay Democrats need Again banners outside of the home Vice to be primaried President Mike Pence and his family by people who were staying in while on vacation at the stand for actual end of last month (last year, even!). change. Voting for Nobody deserves to be dragged Democrats doesn’t for an anti-LGBT past, present and mean accepting future more than Pence. His actions as the party where Indiana’s governor and in Congress are it’s at. We must well-documented, including signing a push Democrats to license-to-discriminate bill and support- be better. ing “reparative” therapy. But because Change is slow. To those of us who Pence doesn’t tweet deliriously in the are marginalized, oppressed and dismiddle of the night or rant incoherently criminated against, change feels urgent before TV cameras, the media at large and demands immediacy. Unfortunately, has ignored him. that’s not how change works. It is increWith impeachment on so many 2018 mental. And I understand that people, wish lists, it’s important that we take a including me, have a hard time with look at the man behind the dark curtain the whole “incremental” business. The that is Trump’s presidency. Please note Democrats are the party of the increthat I am not, as some have, arguing ment. The progress is slow, but the that impeaching Trump would leave us aim is forward. The Republicans often with Pence, therefore impeachment is a seem to move much faster than the bad idea. Trump absolutely deserves to Democrats (take, for example, the swift lose his job. He is a terrible failure and pace Trump has been appointing terrible wholly unfit for office. But Pence needs right-wing judges). But the pace is an to go too. illusion. The Democrats seem to move I look at it this way: While Trump is slowly in comparison to the GOP only a tumor exploding on the surface, Pence because it takes longer to build a house is a quiet slow-growing cancer. Both than it does to burn it to the ground. will kill you. One of them just gets earAnd our country is on fire right now. lier and more attention. There’s this idea that our Republic will Trump’s insane continue on no matter first year makes how we abuse it, but The Democrats seem Pence seem almost that’s wishful thinkto move slowly in harmless, but he is ing. People who preanything but. He sup- comparison to the viously weren’t “into” ports all of the same politics are paying GOP only because it polices and certainly attention. We’ve seen would be nominating takes longer to build a thousands take to the the same anti-LGBT streets over this past house than it does to year to protest the judges to lifetime appointments. burn it to the ground. Trump administraAnd that’s IF tion’s harmful and Trump is impeached. hateful policies. We It’s a big “if.” Republicans control all of need all of those people and more to the federal government right now. They vote. are not going to impeach their dear On New Year’s Eve, writer and civleader. il-rights activist Shaun King tweeted, In 2018, the country’s future depends “I sincerely believe that 2018 will be a on Democrats or, more importantly, vot- year of victories. I believe we will win ers choosing Democrats. many hard fought battles and will make Are Democrats perfect? Nope. more progress on other ones than any Not even close. There are so many year in recent memory.” things that need to be addressed by In other words, 2018 is going to be the Democratic Party, many of them exhausting, but hopefully in the oppothings that the party should have been site way 2017 was. n working much harder on for decades D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian now, like racism and social inequalliving in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been ity. Some Democrats are shitty people writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow who benefit from the status quo and her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski. don’t really have any interest in chang-

OP-ED PGN

Is North Korea gay-friendly? With the North Korea situation being Middle East, but many say it is tarnished in front of the news, the answer to that by its oppression of Palestine. Those question is simple: No. But it gives us opposed to Israel often call for a boyan opportunity as a community to look cott, and the current government makes at how the U.S. and our community that an easy call, especially when they are dealing with other nations and their work in collaboration with the Trump LGBT policies. administration to move the The best examples from U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. the last few years are in the But then again, there’s a lesMiddle East, Africa and son to be learned here and Chechnya. it’s connected to something Let’s start with the most often referred to by those callrecent example, Chechnya. ing for a boycott against the While the independent state country. They reference apartis under Russian influence, heid in South Africa as their it is culturally a conservative example — how the world Muslim state. Some people boycotted it until it ended. in that culture have a reliHere’s the difference: While gious-radical interpretation, the apartheid of the Southbelieving LGBT people should African government was be stoned or killed. To that homophobic, the other side — end, 2017 seems to take a trip headed by Nelson Mandela — Mark Segal was a supporter of the LGBT back to the Middle Ages where LGBT people were kidnapped, community. And when they imprisoned, tortured and killed. It should took power, LGBT rights were put into be pointed out that this is happening its constitution — the first such action in worldwide and the LGBT community is the world. not willing to be invisible any longer. Please note Iraq, Iran and Syria were not even mentioned in this column for That has put a target on the LGBT obvious reasons, and Turkey’s governcommunity’s back in countries like Chechnya. When the world learned of ment won’t even allow it to have an this attack on human rights, it spoke up. LGBT Pride parade. Even the Trump administration’s State Two points should be clear from this. Department put out a condemning press Connecting the U.S. LGBT struggles to release. The issue continues but world international events is complicated and if attention is elsewhere. we are to do this, it might be from a difWhen you mention African states, ferent angle than where we have thus far. many lump them together as one policy. Focus on what we can do here in That is false. Uganda was and is a hot our own home. Your tax dollars go to spot for homophobia, to the point that a many of those places. We have agreecouple of years ago, they had legislation ments with many of those countries. known as the “kill the gays bill.” Again, You have the opportunity to ask your LGBT people in Uganda are still pushCongressperson and the administraing against that oppression. tion to speak up on these issues or to From Saudi Arabia, there are still impose sanctions. Is that a reality? Yes. reports of death and flogging. Egypt Congress approves the budget, and they has imprisoned LGBT people for holdcan and have changed it for numerous ing rainbow flags and banned musical reasons. There are enough votes in the groups for singing about our communiSenate to hold it up or change it, but ty’s oppression. Lebanon, at present, is only if we learn the ropes rather than still a country of tolerance with a new enjoy the spotlight. n LGBT organization forming. Mark Segal is the nation’s most-award-winning comThen, there is Israel, a powder keg of mentator in LGBT media. His memoir, “And Then dispute. There is no question that Israel I Danced,” is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & is the most gay-friendly country in the Noble or at your favorite bookseller.

Mark My Words

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

Street Talk Should the pope issue a formal apology for the Catholic church's treatment of LGBT people? “Absolutely. He seems more open than past popes. I don’t think it would be a long shot Livi Barry for him to barista apologize Kensington to the LGBT community. I think it would mean a lot to people, even outside of the church. And it wouldn’t cost a dime!”

“Yes, I think that would be fine. I don't judge the LGBT community. There's nothing wrong with Toya Brown carpenter being gay. North Philadelphia If a person wants to be comfortable, let them be comfortable with the partner of their choice. Nobody should be treated by the church as an abomination.”

“Yes. If that’s what the people in the community want and need, then I would support that. I don’t Claire Gibson nanny see how Gayborhood an apology could be a negative thing. It’s not farfetched, because the pope has shown support for the LGBT community in the past.”

“As a Jewish person, having a pope that I respect is an unprecedented and amazing Matthew Wolfson thing. Pope chiropractor Francis Roxborough is trying really hard to catch up on righting a lot of wrongs the Catholic Church has committed over hundreds of years. So yes, I would expect an apology.”

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

FINANCES PGN

Should we reconsider what ‘retirement’ means? Q: I’m a gay man in my 60s who is not even thinking about retirement. I just don’t know what else I would do with myself if I wasn’t working at least part-time and earning income. Do you hear this from others my age? A: First, I hope you had a very happy New Year. And yes, I hear this from many people in their 60s and even some in their 70s. For many of us today, including yourself it seems, the notion that we separate from work in our 60s may have to go. An executive transitions into a consulting role at age 62 and stops working altogether at 65; then he becomes a buyer for a church network at 69. A corporate IT professional decides to conclude her career at 58; she serves as a city-council member in her 60s, and then opens an art studio at 70. Are these people retired? Not by the old definition of the word. Our definition of “retirement” is changing. Retirement is now a time of activity and opportunity. Generations ago, Americans never retired — at least not voluntarily. American life was either agrarian or industrialized, and people toiled until they died or physically broke down. Their “social security” was their children. Society had a low opinion of able-bodied adults who preferred leisure to work. German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck often gets credit for “inventing” the idea of retirement. In the late 1800s, the German government set up the first pension plan for those 65 and older (life expectancy was around 45 at the time). When our Social Security program began in 1935, it defined

65 as the U.S. retirement age; back then, the average American lived about 62 years. Social Security was perceived as a reward given to seniors during the final years of their lives, a financial compliment for their hard work.1 After World War II, the concept of retirement changed. The model American worker was now the “organization man” destined to spend decades at one large company, taken care of by his (or her) employer in a way many people would welcome today. Americans began to associate retirement with pleasure and leisure. By the 1970s, the definition of retirement had become rigid. You retired in your early 60s because your best years were behind you and it was time to go. You died at about 72 or 75 (depending on your gender). In Jeremy between, you relaxed. You lived comfortably on an employee Gussick pension and Social Security checks, and the risk of outliving your money was low. If you lived to be 81 or 82, that was a good run. Turning 90 was remarkable. Today, Baby Boomers cannot settle for these kinds of retirement assumptions. This is partly due to economic uncertainty and partly due to ambition. Retirement planning today is all about self-reliance, and to die at 65 today is to die young with the potential of an unfulfilled “second act.” One factor has altered our view of retirement more than any other. That factor is the increase in longevity. When Social Security started, retirement was seen as the quiet final years of life; by the 1960s, it was seen as an extended vacation last-

Out Money

ing 10-15 years; and now, it is seen as a decades-long window of opportunity. Working past 70 may soon become common. Some Baby Boomers will need to do it, but others will simply want to do it. Whether by choice or chance, some will retire briefly and work again; others will rotate between periods of leisure and work for as long as they can. Working full-time

When Social Security started, retirement was seen as the quiet final years of life; by the 1960s, it was seen as an extended vacation lasting 10-15 years; and now, it is seen as a decades-long window of opportunity. or part-time not only generates income, it also helps preserve invested retirement assets, giving them more years to potentially compound. Another year on the job also means one less year of retirement to fund. Perhaps we should see retirement foremost as a time of change — a time of changing what we want to do with our lives. According to the actuaries at the Social Security Administration, the average 65-year-old has about 20 years to pursue his or her interests. Planning for change may be the most responsive move we can make for the future.2 n Citations. 1 - dailynews.com/2017/03/24/successful-aging-im65-and-ok-with-it/ [3/24/17]

2 - ssa.gov/planners/lifeexpectancy.html [11/21/17] Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning and retirement income needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2017 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager as mentioned in Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including DVLF (Delaware Valley Legacy Fund) and the Independence Business Alliance (IBA), the Philadelphia Region’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce. OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, you can contact him via email at jeremy.gussick@lpl.com. Jeremy Gussick is a Registered Representative with, and securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. This material was prepared with the assistance of MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2017, based on total revenues. **Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2017 Five Star Wealth Managers.

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MENTALPGN HEALTH

It’s the most depressing time of the year The holidays are over and winter is in light. The sun is less strong and we are full swing. It’s been ridiculously cold, icy, less likely to be outside for periods of windy (at this writing) and just generally time, making it more difficult to get ademiserable outside. And well, that can often quate levels of vitamin D. People of color make us miserable too. It’s probably easy are even more likely to have this problem to deduce that the current clibecause the more melanin presmate is not especially conducive ent in the skin, the more diffito psychological well-being. In cult it is for the body to absorb fact, certain things about winter vitamin D. are counterproductive to our The good news is that this mental health and wellness. problem is easy enough for The winter months can be everyone to fix: Vitamin D can so brutal on mental health that be taken in the form of a daily there’s an actual diagnosis assosupplement. You may also be ciated with it called Seasonal able to catch enough sunrays Affective Disorder, or SAD for even in the winter by being a bit short. SAD is a form of deprespurposeful. For example, using sion that occurs during colder your lunch break to get outside months and can cause a slew of for 15 or 20 minutes instead of unpleasant symptoms, including staying cooped up at your desk. low energy, consistently low While that may not be enough mood, and even poor sleeping Kristina Furia vitamin D in and of itself, that and eating habits. The disorder combined with strategic food is estimated to affect approximately 6 perchoices can go a long way. I’m not a nutricent of Americans, and don’t forget some tionist so I won’t go too in-depth here, but parts of the country don’t have a true wineggs, salmon and tuna are high in vitamin ter, so 6 percent is a big number. D. Another estimated 14 percent of Some other helpful tips for kicking the Americans have a lesser version of SAD, winter blues include exercising several colloquially called “the winter blues.” times per week or doing some sort of regWhether you fall into this percentage of the ular physical activity. Meditating can also population or not, you are undoubtedly at help. In fact, meditation can help with just least somewhat affected by the current sea- about anything. If you don’t know how to son. As such, it is important to take excelmeditate, YouTube it. There is a surprislent care of yourself in ways that may seem ingly large quantity of guided meditations second nature during warmer months. available. If you feel especially commitFirst, all of us require vitamin D to help ted to the practice, there are also centers our bodies function properly. Vitamin D for meditation around the city that a quick Google search will reveal. Another important and simple technique Research suggests that is to have something to look forward to: our levels of serotonin, Make plans. Whether it’s for a vacation or just a night out with friends, having the primary chemical something fun or enjoyable to anticipate associated with depresis an excellent way to keep spirits high. Perhaps most importantly, though, recogsion, are correlated with nize your symptoms. If you don’t realize our vitamin D3 levels. This how you’re affected, you won’t be doing means that how happy we anything to fix it. And if you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, these feel takes a direct hit if we DIY techniques may not be enough and don’t have enough of this it’s important to notice and accept that too. Short-term therapy during these months important vitamin. could be a great option. Whatever your experience, there’s no helps regulate the immune system, concure quite like the start of spring and tributes to brain function, and is correlated those eventual hot summer days. But in with mood and energy levels. Research the meantime, it’s important to take really suggests that our levels of serotonin, the good, purposeful care of ourselves. It does primary chemical associated with depresmake a difference. sion, are correlated with our vitamin D3 Stay warm. n levels. This means that how happy we feel Kristina Furia is a psychotherapist committed takes a direct hit if we don’t have enough of this important vitamin. The way that this to working with LGBT individuals and couples and owner of Emerge Wellness, an LGBT relates to winter is that we get most of our health and wellness center in Center City (www. vitamin D from sunlight. emergewellnessphilly.com). In winter, there are fewer hours of sun-

Thinking Queerly

Love or Lust? Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

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presents

Rufus Wainwright – the vocalist, composer, and songwriter considered one of the greatest of his generation – will join the POPS orchestra on the Verizon Hall stage, under the baton of Music Director Michael Krajewski. The concert will contain highlights from his notable career, which have received critical and international acclaim. Wainwright has said there’s “no better instrument than an orchestra to help illustrate” his music. The 65-piece orchestra will accompany Wainwright through his unique repertoire of pop, art-rock, classical, and opera – “genuine originality” as proclaimed by The New York Times. featuring

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PGN GYM from page 1

digitally penetrated her anus and vagina while giving her a massage at Loews. When asked whether the ongoing litigation was impacting the gym’s ability to continue operating, gym co-owner Frank Baer referred questions to attorneys. “It’s a firm policy that we do not comment on ongoing litigation” said Francis J. Deasey, one of the attorneys for the gym. David G. Concannon, an attorney for the Arizona woman, expressed confidence that a jury will vindicate her. “I don’t care if my client ends up owning the building [housing the gym],” Concannon told PGN. “We’re going to pursue this case, whether or not the gym has insurance coverage. My client’s husband is a personal trainer. Owning the gym will give him something to do.” Concannon added: “My client was dreadfully violated due to the gym’s negligence and the gym’s response to her complaint was callous.” The building at 202-204 S. 12th St., which houses the gym, was recently sold to Midwood, a New York-based real estate and development firm. According to city records, the name of the legal entity on the deed is “South 12th Street Owner L.L.C.” and the sale price was $7.4-million. There are multiple fire-code violations within the gym, according to Karen Guss, a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections. “[I]n November 2016, the Fire Department’s commissioner and its Board of Safety and Fire Prevention agreed to a plan and schedule allowing the property to be brought into compliance in stages, over a period of five years through December 2020,” Guss said in an email. However, it’s unclear if Midwood will agree to house the gym as a long-term tenant. As of presstime, the status of the gym remained in question. A spokesperson for Midwood couldn’t be reached for comment. n

PULSE from page 5

continued. “If people rely on this report as the way to conduct an operation of this magnitude, the future loss of life will be incalculable.” Grollnek emphasized that the Police Foundation’s report shouldn’t be considered “conclusive.” He said he’s willing to serve on a blue-ribbon panel to examine the Pulse incident. “I don’t want to see something like Pulse happen again,” Grollnek said. “I’d gladly volunteer at no charge to be part of a blue-ribbon panel that examines the Pulse incident — if Gov. Rick Scott were to create such a panel. I’d be honored to help get to the bottom of what went wrong at Pulse and develop best practices moving forward.” A spokesperson for Scott’s office couldn’t be reached for

ADAs carrying out their belongings. “The experience of leaving was humiliating and infuriating. It was completely out of character for that office, which had treated me fairly for 18 years.” The staffers forced out were not given any explanation for why they were chosen, Barry said. He added that he was among a group of about eight people who met with Krasner and another member of his team shortly after the election in November, but that he’d had no interaction since. “I did not speak to anyone in leadership after that, including once they took office and not on the day I was let go,” Barry said. Most recently, Barry was the deputy district attorney of the Pretrial Division. As a higher-ranking official, he said he was cognizant that termination during the transition was a possibility. However, he said, he thought his record would have been compatible with the goals of Krasner, who ran as a reformer. “In particular, I thought there’d be a place for me, as I had worked almost entirely over the past two years on criminal-justice-reform projects and had handled numerous cases that were important to progressives,” including Tepper’s prosecution and the gay-bashing case, he noted. In that case, Harrigan and Williams accepted plea deals that involved probation and community service, which Barry helped negotiate with input from the victims, while Knott took her case to trial. Barry and ADA Allison Ruth shared responsibilities during Knott’s four-day trial in December 2015, with Barry taking on tasks such as the cross-examination of Knott — in which he grilled her about her involvement in the incident and her history of antigay social-media postings — and the 80-minute closing statement. Though the defendants were not charged with a hate crime, Barry repeatedly emphasized the anti-LGBT nature of the attack

comment. Blake L. Norton, vice president and COO of the Police Foundation, issued this statement: “At the request of the City of Orlando Police Department (OPD) and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the Police Foundation created a critical-incident review-assessment team and conducted an independent comprehensive review and assessment of the public-safety response to the Pulse terrorist attack. As a national nonmember, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Police Foundation regularly conducts unbiased and comprehensive assessments of critical incidents, as evidenced by our diverse library of work. “The Pulse assessment team,

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

during the trial. He later spoke at a number of LGBT events on criminal justice and other topics. Shortly after Knott’s trial, Barry took on the deputy position, so he has been focusing on more top-level reforms instead of an active caseload. “I was in the middle of working with a lot of other city agencies on numerous criminal-justice-reform projects, including pre-arrest police diversion for drug-possession cases, implicit-bias training and ongoing efforts to reduce the prison population,” he said. “I would have liked to have seen all that work through.” Knott, Harrigan and Williams remain on probation. Barry said he doesn’t foresee any likely probation violations before their terms are up but, if so, he’s confident Ruth, who is still employed at the D.A.’s Office, would “pick the matter back up and handle it as professionally and zealously as we did when we tried the case.” Ben Waxman, Krasner’s newly named director of communications, declined to confirm Barry’s forced resignation to PGN, saying that the office was not “providing individual names or confirmation for those who were asked to resign out of respect for their privacy.” It is unclear if Cameron Kline, the openly gay former director of communications for the D.A., is still employed by the office. A prepared comment from the office stated that “[Krasner] made clear his intention to take the office in a different direction. Reorganization and a change in some key personnel are necessary to fulfill that promise.” Barry said he is still figuring out his next move, but hopes to return to the courtroom in the future. “This is going to be a very difficult time for the [D.A.’s] office,” Barry added. “But the work they do there is so important, I am doing nothing but hoping they succeed.” n

comprised of Police Foundation staff as well as policing, tactical, and hostage-negotiation subject matter experts, based all of the observations and lessons learned on the totality of resources reviewed — including OPD policies, procedures, protocols, and training for active shooter and hostage scenarios; interviews and focus groups conducted; and, additional research on national and international lessons learned and promising practices, model policies, and evidence-based practices and protocols. “While anonymous critics are certainly entitled to their opinion, what is clear here is that the OPD followed nationally recognized promising practice by engaging the subject, forming a contact team as soon as additional officers arrived, and

confining the subject in order to extricate victims and transport them to medical care.” A spokesperson for the Orlando Police Department issued this statement: “As you know, the [department] has a great reputation of its transparency to the public. Chief [John R.] Mina requested the Department of Justice complete an independent review of the Pulse Terror Attack. Upon completion of the review, Chief Mina held a press briefing and provided answers to all of the questions following the public release of the review, which is available to everyone. I have provided the link and it has been published on our social media. The review is very thorough. However, the FBI investigation of the terror incident is still active.” n

Gettin’ On

We’re all getting older. For LGBT seniors, being out in the golden years can pose a whole new set of challenges. Each month, Gettin’ On brings you insights on aging, from legal issues to sexual health.

Only in Online and in print every third Friday.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

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FEATURE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

Dining Out Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly

Page Page Page Page Page

28 23 26 29 25

PAGE 22

STAND-UP Standouts

Gay comedians keep the laughs coming in 2018 By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Queer comedians are set to make their mark in the New Year for straight and LGBT audiences alike with their latest projects. Out Minnesota-based comedian Maggie Faris recently released her second live comedy album, “A Dingus Among Us,” after spending the last few years using her considerable comedic charm and likability to win numerous comedy competitions across the country and earn praise along the way from Curve magazine and The Advocate. She even beat out Tig Notaro to win both the Funniest Clip of the Year and the Silver Nail award at the Aspen Comedy Festival. “I have a total Fargo accent but besides that, I don’t think there is anything particularly Minnesota about the CD,” Faris said. “The first album was just an archive of jokes. I had this backlog and I wanted to get them down in history so I could keep writ-

ing more and more. [For] the second one, I and will be seen in the upcoming Netflix feel like they’re more polished jokes.” series “Set It Up.” He currently writes for Another queer comic on the move is the Netflix series “American Vandal” when Jaboukie Younghe’s not posting White, who humorous obseris making his vations for his Philadelphia massive Twitter debut Jan. 13 following. at Good Good Young-White Comedy Theatre. said he knows Yo u n g - W h i t e the difference recently made between being his late-night Twitter funny standup debut and being funny on “The Tonight and entertaining Show Starring in front of a live Jimmy Fallon” audience. and was also “Luckily I named one of had been doing Rolling Stone’s standup for “25 Under 25.” about a year or And he recently two before I got appeared in the a Twitter followcomedy film ing,” he said. “I “Rough Night” was more so taiJABOUKIE YOUNG-WHITE

loring my voice to Twitter than trying to create a voice out of Twitter. I started out thinking of comedy as like a stage/standup performer and Twitter came later. It’s a back-and-forth symbiotic relationship.” Young-White said his influences as a comedian and writer come from a wide range of styles and mediums. “I was always a comedy nerd,” he said. “I love pretty much any sitcom. I was really into ‘Dharma and Greg’ and ‘Chappelle’s Show’ and watching older standups like Richard Pryor and stuff on ‘Comedy Central Presents.’ I’d memorize jokes and tell them back to my friends. I was pretty eclectic. I just pulled from wherever I was seeing comedy.” Speaking of Chappelle, we asked YoungWhite what he though of the recent controversy around the comedian and his two most recent Netflix specials where he jokes about transgender people and one of Kevin Spacey’s accusers. “If I were to go back and try to gain influence from peoPAGE 20

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ple that have been correct on every issue at every time, I would have no influences,” he said. “People are learning as time progresses. I personally am just trying to speak on my experiences. I really don’t find it necessary or even valid to speak on others’ identities or experiences just because I don’t have as much insight as they do. So I’m just willing to talk about the things I know about, which I wish more people would do. It’s a pretty complex issue.” Both Young-White and Faris said they believe mainstream comedy audiences are more open-minded to openly gay performers today than in recent years. “I do a lot more performing for mostly straight crowds, normal comedy-club-going folk, but I have somewhat of a gay following as well,” Faris said. “Our community is sprinkled in there somewhat, which is always nice, and I feel like it’s been growing the last few years. I’ve always wanted to have a representation of our people following my comedy. I feel like it’s also that I’m out there to kind of educate straight folks a little, to just be out there and be gay and have folks see it. I’m still just a regular comedian and sometimes I talk about stuff and sometimes I don’t. But that’s why I love to do it.” “Some of the funniest [comedians] I know are queer people of color,” YoungWhite said. “There are so many voices out there that are really changing the game, even beyond talking about being gay. They’re actually shifting what it means to do stand-up and what the form looks like. It’s really cool because five or 10 years ago, we only existed in the margins of comedy outside of punch lines or Wanda Sykes. That was the only representation we had. It’s nice to see a lot of queer voices come out.” Faris and Young-White also addressed how they handle the growing specter of how to and when to work politics into their humor.

“I feel like you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t,” Faris said. “I’ve never been a huge political comedian. I’ve mostly been about silliness and playfulness. But I still talk about a little and I sneak in what I can sneak in without trying to polarize the room. It’s my goal to have people enjoy themselves for an hour and have everyone no matter what they believe to just relax. That’s my goal ultimately but

MAGGIE FARIS I do try to sneak in some agenda items here and there.” “If you are a person of color who is queer and doing comedy, I think just in the act of doing comedy I’m going to immediately be politicized,” Young-White said. “I live in a society where my identity is politicized. I would definitely say that there are parts of my act that are political but it’s not like I’m front-to-back criticizing Trump. I’m not really doing that.” n Jaboukie Young-White performs 7, 8:30 and 10 p.m. Jan. 13 at Good Good Comedy Theatre, 215 N. 11th St. For more information or tickets, visit http://goodgoodcomedy.com/jaboukie/. Maggie Faris’ latest album, “A Dingus Among Us,” is available now. For more information, visit http:// extrememaggie.com/.

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Well-Strung members take on ‘The Amazing Race’ By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

The 30th season of “The Amazing Race” debuted last week, with two members of the openly gay pop-influenced string quartet Well-Strung competing on the acclaimed globe-trotting reality competition. Trevor Wadleigh and Chris Marchant said they jumped at the opportunity to put their instruments aside and see the world from a different perspective. We’re guessing the chance of winning the grand prize of $1 million didn’t hurt either. “One big motivator for me was getting to do the race with Trevor,” Marchant said. “To put that band on hold for a month and do the race with someone else, I would have been less-inclined to do that. But to do that with my colleague and friend and to put our skills that we’ve been using together for the last five years into practice in another way, I think that was motivating for me.” “And I’m pretty great, so why wouldn’t you want to race with me?” Wadleigh added. At this point in their career, the members of Well-Strung are seasoned world travelers and have performed internationally. Marchant said this background might give them an edge on the show. “That was one of the ways we viewed ourselves as a strong team entering the race because we’ve had so much experience traveling together and working out logistics and having to adapt to a crazy schedule that we can’t really prepare for,” he said. Wadleigh added that competing on the show is mentally and physically more challenging than it looks, even for the most prepared. “You can never account for the stress level that will happen in the moment,” he said. “And you can assume that you’ll be full of anxiety. You will be rushed. But you also cannot account for where you will be physically and how much energy you’ve expelled prior to that moment in time. “When you’re watching it on TV, you don’t know how well-rested or

well-fed the contestants are. You just don’t know what physical state they are [in]. It’s very different from your daily life. A lot of athletes compete on the show and a lot of remarkable people of great physical abili-

ties [who] in their home life have a regimented diet and sleep schedule. Everything is refined so they can perform their best. I think those factors you can’t account for. We tried our best to stay healthy but those are some things you can’t see while watching a season.” We won’t know how the members of Well-Strung will fare until the new season plays out; at presstime, they were still in the game after episode one. And while Marchant and Wadleigh couldn’t comment on the outcome of the show, they were more than happy to let us in on WellStrung’s plans for 2018. “We’re doing some recording in New York and then we’re off to California and Mexico to try to avoid the winter chill,” Marchant said. “We will be putting out an album by the time summer hits.” “Then we’re going to continue touring as always and we’ll have a summer residency in Provincetown,” Wadleigh added. Marchant assured us that WellStrung will be making some appearances in the area as well. “We’re doing Bucks County in May and we are in talks to do the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia,” he said. n The new season of “The Amazing Race” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS. For more information, visit http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/ or http://well-strung.com/.

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Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

Suzi Nash

Heather Raquel Phillips, making her black-and-blue mark in the community There’s always something hip happening at the William Way LGBT Community Center. I especially enjoy perusing the art gallery with dreams that they’ll feature some of my work someday soon (hint, hint). But in the meantime, there’s a fun, sexy and profound exhibit coming up, “Black and Blue: The Colors of Leather.” I had a chance to speak to the coordinator of the event, the lovely and talented Heather Raquel Phillips. The Temple art grad with a Master’s from UPenn has been described as “a multimedia artist working in performance, video, text and photography.” The description of her work is too elaborate for me to describe, so I’ll just present info from her bio: “Phillips works with queer subjects to represent and produce autonomy for negated identities, striving not only for the liberation from normative compartmentalization but a refusal of the status quo. Her characterizations assume the form of tropes to walk directly through stereotypes welcoming the viewer into a conversation that questions and exposes race, gender & sexual classifications as an unstable social construct. Her goal is to simultaneously disrupt notions of normalcy and debunk a patriarchal & heteronormative power structure.” Phew! PGN: Where do you hail from? HRP: I’m from South Jersey and moved to Philly in … 1994? Philly is my place. PGN: Tell me a little bit about the family? HRP: Hmmm, you mean my family of origin or chosen family? PGN: Let’s start with origin, I read that you too are mixed and that it informs a lot of what you do. HRP: Got you, yeah. My dad’s from Puerto Rico and my mom’s from here but of German-ish origins. And yes, that part of me informs other working parts of me. It created a sense of otherness and my investment in people who are marginalized, because I never felt like I fit in anyplace neatly. PGN: Interesting, I know a lot of mixed kids feel that way. For me, it was the opposite. I felt I could fit in anywhere. I was the president of the Black Student Union on one hand and in the predominantly white drama club on the other. HRP: It does have that effect too because true, I can move through different bodies of people easily and people will read me in all different ways dependent on where I am or who I’m surrounded by. But the flip side of that is that I can be privy to conversations that I don’t necessarily want to be privy to. There’s a dichotomy of moving through easily yet not fully fitting in. Not white enough, not black enough. [Smiles]

I sometimes call myself a SortaRican or a Halfrican. PGN: Ha! I like that. Give me a little more about your upbringing? HRP: I have four half-siblings, two older than me and two younger, and I wasn’t raised with any of them. So I played alone a lot. A lot of fantasy and performance; I did gymnastics and dance and I rode a unicycle. I was always kind of in my own interior space. My father was in and out of prison for most of my life, he had drug problems, and my mother worked all day so I was a latch-key kid. The town I grew up in was a very small town right over the Walt Whitman Bridge — Westville, N.J. It’s 1 square mile. Aside from two adopted kids from Chile, I was pretty much the only brown child in town. So I was the recipient of all the racial slurs and bullying. I was always into art. My grandfather was a hobbyist painter and I spent a lot of time with my maternal grandparents. As I became a teenager, I got more and more into it, and here I am. PGN: Seems like you were probably a big reader. HRP: No, not at all. I didn’t have any books. It’s strange, I think I had a few old books that were my mom’s, “Blue Ribbons for Meg” about a horse and that was it. I think my first literature was reading the dirty parts of a Judy Blume book. The one with the dog-eared pages in the library! I read a lot now, though. I became an avid reader at 24. PGN: Who was a favorite teacher? HRP: Mr. Mackie, my art teacher. He was an old grump but he sent me to Moore College of Art every semester on a scholarship. I got to come to the city once a week to study. I think he knew that I came from a humble place and that my parents couldn’t send me, so he made sure I got there. That was my guy. PGN: And did you go to school for higher learning? HRP: I did. When I was 24 and got sober, I started reading and by the time I was 27, I was very interested in feminism and race and class, gender and sexuality. I wanted a more formal learning environment, so I took some classes at Temple including an art class. I had a teacher who was nothing but supportive and reminded me that art is what I do. We’re still in contact today. So I transferred into Tyler School of Art for my BFA. I was so tired from working and studying that I took an eight-year break and then went back for my Master’s. PGN: And it sounds like you also had a bit of a break between high school and that first art class at Temple at 24. What was happening?

HRP: Oh yeah, I worked at a little go-go bar called “All in the Family” at 13th and Locust. I’d been working the circuit of strip clubs and go-go bars and ran into a friend who told me about the place. I went there and it was life-changing. I still have friends from that bar but I was drinking heavily, which is often a part of that world and I’d had problems with substances prior to that. I always had an intention whenever I picked up a drink, and that was to escape myself. Eventually, I managed to just give it up. But I wouldn’t take back a moment of my life. It inspires artwork and stories you couldn’t make up. PGN: Jumping forward, you are somewhat of a renaissance woman. You do video and photography and performance and write. Does one dominate? HRP: Photo is my main medium. It’s what I teach. Though I wouldn’t call myself a photographer with a capital P, it’s just a means to an end — a way to

beautiful sight to behold — that, coupled with the absurdity of the world, are two things that inform my work. PGN: Tell me about the program that will be at William Way. HRP: Amy Phillips, The MidAtlantic Leatherwoman, came to me with the idea about a month ago and asked if I would curate a show to coincide with the Philadelphia Leather Contest in February. I realized that I had no time for it, so my answer was, Of course I will! I have trouble saying no. We put out an open call for artists and got a lot of responses. The show is called “Black and Blue: The Colors of Leather.” It’s not just my work. I wouldn’t curate my own stuff, but they asked me to participate. There are several very talented artists: Syluss Alfaro, Douglas Johnson, Nick Hollup, Emma Osle, Cassi Segulin, Brian David Dennis, Evie Snax, Emerson Anicëto, Thomas Duffy and me. The intention is to show what the colors of black and blue mean through the eyes of an artist, and what it means to embody the leather/kink lifestyle. PGN: Where do you fall on the LGBTQ spectrum? HRP: I have such a struggle with labels, I think it comes from being mixed. I guess I’d say heteroflexible, just left of the Q.

PGN: As a young person from a small town, how did you get involved with the LGBTQ community? HRP: I started coming into Philly with friends when I was about 17, we’d go to underage nights at Woody’s. We’d hang around the Leather Rose, which later became Frannie’s Place. There was just something that felt like home here. It was different back then, it was a hotbed of excitement, a place where you could be yourself and it didn’t matter to anyone if you were black or Photo: Emerson Anicëto white, gay or straight. It’s express and capture. The videmuch more mainstream and ography is the most important to me. All my photos have always been very normative now, which is fine, but different. performative and video brings them to PGN: Which photo would you grab if life. there were a fire in your house? HRP: There’s a picture that you’ll see first PGN: What inspires your work? if you look at my website. It’s a woman in HRP: The people around me. The family an afro kneeling on a bed wearing a body that I’ve created, they’re all a bunch of weirdos and outcasts and outlaws — mar- stocking. I did a ton of work researching ginalized people living their truths despite the ideas for the image. Her race is ambiguous. Her body shape how the world may reject them. It’s a PAGE 29

PGN

Julie GolDMan (Bravo, Logo) JuDY GolD & BraD Kill Me Now loeKle (truTV’s World’s Dumbest, Last Comic Standing)

MaRch 10

An Intimate Evening with TONY Nominated Star of ROCK OF AGES & AMERICAN IDOL Finalist

Constantine Maroulis

MaRch 17

Carson KressleY & Kristine W

Stand Up With A Twist

FebRuaRy 17

GaBrielle straVelli & BillY stritCH Down For Double

MaRch 31

Celebrate 96 Years with The Legendary

MartY allen & Karon Kate BlaCKWell

New Year New You Whether your New Year’s resolution was to shed afew pounds, work on stress-relief or boost conﬁdence at work and at play, our New Year, New You guide gives you tips on how to face 2018 in the best possible physical, mental and emotional health. Jan. 19, 2018 edition of

The Philadelphia Gayborhood is roughly centered at Locust and Camac streets. Look for the rainbow street signs at intersections and remember to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go. Boxers

1330 Walnut St. facebook.com/ boxersphl Sports bar with a dozen huge TVs, pool table, brick pizza oven, sports teams specials

Toasted Walnut

Tabu

Woody’s

1316 Walnut St. 215.546.8888 Festively lit women-owned bar complete with a “beer” pong table

❍

❍ <—

Chancellor St.

❍

St. James St.

❍ Locust St.

❍ <—

❒

206 S Quince St. 215.627.1662 Levi/leather men’s bar; pool tables, big-screen sports action; basement dress code Walnut St.

❍

The Bike Stop

200 S. 12th St. 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com Sports bar with food and shows upstairs

202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com Mixed crowd Attatched to Walnut St. bars Rosewood and GloBar

❒

Latimer St.

❍ Manning St.

❍

11th St.

FebRuaRy 10

Emmy Award winning comedienne

Guide to the Gayborhood

Camac St.

FebRuaRy 3

“GAYLARIOUS!”

The

13th St.

At t h e C L A R I O N h Ot e L • N e w h O p e

www.TheRRazzRoom.com 888-596-1027

Quince St.

6426 Lower York road • New Hope, pa 18938

the

12th St.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

Juniper St.

❍ Spruce St.

❍

Cypress St.

William Way LGBT Community Writer’s Block Rehab Center 1342 Cypress St. 267.603.6960 A cozy, comfortable bar and lounge perfect for escaping the norm

1315 Spruce St. 215.732.2220 waygay.org A resource for all things LGBT

<— <— West of Broad Street Stir Lounge

1705 Chancellor St. 215.732.2700 stirphilly.com Fun two-bar lounge, DJ in the back, regular poker games and specials

The Attic Youth Center

255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org Safe space and programs for LGBTs age 16-23 weekday afternoons and evenings

Voyeur

Knock

U Bar

ICandy

1221 St. James St. 215.735.5772 voyeurnightclub.com After-hours private club; membership required

1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660 Relaxing corner bar, easy-going crowd, popular for happy hour and window watching

225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com Fine-dining restaurant and bar, outdoor seating (weather permitting), piano in back room

254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com Three floors with a total of six bars; dance floor, lounge and rootop deck.

Tavern on Camac Bar X 255 S. Camac St. Bar and dancefloor

255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Piano lounge with upstairs dance floor; Tavern restaurant below is open late.

Pa. bars close at 2 a.m. unless they have a private-club license. Please drink responsibly.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Trans director presents doc on brother’s murder By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor

Trans director Yance Ford won a Special Jury Prize for Storytelling at last year’s Sundance Film Festival for “Strong Island,” his intimate and intense documentary. The film will screen 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Lightbox Film Center (formerly International House). The event is free with an RSVP. “Strong Island” is both confessional and confrontational. Ford tells his AfricanAmerican family’s history and the episodes of racism they encounter while he also recounts the situations before and after the homicide of his 24-year-old brother, William, in 1992. Yance’s storytelling style is particularly shrewd and compelling. He films his own face in tight close-ups concentrating on his eyes, which have a sad, resigned look. His mouth speaks his thoughts and doubts, such as, “Am I saying what I mean?” His commentary can be quite troubling. The filmmaker even dares viewers at its onset to “get up and go” if they feel uncomfortable with the story of injustice about to unfold. Ford uses family photos — which he films as they are being positioned by his own hands — to create another layer of familiarity and confidence. The director’s striking, minimalist visual style also frames interviewees, including his mother Barbara, his sister Lauren, and his late brother’s best friend Kevin, among others, defining their strength even as they expose their emotional vulnerabilities. “Strong Island” revolves around the death of William Ford Jr., who was shot by Mark Reilly, a white 19-year-old, at a garage in Long Island. The murder case went to a grand jury who returned a No True Bill decision, which is a refusal to indict. Hearing Barbara Ford describe losing her son is heartbreaking, but even more so is her recollection of testifying in front of the allwhite grand jury. She explains that several members were not paying attention to her, nor did they care about what she had to say. When Barbara says she does not want her son’s death to be in vain, it is shattering. The documentary is sure to infuriate viewers as Yance Ford contacts folks involved in the 22-year-old case, including a prosecutor who won’t speak to him and a district attorney who provides frustrating and disappointing information. “Strong Island” takes viewers on an extremely emotional journey. The Fords were treated poorly and intimidated through several phases of the investigation and subsequent case. There are also revelations that explain how William became a suspect in his own murder. While the crime is the central focus, Yance Ford includes interesting personal histories, such as how his family came to live in Central Islip, Long Island. He artfully examines some of the social factors includ-

Black Lives Matter Memoir” host a reading 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.

ing segregation, poverty and crime that his father saw first-hand working as a subway conductor. Yance even describes the black pride and family love that influenced the Fords at work and at home. The director also addresses his burgeoning awareness of his sexual identity. He claims he had almost no outlets for

“WONDER”-LAND: The Killers bring their “Wonderful Wonderful World Tour” to Philly for a dazzling evening of heartfelt music 8 p.m. Jan. 13 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-389-9543.

Theater & Arts YANCE FORD Photo: Simon Luethi the desires he felt. Yance explains how he learned about gay people by reading Rita Mae Brown books. Growing up female, Yance was “excited and ashamed” reading William’s issues of Playboy. However, Yance felt as if there was no one to talk to about his sexuality. He regrets never coming out to his brother. Yance’s self-reflexive approach distinguishes “Strong Island,” which is why his survivor’s guilt is so powerful. A scene of him sobbing and screaming after an especially difficult phone call is a particularly raw moment. While it is best left for viewers to discover the intricacies of what transpires in the case, the director introduces David Breen, a Manhattan assistant district attorney, who knew William in a way that shows yet another side to his character. William’s legacy is also compounded by his diary entries — which Yance reads on screen. In a sequence that magnifies the tragedy, William wrote about fasting to lose weight in order to become a corrections officer and change his life for the better. These scenes resonate and echo the fartoo-many other stories about unarmed, nonviolent and non-aggressive AfricanAmerican men being struck down in their prime because of white men’s fear. When Yance provides a monologue suggesting William’s last thoughts as he lies dying on the pavement outside the garage, it is a haunting and poignant episode. “Strong Island” painstakingly shows how William’s death “caused the death” of the Ford family. The film challenges viewers to confront their own thoughts about race, inequality and injustice. Yance’s justifiable anger and grief inform his observations about his brother’s death. His film does not resolve the complex feelings and social issues, but it is certainly provocative and worthwhile. n

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery Walnut Street Theatre presents Ken Ludwig’s acclaimed adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1902 classic mystery, “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” through Feb. 4, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. BodyVox The innovative dance-theater troupe performs a compilation of its greatest works Jan. 18-21 at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St.; 267-239-2941. Copenhagen Lantern Theater Company presents a dramatic mystery about German physicist Werner Heisenberg visiting his old mentor and Danish counterpart Niels Bohr in 1941 while their countries were at war, through Feb. 11 at St. Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow St.; 215829-0395.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Media Theatre presents the musical adaptation of the Disney classic animated film, through Jan. 14, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100. Finesse Mitchell The comedian seen on “SNL” performs Jan. 18-20 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-6066555. The Humans Walnut Street Theatre presents the Tony Awardwinning new play about a family’s holiday turmoil, Jan. 16-March 4, 825 Walnut St.; 215-5743550. IT The 2017 horror film based on the Stephen King novel is screened 8 p.m. Jan. 15 at The Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Juan de Marcos and the AfroCuban All Stars The dynamic Cuban musical orchestra performs 8 p.m. Jan. 12 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-8931999.

L.A. Dance Project Dance Affiliates present the acclaimed contemporary dance company making its Philadelphia headline debut Jan. 12-13 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. Les Misérables Broadway Philadelphia presents a new production of the Tony Awardwinning blockbuster musical through Jan. 21 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Old Masters Now: Celebrating the Johnson Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of European art from the likes of Botticelli, Bosch, Titian, Rembrandt and Monet through Feb. 19, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Patrisse KahnCullors and asha bandele The authors of “When They Call You a Terrorist: A

Patricia Urquiola: Between Craft and Industry The work of acclaimed designer Urquiola, who creates cool, innovative objects for the home and office, is on display through March 4 at Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Peter Pan Arden Theatre presents the classic children’s story through Jan. 28, 40 N. Second St.; 215922-1122. The Second City: Look Both Ways Before Talking The acclaimed improv troupe performs Jan. 1920 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. Steven Wright The comedian performs 8 p.m. Jan. 13 at Keswick Theater, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-5727650. Todd Glass The comedian seen on Comedy Central, FX and “Last Comic Standing” performs through Jan. 13 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

Music Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven The alternative-rock bands perform 8 p.m. Jan. 12 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215922-1011.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Daddy & Friends NYC boylesquesuperstar Chris Harder performs at the monthly showcase’s one-year anniversary show 8-11 p.m. Jan. 19 at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St.; 215-592-0656.

Outta Town RUNNING COMMENTARY: Comedian and “The Daily Show” host, Trevor Noah, brings his hilariously sharp and political worldview to the stage when he performs 8 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Borgata Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-317-1000.

Dorothy The rock band performs 9 p.m. Jan. 13 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-9221011. The Legwarmers The ’80s tribute/ cover band performs 9 p.m. Jan. 13 at The Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Avatar The hard-rock/metal band performs 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011. Passion Pit The indie electronic-rock band performs 8:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215-3090150. Kick The INXS tribute band performs 8 p.m. Jan. 19 at Sellersville Theater,

24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808. Rufus Wainwright The out singersongwriter performs with The Philly POPS and PGMC 8 p.m. Jan. 19 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999.

Nightlife Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva Brunch Mimi Imfurst, Bev, Vinchelle, Sutton Fearce and special guests perform 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 14 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555. GENDXR – Escape the Binary Celebrate with an inclusive all-gender naked party 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Jan. 20 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215964-9675.

Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

The Running Man A sci-fi film is screened 9:45 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. Rob Thomas The rock singer and Matchbox 20 front man performs Jan. 12-13 at The Borgata Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609 317-1000.

Philly playwright MJ Kaufman brings ‘Sensitive Guys’ home to InterAct Theatre By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor MJ Kaufman is one of American theater’s most insistent and crucial new artists — one whose work exists in a time when risk, dare and sociopolitical polemic is a necessity. The genderqueer, trans-masculine author’s identity doesn’t change how audiences should look at the world debut of their play “Sensitive Guys” at InterAct Theatre. It only means you should look harder and with deeper appreciation. We chatted with the playwright ahead of the big premiere. PGN: What was your specific timeline in Philly? MK: I lived there from 2013-16. Over those years, I was gradually offered more and more exciting opportunities in New York — which makes sense because it is a bigger city with more theaters. When I had my second New York production, two fellowships and a teaching job, I just couldn’t say no anymore and I was sick of commuting, so I moved. I love Philly and Philly theater and miss it a lot. I’m psyched that I keep getting to do shows there.

The Sound of Music The classic musicalfamily film is screened 1:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228.

PGN: You and Amy Smith penned a sensible direct set of rules — a manifesto — for Broad Street Review for theater artists dealing with trans stories. Have you witnessed most theater companies utilizing your playbook? Do you deal with those who don’t? MK: That piece was actually just one part of a lot of work different trans artists and producers have been doing to make our field less transphobic. I do think that many theaters are getting better, I am starting to see more work by trans writers, more trans actors in trans roles, trans directors and designers, but definitely not on the scale we want yet. Most theaters still have a ways to go.

Oklahoma! The classic Western film is screened 1:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228.

PGN: As a writer/devised performer, I’m curious as to who you looked at as “heroic” or influential outside of fellow trans artists in your youth/early artistic development. MK: My models, as a writer, include trans and cis artists, queer and straight. Some of my queer and trans role models in theater include Kate Bornstein, Paula Vogel, Peggy Shaw, Madeleine George, Lisa Kron, Taylor Mac and Miguel Gutierrez.

All Stars of Hip Hop Rapper Nelly, Ja Rule, Method Man, Redman and KRS One perform 7 p.m. at Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-348-7000.

PGN: Do you tire of almost having to represent the entirety of the trans art community when called upon, or are you pleased to stand up at all times? MK: Of course it is tiring. But if I don’t advocate for myself, who will? Sometimes I have more energy for it than others but I try to show up with the best I can every time.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day The sci-fi blockbuster is screened 9:45 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

PGN: You developed “Sensitive Guys” at InterAct in June 2016, and PlayPenn in July 2016 before #MeToo. What was its rise like? MK: “Sensitive Guys” is about a sexual assault on a college campus, rape culture and toxic masculinity. These are themes and realities that were current when I started writing it and are still current now. I think the current shift toward holding celebrities accountable is very important. Also, I hope our cultural conversation can start to go deeper: how do we respond to rape and harassment in our schools and workplaces? How do we respond to sexual violence when no one famous or powerful is involved?

PGN: Do you believe you write a new thing in opposition to/reaction toward a previous piece? MK: I am writing so many things at once all the time, it is hard to say! One of my teachers, Eiko Otake, said you make each piece to repair the boundaries you broke in the last one and that definitely resonates with me. PGN: What elements of “Sensitive Guys” came first and what was that all based upon? Who are these characters to you? MK: It was initially inspired by hearing about men’s peer-education groups from various cis men close to me who had gone through them, on college campuses and beyond. PGN: “Sensitive Guys” uses a small liberal-arts college as backdrop. Why? What were you feeling about sexism and patriarchal norms at that time so to utilize that space? And how did you find humor there as so many people seem to not find humor there? MK: I was inspired by so many stories I heard about organizing against a culture of sexual assault on college campuses. In particular, I was inspired by my brother’s experience in a men’s peer-education group at his college. I also was interested in how ambitious college-age people are — how hopeful and optimistic — so much so that they would believe they could end sexual assault everywhere in five years. I heard about a college group that truthfully planned to do this. I wanted that hope and optimism in a play about a subject this heavy. PGN: Were you hoping for humorous relief? MK: In terms of humor, I don’t really try to be funny. I just commit to the truth of character and circumstance. I’ve found that when I do that, humor tends to follow. PGN: One doesn’t write things to be ahead of the curve or prescient, but what did you feel in your stomach when women and gay men started coming out against more powerful people who abused them? And as your position of power in the theater community is enlarged, what can you do to cease or slow the madness? MK: I was not at all surprised. Women, queer and trans people all know how pervasive and deep this problem is. We live in a rape culture. I hope that moving forward, we start to actually confront this reality. I think we have a ways to go in theater and I certainly hope I can be part of holding us accountable. n Sensitive Guys plays Jan. 19-Feb. 11 at InterAct Theatre Company at The Drake, 302 S. Hicks St. For more information or tickets, visit www.interacttheatre.org/sensitive-guys.

DINING PGNOUT

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

Heritage: rocking a solid menu in Northern Liberties By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com With a modern-rustic décor, locally sourced menu, urban garden and stage for live music (usually low-key, roots-oriented, jazzy, bluesy outfits), it gets no hipper or hipster when it comes to Northern Liberties eateries than this. And it has as much talent in the kitchen as it does onstage. Heritage puts together a fine presentation of dishes, starting with the small plates. The rabbit meatballs ($15) were lean and tasty, bathed in sofrito and crème fraîche. The smoked bluefish pâté ($14) was wonderfully complex in flavor, topped with a nice remoulade and fried capers. Its only flaw was that the house-fried potato chips it came with were too thin and delicate to be effective as a vehicle to scoop up the pâté. A much thicker cut or something more substantial like pita points would have made the dish perfect.

The side dishes at Heritage were strong but threw some curves in the process. The crispy potatoes ($7) were rustic-fried perfection, piping hot and crispy outside and fluffy inside. They could have used some stronger seasoning but a nice cheese sauce and ketchup were on hand to take up the slack. The jerked broccolini ($8) were a pleasantly confusing mind-trick of a dish. The strong and tantalizing aroma of the jerk sauce and bacon butter radiating off the dish set off carnivore fireworks in my head. Alas, it’s not a steaming pile of chicken or pork waiting for you on the plate, but a colorful presentation of broccolini awash in the tasty sauce and dusted with bright-herb breadcrumbs that give everything an interesting texture, to placate the somewhat-miffed part of your psyche that was promised meat by your olfactory senses. There was one particular dish that offered the ideal refuge from the frigid weather that

If you go

Food and Drink Directory

The Center City IHOP located at 1320 Walnut St. is now open 24 Hrs on FRIDAY and SATURDAY

THANKS FOR MAKING IT A IHOP DAY

LovasH Indian

236 South St Philadelphia, PA 19147 215-925-3881

Restaurant and Bar www.lovashrestaurant.com EAT IN - TAKE OUT - DELIVERY Open 7 Days a Week Now Order

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Monday - Thursday: 4pm - 10pm Friday - Sunday: 11:30am - 10:30pm

Spice up your life with

Indian food

Heritage 914 N. Second St. 215-627-7500 https://heritage.life/

Sun.-Thurs.: 5 p.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat.: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Brunch: Sat.-Sun.: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

gripped the city on the night we visited, and that was the seafood stew ($26), a steamy bowl of cod, mussels, shrimp, pork belly and peppers that was bright, hearty and hit all the right spots without feeling too heavy. Thankfully, you get plenty of grilled bread on dishes like this to soak up all the goodness. If you are looking for a laid-back but still-stylish and comfortable place to entertain your ears as much as your palette, Heritage is the place to visit. n

Wedding Services Directory

PGN PORTRAIT from page 23

is not in alignment with that nude image of a black woman on black velvet in the ’70s. She’s nude, but not nude. There’s a complexity to the image and the model is one of my best friends so I love it. It’s called, “The Shining.” PGN: Have you done any acting? HRP: No, no I haven’t. Wait, that’s a lie. I kind of always say yes when people offer me something, so over the years, I’ve been in a lot of things. [Laughing] So it’s a complete lie when I say I haven’t. I just don’t feel comfortable at all with people pointing the camera at me. PGN: And you have such a great face for it! HRP: Thank you. I’ve just done it for the experience; I’m just in awe of what goes into the production of a movie. Seeing all the working parts come together. But I do try to challenge myself, so someday I may get comfortable in front of a camera. [Laughing] I actually have to do some green-screen thing for a friend tomorrow and they want me to speak on camera. I was like, Yeah, we’ll see how it goes. PGN: I see in the photo of you that you have a number of tattoos. Describe two of them. HRP: Which photo? PGN: You’re dressed as a cheerleader. HRP: Ah, that one, that’s a collaboration that I did with an artist named Charles Hall. It’s a long-running project about sports culture and toxic masculinity and gender roles. My character is Pom Pom and she’s an aging cheerleader. My narrative is that she never made the squad so she made up her own, a squad of one.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

craftspeople. I curated two shows in 2017, both based in queerness: “I/We In/Out Our/Own,” and “Embracing Failure.” My aim in curation is always to be inclusive. To make space for folks who are on the margin. To see people like oneself is so valuable as a way to understand, “I can do that too!” But, also to offer space to artists who don’t fit a normative gallery space, who have need to be represented and seen. The upcoming show digs a little deeper into this idea, going directly into outlaw sexuality and bringing it into the public to remove stigmas attached and again, speak to people who might carry shame over said stigmas. PGN: Cool. Changing gears, if you were in the circus, what would you do (other than ride a unicycle)? HRP: Other than that? Well, I’m a pretty good pole dancer! I got into it when I was in a deep depression and eventually wound up teaching. It was a great body-positive environment full of women. I got very skilled in it. [Laughing] Way more skilled than when I actually was a dancer! PGN: You literally lifted yourself out of depression! What’s your favorite weird food combination? HRP: [Laughing] What? I don’t know ... Oh, wait, when I was young, I loved hot chocolate and cheese.. PGN: Eeek! What do you keep in the trunk of your car? HRP: I just totaled my car, so I don’t have a trunk. But if I did, it would be sensible things like jumper cables, a gas container and a teddy bear. PGN: If you were a natural element, what would it be? HRP: Fire. I’m a Leo, which is a fire sign.

PGN: That’s a great series. You have fabulous pics on your site, both ones that you took and ones you are in. HRP: Thank you. I have a video called “The Gutter” and I think it’s the most beautiful work that I’ve made. It’s me riding my unicycle [next to a clip of] a juggler. It’s a two-channel video so it’s of us in the same space at different times, performing by ourselves and it’s inspired by my childhood. When people watch it, they wonder, What happened, do they ever meet? It’s reflective of me before I had words, how I created my own world to survive in. It’s funny, I’m still a very solitary person but most people don’t perceive me that way. I know that visually, I give off a certain thing in the public sphere, but I’m actually very reserved. Again, we’re back to the dichotomy of being from very disparate parts as my foundation. My household was very German growing up, which is very different from the Puerto-Rican side in the way they feel, celebrate and express themselves. Polar opposites.

Black and Blue: The Colors Of Leather will be held Jan. 12-Feb. 23 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. A reception will be held at the center 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 11.

PGN: What is Female Trouble? HRP: A group of women artists and

To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol.com.

PGN: I see we have some favorite films in common. “Ma Vie en Rose,” “Pee Wee Herman” and “Willy Wonka.” HRP: Oh yes. The visual information in those movies have informed my work. PGN: Best film quote? Mine is from Willu Wonka, “So shines a good deed in a weary world.” HRP: The one that popped in my head is from a John Waters film, “Desperate Living.” Side note, he was the guest of honor at a film-festival event in which I’d coordinated a bunch of go-go dancers to work, it was on the last night I drank. The quote is from Queen Carlotta, “And don’t get your pecker tracks on my gown.” [Laughs] Not as deeply profound as that beautiful line from “Willy Wonka.” But profound on some level in its own way! n

Q Puzzle LGBTQ-J Across 1. Prepares to shoot off 5. “Project Runway” judge Michael 9. Broadway scenery chewers 13. Ballet move 14. Cuddly creatures of Endor 16. Click it to go to AfterEllen. com 17. Fairy tale bad guy 18. “Fiddle-___!” (Scarlett’s saying) 19. Pronoun for King James 20. *New Queer Cinema pioneer Todd 22. “The Fall of America” author Allen 24. Antigay crusader Bryant 25. Take care of 26. Visitors at lesbianation. com 28. Gay cultural values, e.g. 32. Peril for Patty Sheehan 36. Hems and

haws 37. Oral zinger 38. Billy of “American Horror Story” 40. “I Love Dick” creator Jill 41. It may cream your face when you bite it 42. “Argo” employer 43. Miss, to Mauresmo 44. ___ Ste. Marie, Mich. 45. Network of “Wedding Wars” 47. Makes up 49. Asskissers’ responses 54. LGBTQ rights activist Jazz 57. Like the people in this puzzle whose clues are starred 58. Glenn, in “Fatal Attraction” 59. 1971 Jane Fonda movie 61. Bishop’s “Creep ___ Thy Narrow Bed” 62. Title for Edna or Judi 63. Evita’s married name

64. At no time, in verse 65. Mireille of “World War Z” 66. “Out in Left Field” host Goldberg 67. Verdon, who played Lola Down 1. Hawaiian howdy 2. Shakespearean king’s daughter 3. Bloody queen 4. Ready for bed 5. Early sneaker brand 6. Be in the hole 7. “South Pacific” composer 8. Furry balls 9. Spank a passive one? 10. Pain held in by Schumacher? 11. Othello, for example 12. Like a tight opening 15. Tickle pink 21. La mer, to Debussy 23. Like Shirley MacLaine’s magnolias 25. HI, once

27. He may have crystal balls 29. Poem of 22-Across 30. Anal alternative 31. Lid problem 32. Links athletic supporters 33. Affluent, to Lorca 34. Sometime defender of gay rts. 35. Units in Alexander’s army 37. Thoroughfare with yellow bricks 39. Untouchable target 40. Homophobia and such 42. Pause in

Dickinson’s “I’m nobody! Who are you?” 45. Avoided going straight 46. Look in a gay bar 48. Peeling fruits for soldiers, e.g. 50. Georgetown Hoyas’ coach Patrick 51. Muscle Mary’s pride 52. Makeup maker Lauder 53. Like a clipped sheep 54. Green stones material 55. Zip 56. DeGeneres’ “Finding ___” 57. Malone of “Life as a House” 60. Amount of bricks

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Jan. 12-18, 2018

Classifieds All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any realestate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

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Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, January Term, 2018, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on December 5, 2017, the petition of Ashley Renee Lark was filed, praying for a decree to change his name to A’Sheer Razik Lark. The Court has fixed February 2, 2018 at 9:00 am, in Courtroom No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall as the time and place for the hearing of said Petition, when and where all persons interested may appear and show cause, if they have any, why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted. ________________________________________42-02 Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, January Term, 2018, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 29, 2017, the petition of Stephon Lamark Schenck was filed, praying for a decree to change her name to Erinn Quadirah Schenck. The Court has fixed February 2, 2018 at 9:30 am, in Courtroom No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall as the time and place for the hearing of said Petition, when and where all persons interested may appear and show cause, if they have any, why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted. ________________________________________42-02 Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, January Term, 2018, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 17, 2017, the petition of Jamisa Lajuan Haskins was filed, praying for a decree to change his name to Cassir Maurice Haskins. The Court has fixed February 2, 2018 at 9:30 am, in Courtroom No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall as the time and place for the hearing of said Petition, when and where all persons interested may appear and show cause, if they have any, why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted. ________________________________________42-02

Nominate yourself or someone else for Day in the Life Of to have one of our reporters spend a day on the job with you, and write about the experience. Email editor@epgn.com with your name, occupation, employer and work schedule for consideration.

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