pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Vol. 43 No. 15 April 12-18, 2019
Family Portrait: Maggie Lee serves up the coffee
Mormons: We will baptize children of LGBT parents
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SAGE honors two for work benefiting LGBTQ elders
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Equality Act gets a hearing
‘Showgirls’ revisited
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PCHR’s Landau receives Cheryl Ingram Award By Josh Middleton PGN Contributor The Philadelphia Bar Association chose Rue Landau, executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, to receive the 2019 Cheryl Ingram Award — an honor recognizing individuals who have worked to advance the issues of LGBTQ people in Philadelphia. Landau was presented with the prize at an intimate ceremony at the Field House on April 2 among friends, family and a who’s who of local LGBTQ community leaders, including Amber Hikes, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs, Judge Dan Anders and the SeniorLAW
AWARD RECIPIENTS ED MILLER (LEFT) AND DR. RACHEL LEVINE (RIGHT) ARE JOINED BY SAGE CEO MICHAEL ADAMS DURING A RECEPTION APRIL 4 AT THE COMCAST CENTER. Photo: Kelly Burkhardt
The local branch of SAGE, a national LGBTQ elder advocacy organization, held a reception April 4 to honor two organizational allies for their work to benefit LGBTQ elders. The honorees were Dr. Rachel Levine, Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Ed Miller, Senior Programs Coordinator for the William Way LGBT Community Center. SAGE, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, advocates for policies that address the special needs of LGBTQ elders, as well as lending help and advice to state and local governmental agencies in organizing and operating programs for LGBTQ seniors. Levine was awarded the SAGE & Friends Pioneer Award for her work with the agency to enhance and expand state programs for elders. She is also noteworthy for being the
first transwoman to hold such a prominent statewide office. In her remarks, the state’s Levine emphasized the importance of the work SAGE does in enhancing the efficacy of the state’s elder programs, particularly in training the workers to cope with and address the special needs of LGBTQ elders. “We have to support the most vulnerable in our community,” she said. Also honored was Ed Miller, who oversees the various senior-related programs at William Way serves as the person for the continuing partnership between William Way and SAGE. The reception was held at the Comcast Center. Also, Comcast co-sponsored the event. n — by Gary L. Day
Center’s Larry Felzer. The award is presented each year in memory of the late Ingram, a former member of the PBA who, among other initiatives, helped develop the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia (GALLOP). Previous recipients include Frank Cervone, executive director of the Support Center for Child Advocates; Temple University Beasley School of Law Professor Lee Carpenter; and the late Gloria Casarez, PAGE 2 who served as the city’s
Lancaster’s Star Barn refuses LGBT weddings By Victoria A. Brownworth PGN Contributor The Star Barn Village at Stone Gables Estates is one of the most unique wedding venues in Pennsylvania — one that has been frequented by myriad guests. But LGBTQ guests who seek this idyllic spot for their own weddings need not apply. Catholic owner David Abel adheres strictly to the Bible when it comes to marriage. The Star Barn Village website does not make clear that the venue will honor only weddings that unite men with women. It’s now the latest venue in the LGBTQ battle to access accommodations and services.
Another business owner has planned a protest of the historic architectural venue in quaint Elizabethtown, Lancaster County. Erica Millner, owner of MIO Studio in Lancaster, is herself a married lesbian. She said the Star Barn’s policies are discriminatory and that she believes all people should be able to hold their wedding at the historic venue. She organized a protest that was expected to take place April 11, when Discover Lancaster, a local tourism group, was scheduled to hold an event at Star Barn Village. Millner said in an interview with Lancaster’s WGAL, “Maybe they’ll see the people — their neighbors, their friends, maybe famPAGE 18 ily members of theirs —
Attorney General orders FBI, Bureau of Prisons to examine LGBTQ discrimination By Victoria A. Brownworth PGN Contributor In a victory for LGBTQ employees at the U.S. Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr ordered the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons to investigate allegations of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees within the department and affiliate agencies. Barr made the announcement in a letter released April 5. The order is an immediate response to a series of requests
from an LGBT group. DOJ Pride, an organization that represents thousands of LGBTQ employees at the Justice Department and its component agencies, had notified Barr the previous week of concerns regarding the status of LGBTQ employees at the DOJ. The board of directors of DOJ Pride sent a letter to Barr requesting he sign an equal-employment opportunity statement. It also detailed alleged discrimination experienced by LGBTQ employees within and connected to the DOJ. In a letter to the group, Barr said he was “troubled by
the concerns you raised about low morale and in particular about discrimination against LGBTQ employees.” Barr, who had said during his confirmation hearings that he believes discrimination against LGBTQ people is wrong, also added that there is no law to address such discrimination. The Equality Act, which would create such federal legislation, has yet to be voted on this year. The Attorney General ordered the FBI and Bureau of Prisons to investigate and address the discrimination allegations and to “prevent it going forward.” PAGE 15 Barr’s response and tone could repre-