PGN May 30-June 5, 2014 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Meshell sparkles in new CD release PAGE 31

The Kiyoshi Kuromiya Award presentation kicks off AIDS Education Month PAGE 5

Family Portrait: Samantha Jo Dato previews TransHealth Conference

PAGE 35

Spring LGBTQ Youth Supplement: Eight pages of content by youth, for youth PAGES 21-28 May 30-June 5, 2014

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Vol. 38 No. 22

Tracing the Philly couples celebrate equality impact of Whitewood By Angela Thomas and Jen Colletta angela@epgn.com, jen@epgn.com

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

The marriage-equality movement in Pennsylvania changed in an instant last week, but the trickle-down effect of the state legalizing same-sex marriage is continuing to emerge. On May 20, U.S. District Judge John E. Jones 3d struck down Pennsylvania’s 1996 law banning marriage equality, after a challenge known as Whitewood v. Wolf. The following day Republican Gov. Tom Corbett declined to appeal the ruling. Pennsylvania is now the 19th state in the nation, along with Washington, D.C., to sanction marriage equality. While Philadelphia has seen a sea of celebratory same-sex unions, from City Hall to Love Park to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in the past week, the full impact of the law change goes far beyond the ceremonies. “It really is a whole new world,” said Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin. Insurance companies will now have to treat married same-sex couples equal to heterosexual married couples for benefits purposes. “Now, if a company offers benefits to heterosexual spouses, same-sex spouses will be treated exactly the same,” said attorney Tiffany Palmer. “I PAGE 6

On May 20, U.S. District Court Judge John Jones 3d overturned Pennsylvania’s 1995 ban on same-sex marriage — prompting couples across the state to flock to city halls for marriage licenses. Eighteen couples applied for licenses last Tuesday afternoon at Philadelphia City Hall

and began marrying Friday, after the threeday waiting period. As of presstime, 129 same-sex couples had applied for marriage licenses in Philadelphia. The Register of Wills office did not have final numbers of how many couples had completed and filed their licenses. Just after midnight May 23, the first same-sex couple in Philadelphia married

SHOWERED WITH LOVE: A windy day in Love Park Saturday added to the joyous atmosphere as the Hon. Dan Anders (center) married Jim Helisek (left) and Brian Morrison in front of friends, family and passersby. The couple, both sign-language interpreters, was among dozens granted marriage licenses shortly after last Tuesday’s landmark court ruling, enabling them to tie the knot by the weekend. Anders, the city’s first openly gay male judge, wed a number of same-sex couples over the weekend. Photo: Scott A. Drake

on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and later that day, eight couples married in the Mayor’s Reception Room in City Hall. On Saturday, 17 couples were married at City Hall, including some by Mayor Michael Nutter. Two floors up Friday morning, a handful of same-sex couples picked up licenses in the Register of Wills office, a day that was a long time coming for many of them. Maureen Haddow and Elke Muller have been together for 22 years; they met through a personal ad and had their first date at former lesbian bar Hepburn’s. Muller said she was overjoyed by the long-overdue ruling. After leaving the register’s office, marriage license in hands, the couple joked that their first fight as a licensed couple was about who to pick as an officiant. Haddow said the couple originally planned to go to New York to get married because they saw marriage equality in Pennsylvania as a long shot. “I had to pay a friend a dollar because I said we would never have marriage equality in Pennsylvania and she said, ‘You will eventually,’” Haddow said. “We’ve been together for 22 years and we’re shocked.” Muller and Haddow are planning a lowkey ceremony within the next 10 days. The couple said they’re relieved to be able to share in all the benefits allotted to heterosexual couples. “We have the same laws as everyone else to protect us now,” Haddow said. Kristin Mozzachio and Cinquetta Rhodes had similar plans, ready to travel to New York to get legally married. “We’re not from New PAGE 12

Business community comes out for marriage By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com With marriage equality now in the Keystone State, activists and advocates aren’t the only ones joining in on the celebration. The wedding industry jumped to action shortly after last week’s ruling, with photographers, DJs, churches, officiants and local restaurants among those marking Pennsylvania’s

victory, many offering their services free or discounted to attract LGBT clients. LGBT tourism is expected to see a jump, said Bruce Yelk, director of public relations for Visit Philadelphia. “I think without a doubt it will bring more tourism to Philadelphia,” he said. “It is proven that every other state that has marriage equality has seen an increase in weddings.” According to a study out

this month from the Williams Institute, marriage equality in Pennsylvania could generate more than $92 million in revenue for the state in the next three years, with almost $60 million of that coming in the first year of the new law. The organization estimated that between 7,490-11,168 same-sex couples would marry in Pennsylvania in the next three years. The state requires a 6.34 per-

cent general sales or use tax on consumers. With the average amount couples spend on weddings, the Williams Institute estimated between $4.2-$5.8 million in sales tax revenue in the first three years. Marriage equality would also boost job growth, with an estimated 812-1,142 full- and parttime jobs created. Yelk said his organization is compiling a list of local hotels PAGE 13 that are offer-

TAKING THAT BIG STEP MORE COVERAGE: PAGES 6-8, 12-13

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

News Briefing Deadline extended in Shephard case The state Superior Court recently extended the deadline for openly gay defendant William F. Smithson to file an appellate brief in his murder case. Smithson is accused of strangling coworker Jason Shephard in 2006 after trying to rape him. In 2008, a Delaware County jury convicted Smithson of first-degree murder. But his advocates say the conviction was due largely to homophobia and that police failed to investigate F. Bruce Covington, who was also inside Smithson’s home when Shephard died. Covington was convicted of drug-related charges stemming from the incident, but prosecutors say he wasn’t Shephard’s killer. In a prior interview, Smithson said he was heavily drugged by Covington and passed out while Shephard was still alive. Smithson is requesting a new trial, claiming his trial attorney failed to represent him effectively. But in January, Delaware County Common

REGIONAL PGN

Pleas Judge Barry C. Dozor denied Smithson’s request, holding that Smithson’s trial attorney adequately represented him. Smithson is appealing Dozor’s ruilng in state Superior Court. Smithson’s attorney, Henry D. Forrest, was supposed to file an appellate brief on May 12. But Forrest requested more time, and the court extended the deadline to July 14. Prosecutor William D. Toal 3d didn’t oppose the deadline extension, according to court records. After Forrest files the brief, Toal will have 30 days file an appellee brief. Then, Forrest is permitted to file a reply brief. Then the court has the option of hearing oral arguments or issuing a ruling based solely on the briefs.

Marriage-recognition case may be dismissed U.S. District Judge Mary A. McLaughlin has ordered attorneys in a local marriagerecognition case to explain why the case shouldn’t be dismissed. The case, Palladino v. Corbett, is pending in federal court in Philadelphia. Cara Palladino and Isabelle Barker filed suit in 2013, seeking to have their 2005 marriage in Massachusetts recognized in Pennsylvania. But on May 20, in another federal case known as Whitewood v. Wolf, the state’s same-sex marriage ban was overturned, and

Gov. Tom Corbett said he won’t appeal. On May 22, McLaughlin gave plaintiffs in the Palladino case a week to explain why their case shouldn’t be dismissed as moot in light of the Whitewood decision. At presstime, Michael L. Banks, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told PGN that McLaughlin’s order was being evaluated. Additional information was unavailable.

Medical-records dispute in antibias case City attorneys are seeking medical records of N. Melville Jones, a gay police officer who’s suing the city for pervasive anti-LGBT workplace bias. Jones, however, has declined to comply with the request, citing confidentiality concerns. A hearing on the dispute has been scheduled for 9 a.m. May 29 in City Hall Room 243. Common Pleas Judge Idee C. Fox is scheduled to preside. According to court records, Jones at times felt depressed and experienced difficulty sleeping due to alleged workplace bias. But city attorneys contend there may be other reasons for those issues, aside from alleged workplace bias. At presstime, additional information on the dispute wasn’t available. A non-jury trial is expected in October. ■ — Timothy Cwiek

Fleck wins Dem primary By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Pennsylvania’s first out Republican state legislator lost the Republican nomination for re-election — but won the Democratic race. Rep. Mike Fleck (R-81st Dist.) was unseated in the May 20 primary by a writein campaign from Huntingdon County Treasurer Richard Irvin. But he received 15 more Democratic write-in votes than Irvin, meaning he could run as a Democrat on the November ballot. Irvin had been ousted from the ballot when he failed to submit a financial-disclosure form, but ultimately garnered 3,600 write-in votes to Fleck’s 3,396. This marked Fleck’s first election after coming out last year. Fleck lightheartedly wrote about his Democratic nomination on his Facebook page: “Rep. Mike Fleck (D) Three Springs. How’s that for an oxymoron?” Fleck went on to thank voters. “Thank you to the 3,000-plus Republicans who voted based on my job performance,” he wrote. “While a lot can still happen legally, today is a new day and if we are ultimately successful in our bid to continue through the fall, rest assured, I will give it my all.” The Board of Election will have to certify Fleck’s proposal to run on the Democratic ticket, and it is still uncertain whether Irvin will challenge the result. ■

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All of these locations are now visible on a zoomable Google Map at

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

Weekly features

News&Opinion

A NEW NORTHEAST: A computer at the Human Rights Campaign store in Provincetown, Mass., last weekend bore a message of congratulations to Pennsylvania for becoming the 19th state to legalize marriage equality. The store carries a wall of up-to-date maps outlining LGBT rights in America, ranging from marriage equality to nondiscrimination to adoption, as well as a range of equality-themed merchandise, all of the proceeds of which benefit the organization’s LGBTrights work. Memorial Day weekend featured a wealth of LGBT parties, socials and outings in the beach town, popular with the LGBT community. Photo: Jen Colletta

2 — News Briefing 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Letters/Feeback Mark My Words Street Talk 14 — Crime Watch 19 — Engagement

AC &

35 — Family Portrait 39 — Worth Watching 33 — Scene in Philly 40 — Out & About 38 — Q Puzzle

C o 14 — Mombian: It l takes a village of u dads m n s Classifieds 45 — Real Estate 46 — Personals 47 — Bulletin Board

This week in PGN

“These marriages will still not be recognized in 31 states, so it’s very important to have an accurate estate plan because you could travel or wander into another state and you need proper documentation. The basic legal definitions in your documents — whether it says wife, husband, spouse, domestic partner — should reflect your legal relationship; that’s best practice to have the appropriate relationship in your documents.”

2014 Pride Issue!

Two weeks Post-Pride photo scrapbook

PGN 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147-1506 Phone: 215-625-8501 Fax: 215-925-6437 E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Web: www.epgn.com

Publisher Mark Segal (ext. 204) mark@epgn.com Executive Assistant/ Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com

Editor

Jen Colletta (ext. 206) jen@epgn.com Staff Writers Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Angela Thomas (ext. 215) angela@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) timothy@epgn.com

Advertising Manager Greg Dennis (ext. 201) greg@epgn.com Advertising Sales Representatives Prab Sandhu (ext. 212) prab@epgn.com National Advertising Rivendell Media: 212-2426863 Office Manager/ Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com

Between Friday and Saturday, 25 samesex couples wed at City Hall.

8 — Marriage equality 101 and where you can get a marriage license 10-11 — Commentaries on PA marriage-equality decision

~ Angela Giampolo, on newly or soon-to-be-married couples in Pennsylvania

Next week

Dana Rudoph talks about the latest addition to the growing number of LGBT parenting books.

Suzanna Danuta Walters tells readers in “The Tolerance Trap” not to get too comfortable with newly recognized rights.

Art Director/ Photographer

Scott A. Drake (ext. 210) scott@epgn.com

Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Suburban Newspapers of America

Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com

The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” col umn. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.

LOCAL PGN

Eighth Ward urges Morris probe By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The Eighth Ward Democratic Executive Committee has sent a letter to Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane and District Attorney R. Seth Williams, urging a state probe into the Nizah Morris case. Morris was a transgender woman who became a homicide victim in 2002, shortly after entering a police vehicle for a Center City “courtesy ride.” The crime remains unsolved. Efforts to elicit details of the incident have been stymied by missing 911 transmissions, a redacted police report, a lost homicide file and an incomplete timeresponse log. The Eighth Ward is a political subdivision — largely in Center City west of Broad — that serves as a conduit to party leadership. It’s also a source of information during campaigns and elections. After Morris sustained a fractured skull, she was found prostrate on a street corner in the Eighth Ward. About 30 committeepeople attended a ward meeting in March, and voted unanimously to support a state probe into Morris’ death. Their May 7 letter urges cooperation between Williams and Kane. “We believe that a renewed investiga-

tion by the Attorney General’s Office will promote public confidence in the administration of justice in both the commonwealth and the city, and also assure citizens belonging to the LGBT community that law enforcement in the commonwealth is equal for all, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” the letter stated. The letter was signed by state Sen. Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. (D-First Dist.), who’s the Eighth Ward leader. “We urge the commonwealth to conduct a fair, thorough and outside investigation into the death of Nizah Morris,” the letter continued. “We urge D.A. Williams to request that investigation and to give his full support and cooperation to it.” Charles P. Goodwin, an Eighth Ward committeeperson who helped compose the letter, said a cooperative effort between Williams and Kane stands the best chance of success. Other groups have called for a state probe, regardless of Williams’ cooperation. They say there’s sufficient evidence pointing to a local cover-up to warrant Kane’s involvement. “Legally, we think our approach has the better chance of success,” Goodwin told PGN. He emphasized that the ward isn’t sugPAGE 18 gesting that local offi-

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

AEM to honor pioneering HIV researcher By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The 20th AIDS Education Month launches next week with a series of events, discussions and workshops throughout the city to increase education and awareness about HIV/AIDS. Among the events is the presentation of the 2014 Kiyoshi Kuromiya Award to Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, who won a Nobel Prize for her work in discovering the HIV virus. “She was among the researchers who identified that HIV was the virus that causes AIDS and has been in the forefront in pushing an agenda to end the global AIDS epidemic,” said FIGHT director of education Juliet Fink Yates. Barré-Sinoussi will be awarded at the opening reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 3 at Independence Visitor Center, Sixth and Market streets. New to this year’s line-up is Step Up Against AIDS, a stepping event geared towards young adults, to be held 5-9 p.m. June 5 at Temple University Performing Arts Center, 1837 N. Broad St. The event is free, and there will be rapid

and confidential HIV testing on site. Guests age 13-24 who get tested will be able to earn a free ticket to Hip Hop for Philly, June 27 at the Trocadero Theatre, featuring Grammy nominee Wale. There are several other testing events and opportunities to obtain tickets throughout the month. Hip Hop for Philly was introduced last year. “We tested so many youth that we ran out of tickets last year and that was exciting,” Yates said. “Wale is collaborating with some big artists and is socially conscious and brings awareness of HIV/ AIDS.” Yates said the event is a good opportunity to show youth the importance of being tested. “It is a great way to normalize testing and get young people out and making sure they know their status,” she said. “Many youth don’t get a high level of sexual health or HIV education in schools anymore. This is an opportunity for us to have some time to get them tested and talk with them about safer sex.” For more information, visit www.aidseducationmonth.org. ■

MARRIAGE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

The group will also be looking to update estate plans and documents like wills and powers of attorney. think domestic-partner benefits are going language on any city forms. “I think there will be a lot of house-clean“There are hundreds of thousands of to either diminish in the future or just be available to people who are unmarried. The forms in city government, and we want to ing to do, going from turning your home biggest issue is that domestic-partner ben- make sure we go through and catch anything into a married home. Everyone in the next efits used to be considered taxable income that says ‘husband’ or ‘wife’ and change it two or three months should be reaching out for the employee, and that won’t be the case appropriately,” said Albert D’Attilio, direc- to their lawyers, whether you have docutor of the Office of Human Resources. “We ments or not,” she said. “These marriages anymore.” Palmer noted that married couples should have to go through civil-service regulations will still not be recognized notify their employers so the benefits can to make the language clearer, and we’re well in 31 states, so it’s very on the way of doing this. Rue and I were on important to have an accube properly assessed. Northampton County announced it the phone the next morning after this rul- rate estate plan because would immediately comply with the ruling to make sure we cover all the bases. The you could travel or wander ing and treat county employees with same- biggest challenge is going to be identifying into another state and you sex spouses equal to opposite-sex married any form that might have this language on need proper documentation. The basic legal deficouples, while Lehigh County is planning a it.” Landau noted, however, that the city has nitions in your documents vote on compliance. Since 1998, Philadelphia has extended made an effort since the 1998 domestic- — whether it says wife, domestic-partner benefits to the same-sex partner law to keep as many city documents husband, spouse, domestic partners of city employees. It is unclear if as possible gender-neutral, so the undertak- partner — should reflect those employees will need to legally marry ing will be more about “finding the excep- your legal relationship; tion.” that’s best practice to have to maintain equal benefits. Attorney Angela Giampolo said language the appropriate relationA committee of city leaders — including representatives from human resources, updates will need to be made to couples’ ship in your documents.” Giampolo sugpension, law and finance departgested couples ments, the Commission on Human should also reach Relations and the Office of LGBT out to companies Affairs — met Tuesday to begin that handle areas assessing how the ruling will like car or homimpact city government. eowner’s insurHuman Relations director Rue ance to notify Landau — who, along with partthem of the marital-status change, ner Kerry Smith, were the first as companies often offer incensame-sex couple to be issued a tives for married couples. marriage license in Philadelphia Palmer said one of the most — said there needs to be action by immediate problems the rulCity Council if changes are made ing solves is access to divorce to the domestic-partner policy. for same-sex couples who were “We’re going to iron out the legally wed in other states. Many details but ultimately there will states, she noted, require couhave to be some legislative changes since this was a law KERRY SMITH (LEFT) AND RUE LANDAU, THE FIRST ples married in that state to live that was passed by Council,” she SAME-SEX COUPLE TO RECEIVE A MARRIAGE LICENSE IN there for a certain amount of time before divorcing — caussaid. PHILADELPHIA Photo: Scott A. Drake WHITEWOOD from page 1

ing Pennsylvania couples to effectively be “wedlocked.” “People were really just stuck,” she said. “They got married in Massachusetts or New York but then they couldn’t get divorced there and they couldn’t get divorced here. We’ve had people literally waiting years. I had one client who has been waiting 12 years to dissolve her civil union and other clients waiting seven years. It’s been a long time coming for people, and some of them will now be able to marry their current partner.” Palmer filed the first same-sex divorce case in Bucks County the day after Jones’ ruling, and her firm filed several more in Philadelphia this week. Adoption by same-sex couples is also affected by the law. Unmarried couples will continue to be allowed to adopt jointly, but second-parent adoptions — in which one partner already has legal rights to the child — by same-sex married couples can now be treated as step-parent adoptions. This eliminates the often-costly and time-consuming home-study process. There had been a handful of lawsuits challenging the state law, and each will be addressed and potentially terminated individually. One case involved a lesbian who was being asked to pay an inheritance tax on the estate of her late partner. Until the Whitewood ruling, same-sex spouses were treated as strangers — and taxed as such — in terms of inheritance

“The basic legal definitions in your documents — whether it says wife, husband, spouse, domestic partner — should reflect your legal relationship; that’s best practice to have the appropriate relationship in your documents.”

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MARRIAGE PGN

and real-estate transfers in the event of a partner’s passing, whereas heterosexual married couples were exempt from those taxes. Same-sex married couples will now be treated equally, and there is the potential that refunds could be issued for payments made. “I think there will be people who are eligible to go back for a refund of that, but the question is how far back the statute of limitations can go,” Palmer said. While there are financial benefits of marrying, Palmer cautioned couples not to rush into a wedding; now that marriage equality is legal, couples who divorce will have to face such issues as spousal support and alimony. As opposed to the previous cohabitation agreements, same-sex couples, Palmer said, may want to now consider getting preor post-nuptial agreements when marrying. “I think it’s easy for people to get caught up in the historic nature of this and the momentum and I hope everyone’s relationships last, but I don’t think anyone should rush into this just because this is exciting, if they’re not necessarily ready for the rights and responsibilities that come with marriage,” she said. “You have to make sure you understand what you’re signing up for. People say, ‘Marriage is just a piece of paper,’ but it’s much more than that.” People also should be cognizant, Giampolo said, that, while the marriageequality win was a huge victory, the state still lacks a basic nondiscrimination law.

Pennsylvania is now the only state in the country that has marriage equality but not a law protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation; two other marriageequality states do not protect based on gender identity. “People think it’s not a real occurrence and it is. I get phone calls and emails all the time about discrimination. You can take a gay honeymoon left, right and sideways and get fired when you get back,” she said. “Because marginalized people gain rights, it doesn’t mean that everyone’s mentalities will automatically catch up. People in the LGBT community still need to protect ourselves and educate whoever we come across along the way.” Martin agreed, noting that the marriage-equality victory should be used as a tool to educate people about the need for a nondiscrimination law. “Through the joy and remarkable moments of it all, people have said to me, ‘Oh, we’ve won.’ Yeah, we won marriage equality, but we haven’t won the war totally,” he said. “A lot of people want to get married and they should have that right and now they do, but everyone wants to be protected from discrimination. And I think that’s a conversation people are going to be very seriously talking about now, in the context of marriage. In Pennsylvania, you can get married now, but in most of the state, you can get fired for putting your wedding picture on your desk at work. It’s a weird victory.” ■

“I think it’s easy for people to get caught up in the historic nature of this and the momentum and I hope everyone’s relationships last, but I don’t think anyone should rush into this just because this is exciting.”

Town Hall: Marriage Equality in Pennsylvania 6-8 p.m. June 4 William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St.

A panel of local attorneys will answer community questions about what marriage equality in Pennsylvania means for the LGBT community. Co-sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Mazzoni Center, the Philadelphia Bar Association’s LGBT Rights Committee and the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

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Getting married? You do not need to be a resident of Pennsylvania to get married here, and you can marry in any county. All counties require both members of a couple to be present, and each must bring a photo ID and document containing their Social Security number (i.e. Social Security card, W-2 form). Fees range but must be paid in cash or money order. Philadelphia City Hall, Broad and Market streets Room 413 License fee: $80 Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday (extended to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays) 215-686-2233 Bucks County 55 E. Court St., Doylestown License fee: $60 Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday 215-348-6265 Montgomery County 425 Swede Road, Norristown License fee: $50 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Monday-Friday 610-278-3400 Chester County 201 W. Market St., Suite 2200, West Chester License fee: $75 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday 610-344-6000 Delaware County 201 W. Front St., Media License fee: $60 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday 610-891-4400

Wedding 101 The marriage-equality celebrations have continued in Philadelphia this week. But, there are plenty of questions. Let’s take a look at some of the most common issues same-sex couples are asking about. What are the first things we need to do to get married? Couples must first visit a county register of wills office (City Hall, Room 413 in Philadelphia) to apply for a marriage license. Both partners must be present and must bring photo ID and documentation of their Social Security numbers. Fees range but must be paid in cash or by money order. What happens after we apply for a license? Couples cannot marry until at least 72 hours after they apply for their license. The register of wills will provide applicants a list of local wedding officiants or couples can chose their own certified officiant to preside over a ceremony and sign the license. The completed license must be returned to the register of wills within 60 days of its issuance.

My partner and I are legally married out of state. Do we need to do anything?

sexual spouses will now have to treat legally married same-sex couples the same.

No. Your marriage will be considered valid for all state rights and benefits of marriage. You do not need to remarry in Pennsylvania; doing so could complicate separation, should one occur.

How does this affect our income taxes?

My partner and I have a civil union or domestic partnership out of state. Do we need to do anything? The state has not yet clarified this issue, but couples will likely need to legally marry. I was previously married and divorced. Do I need to take any extra steps? An applicant who was previously married must present the divorce decree when applying for a license. I have been “wedlocked” and waiting to divorce. How do I do that? Same-sex divorces will now be treated by the courts the same as heterosexual divorces. Contact your attorney to initiate divorce proceedings.

Do we need to apply for a license in the county in which we live?

How does this affect our health-care plan?

No. You can obtain a license from any county in Pennsylvania.

All companies, public and private, that provide health-care benefits to hetero-

��

�� AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law

Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney

215-735-1006

1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com

��

Same-sex couples in Pennsylvania will now be able to file income-tax returns jointly at both the state and federal levels. Amended tax returns to list yourselves as married may be able to be filed for refunds. How does this affect our joint property? Same-sex spouses can now be added to a deed without being charged an inheritance or real-estate transfer tax in the event of one spouse’s passing. There is a possibility that individuals who paid such taxes recently can get a refund. Is there anything we need to do in regards to our second-parent adoption? No, an adoption decree is final and the rights remain the same. However, married same-sex couples can now pursue step-parent, instead of second-parent, adoptions, which do not require a home study. Unmarried couples can still adopt jointly. ■

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Charles Van Zant

Editorial

Separate but equal At the beginning of last week, same-sex couples in Pennsylvania had next to nothing in terms of rights: They couldn’t file taxes jointly, they had to undergo added adoption procedures, they had unequal access to health-care benefits and spousal-incentive programs, they were treated as strangers when it came to inheritance and real-estate transfer tax ... and the list goes on. All of that on top of the simple fact that they were prevented from having their love and commitment to one another validated by their state government. All of that changed last week. Now, same-sex couples are free to marry in Pennsylvania. They will have equal access in all areas affected by marital status — taxes, adoption, inheritance, property rights, health care, etc. The landscape for same-sex couples literally changed almost 180 degrees in a moment. But, the fact remains that in the great majority of the state, LGBT people can be fired, denied housing or barred entrance to a public place simply because of being LGBT. Pennsylvania is the only state that has marriage equality but yet does not have a law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation; two other marriage states also lack a law banning gender-identity discrimination. This imbalance puts Pennsylvania in a very strange spot. Same-sex couples now can be issued a marriage license at their city hall but have a local venue refuse to rent them a hall to host their reception. They can add one another to their employer health-care plan but may lose their jobs anyway after announcing their wedding to coworkers. They can use their wedding gift money to hunt for a new apartment, but be denied that space because of their relationship. Pennsylvania needed a marriage-equality law. But that doesn’t mean that’s all we need. We desperately need a basic nondiscrimination law — to protect not just same-sex couples but all LGBT people, who deserve the same freedoms and liberties that Judge John Jones wrote about in his landmark ruling last week. May 20 marked a new day in Pennsylvania’s LGBT-rights movement, but it certainly didn’t mark the last day. This victory should be celebrated, but it should also be utilized to attain other victories — most pressing, the passage of an LGBT nondiscrimination law. ■

We want to know! If you are celebrating an anniversary, engagement, wedding, adoption or other life event, we would be happy to help you announce it to the community. Send your contact information and a brief description of the event to editor@epgn.com.

It used to be that if you wanted to make a right-wing conservative freak out, all you had to do was show them a photo of two dudes kissing. Granted, that still does the trick, but for the past few years, a new boogeyman has been getting a bigger and bigger share of attention. I am speaking, of course, about Common Core. What is Common Core, you ask? Put simply, it’s a set of standards for math and English education in kindergarten through 12th grade. It establishes what students should know in these two subjects at each grade level so that, ideally, by the time each student graduates, he or she is ready to, say, go to college and not be a total failure. Conservatives don’t like this at all. They hate Common Core to the, well, core. Their outrage is mystifying to the casual observer. I mean, sure, there are legitimate concerns about Common Core that have been raised by people who are not raving lunatics. Education expert Diane Ravitch, for example, is concerned about how quickly the standards have been adopted and says, “I wish we knew more about how they will affect our most vulnerable students.” Which is something that anybody who cares about education should probably be wondering. But so many of the arguments against Common Core are neither reasoned nor based in reality. Many of these arguments are based in a fundamental mistrust of public education. After all, it’s a socialist institution, so it must be terrible and it must be killed (and preferably replaced by Christian charter schools paid for with tax money). Glenn Beck, one of the loudest mouths against Common Core, claims that the goal of “this insidious menace to our children and to our families” is to indoctrinate “our kids ... with extreme leftist ideology.” In fact, this portrayal of the standards as some kind of leftist brainwashing propaganda is a common complaint. But why? All you have to do is Google “Common Core” and “evolution” and it becomes

pretty clear. Much of the opposition to Common Core comes from folks who are also opposed to facts. But it turns out there’s another reason that Common Core is so horrifying, one that Florida State Rep. Charles Van Zant exposed at a recent anti-Common Core event. According to Van Zant, the people behind Common Core “are promoting as hard as they can any youth that is interested in the LGBT agenda.” Granted, his wording is a little confusing. Is Common Core promoting the LGBT agenda, or is Common Core, like, putting students who list “LGBT agenda” as an extracurricular on a fast track to graduate? Either way, Van Zant no want. He then laments that Common Core will cost the state of Florida money. “These people, that will now receive $220 million from the state of Florida unless this is stopped, will ... attract every one of your children to become as homosexual as they possibly can.” That’s right. As homosexual as possible. The homosexualist homos who have ever homo’d. Like, Johnny Weir homosexual. “I’m sorry to report that to you,” Van Zant continues. “I really hate to bring you that news. But you need to know.” Damn right, we need to know! If schools are going to start cranking out the homos, then we need to start planning now because homecoming, excuse me, homocoming, is going to be absolutely fabulous! No wonder the right is freaking out. And I’m inclined to agree. I don’t think that schools should be trying to force homosexuality on children any more than they should force heterosexuality. Though I suspect that is where Van Zant and I part ways on this issue. ■

All you have to do is Google “Common Core” and “evolution” and it becomes pretty clear. Much of the opposition to Common Core comes from folks who are also opposed to facts.

D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world, she reviews rock ’n’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister.

Tell us what you think 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.

OP-ED PGN

Corbett, the inside story and the thank-yous I’d like to believe that we are a commuclosely with the governor’s office over nity that gives appreciation where it is just. the last four years to create the John C. And we need to recognize and give thanks Anderson LGBT-friendly senior affordable to those involved in last week’s major apartments, was that not only does he have change in Pennsylvania’s marriage-equalLGBT staffers, but many of the other staffers might be considered allies. ity fight. And if I were a betting man, I’d First and foremost, to Judge John Jones, who wrote one of bet that Corbett’s family was in the strongest opinions on marour corner as well. So when the riage equality I’ve ever read. If governor finally received the you have not read it, you should opinion from his legal staff, his (http://coop.pamd.uscourts. decision was one that he had been considering for months. gov/13-1861.pdf). He did this by discussions with Next, Gov. Tom Corbett, who family, friends and staff. decided to allow it to stand, We can agree to disagree with thus saving us from what might the governor on many issues, have been years of litigation. but here he made the right and This is a thank-you for doing the right thing — and doing so honorable decision. He did so even after the Archbishop of by getting to know us. And that Philadelphia and the chairman in a big way is about his LGBT of the state Republican Party Mark Segal staffers coming out and speaking openly with him over the advised him to appeal that very last few months. Part of this victory is the day. It was a gutsy move. power of being out. But the thank-yous do not end there. It has always been a belief of mine that The American Civil Liberties Union was our community has to just show ourselves brilliant as usual, and Mark Aronchick, you and your partners are community trea- to the general public. When we do that, sures. they see we are no threat, that we want the But that ultimate decision on whether same things that they desire out of life: this would be a contentious fight through good health, decent income and someone the courts or finally settled came down to share our lives with. to the governor, and here, there are some Oh, and here’s a fun fact: We should other players who need to be thanked. As also give a nod to virulently antigay foryou read in this column a few months ago, mer Sen. Rick Santorum —for endorsing Jones for the bench. ■ several of us met with Corbett at the governor’s residence in Harrisburg to discuss Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the LGBT issues. One of the points the governor made at that meeting was about his nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at LGBT staffers. What he didn’t mention, but what I know as someone who has dealt mark@epgn.com.

Mark My Words

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

Street Talk Do you believe someone who says “I love homosexuals” but opposes marriage equality? “No. It’s a cop-out. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. You can’t have it both ways. The person should admit Jens Burnte they have salon manager hatred in Manayunk their hearts. If you really love gays, you want them to have the same rights that you have.”

“It’s difficult to understand how someone could make that statement. If you love someone, you want them to Andrew Duggins Army officer have all the Collingswood, N.J. opportunities in the world. I do believe that marriage is a fundamental right. Maybe the person is just coming from a place of ignorance, not hatred.”

“No. The two parts of that statement are contradictory. It’s an oxymoron. My whole life, I’ve heard people say, ‘I love the Kali Duggins sinner but consultant hate the sin.’ Collingswood, N.J. I don’t buy it. It doesn’t hold any water.”

“No. That sounds like double-talk. The person sounds phony. I wouldn’t believe something Rashonda Harmon like that. student If you love Camden, N.J. gays, then you should be for whatever they decide to do — as long as they don’t hurt anyone.”

Letters and Feedback Are you a young person? Do you like to write? Have an opinion? If all of these apply to you, we want to hear from you! Consider submitting an opinion piece for PGN’s third LGBTQ Youth Supplement, hitting stands Aug. 29. Submission deadline is Aug. 15. No formal writing experience is necessary — all you need is a passion for the LGBT community.

Email editor@epgn.com for more information, and check out our second LGBTQ Youth Supplement, starting on page 21.

In regard to “Pennsylvania says ‘I do,’” May 23-29: With Gov. Corbett dropping the appeal in the Whitewood case, we now have marriage equality in Pennsylvania, which is great news for so many of us who have tirelessly worked for this day for many years. But even with this exciting news, we are still not equal under the eyes of the law. It’s still legal to discriminate against LGBT people in employment, public accommodations and housing. We still don’t have a comprehensive, LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying law. We still don’t have an LGBT-inclusive hate-crimes law. Plus, we now have to work for full implementation of marriage equality in Pennsylvania by making sure that employers give the equal spousal benefits they are required to give and making sure that state agen-

cies give marriage benefits everywhere they are required to. We won a huge battle, thanks especially to the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, but we have so much more work to do to achieve full LGBT equality. Our movement is more than marriage and we are nowhere near done with our work! This is a time to celebrate, for sure, but it’s also a time to jumpstart our fight for nondiscrimination in the workplace, to jumpstart our fight for safe and bully-free public schools, to jumpstart our fight for comprehensive immigration reform. We can’t become complacent; we have to continue the movement we started until all of us enjoy the equal rights that we deserve. — Adrian Shanker Former president, Equality Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

MARRIAGE PGN COUPLES from page 1

York, so that is not the same as when our parents got married and they did it here,” Rhodes said. “Being born and raised in Pennsylvania and to be able to get married here, it is groundbreaking.” Mozzachio and Rhodes have been together for 12 years. Mozzachio said she cried upon hearing last week’s news, and Rhodes added she began receiving text messages from friends, congratulating them on the ruling. “It was like, this really is happening,” she said. “Pennsylvania is a hard state but for them to say that everyone is equal is great. If you love the person, you love the person.” Mozzachio said she would have loved to have gotten married right away, but Rhodes was determined to give her soon-to-be-bride a special ceremony. “I think every woman deserves a special day, whether it is giant or small,” she said. “To have that intimate crowd of people who love you the most, and also accept you the way that you are, it seals the deal.” Ardmore residents Jen Melnyk and Paula Estornell had a bit of a different experience than some other couples who arrived at City Hall. Melnyk and Estornell were married in 2009 in Massachusetts and were unsure what, if anything, they needed to do to ensure their out-of-state marriage would be recognized in Pennsylvania. It turned out that their visit to the register’s office was brief, as they were told their license would be automatically recognized per Jones’ ruling, which stipulated that “already married samesex couples will be recognized as such.” The couple has been together for 10 years. The two were caught off guard with the ruling. “I though I’d be old and have more gray hair,” Melnyk joked. “I was surprised it happened here, which is why we went to Massachusetts,” Estornell said. The couple plans to have a ceremony at their church. The excitement was just as palpable elsewhere in City Hall, as a stream of judges filed into the Mayor’s Reception Room for the historic occasion. The mayor’s chief of staff welcomed the couples’ friends and family and the sea of press who turned out, and Common Pleas President Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper announced and presented each couple before they were paired with an officiating judge, who performed the ceremonies in separate corners of the room.

“This is such a historic event,” WoodsSkipper told PGN before the weddings. “It really emphasizes the meaning of access. No matter what your individual beliefs may be, a ruling has come down and we have to abide by that ruling. I’m here to support that effort, and I’m happy to be here.” Judge Dan Anders, the city’s first openly gay male judge, helped organize the groupwedding effort, which was similar to weddings held at City Hall on Valentine’s Day. “Same-sex weddings are like any other weddings where two people are committed to each other and who want to formally have recognition for that commitment,” he said. “In a lot of ways they’re just like any other weddings, but obviously this is very different today since this is the first time we’re doing this here where these couples will be officially recognized.” Throughout the weekend, Anders also officiated at a wedding at Love Park and on a rooftop deck in South Philadelphia. At City Hall, Anders married Patrick Egan and David LaFontaine, together since 1998. The two were joined in 2002 at Green Street Monthly Meeting of Friends. “It was nice when my Quaker meeting said we were equal and it is good when the government said so too,” LaFontaine said. “Equality feels good, it does.” The pair said they applied for their license immediately on Tuesday, afraid of an appeal. But LaFontaine said he knew it was only a matter of time before marriage equality came to the Keystone State. “I predicted a year ago that it would be here in two years,” he said. “I was more optimistic than most people.” Also optimistic was Daniel Panichelli. He married his partner of eight years, Leon Carpenter, at City Hall. “I knew it was coming for a while but did not foresee it coming as quickly as it did,” Panichelli said. The couple met while both were employed at Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary. Also fearing an appeal, the couple rushed to City Hall last Tuesday. Carpenter said the license process was seamless. “It went surprisingly smooth,” he said. “Everyone at the Register of Wills office was supportive.” Carpenter said the ruling helped validate the work of activists fighting for equality. “I used to live down South and have had to deal with prejudices,” he said. “You have so many people who fought so hard for this. Activists kept pressing on, and we knew justice would be achieved.” ■

“Same-sex weddings are like any other weddings where two people are committed to each other and who want to formally have recognition for that commitment. In a lot of ways they’re just like any other weddings, but obviously this is very different today since this is the first time we’re doing this here where these couples will be officially recognized.”

HISTORY IN THE HALL: Eight same-sex couples were married in the Mayor’s Reception Room at City Hall May 23. They were among 18 couples who had received marriage licenses last Tuesday afternoon, hours after a judge overturned the state’s ban on marriage equality, meaning they could legally marry starting Friday, after the three-day waiting period. The Hon. Ann Butchart (from top), the first out lesbian judge in Philadelphia, married Catherine Hennessey (left) and Kristin Keith. Other newlyweds included Jessica Samph (center, from left) and Corey Crawford; Adam Woods and Justin Jain; and David LaFontaine (bottom, from left) and Patrick Egan, married by the Hon. Dan Anders, the city’s first openly gay male judge. On Saturday, another 17 same-sex couples married at City Hall. Photos: Scott A. Drake

MARRIAGE PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

Iconic spot serves as backdrop of first same-sex wedding in Philly By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

SEALING THE DEAL: PGN spotted a handful of same-sex couples applying for marriage licenses at the Register of Wills Office at Philadelphia City Hall May 23. Newly licensed couples included Maureen Haddow (from left) and Elke Muller, together for 22 years, and Kristin Mozzachio and Cinquetta Rhodes, together for 12 years, while Paula Estornell and Jen Melnyk received confirmation that their Massachusetts marriage license will be recognized in Pennsylvania. Between May 20-28, 129 same-sex couples were issued marriage licenses in Philadelphia. Photos: Jen Colletta BUSINESS from page 1

ing marriage packages to put on its website to help couples looking to visit the area. Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar and Hotel Monaco are offering Gaycation packages, equipped with a $5 donation to the Trevor Project, VIP hook-up at local LGBT nightlife clubs, the hotel’s guide to the Gayborhood and complimentary champagne. General Manager James Adamson said the Gaycation packages overlapped with the ruling on Tuesday. “As a company, Kimpton became the first national hotel sponsor of the Trevor Project and with that release and through that partnership, we decided to put together our Philly Gaycation for our two hotels to celebrate the vibrant LGBT scene,” he said. “It coincided with the announcement and exciting news on Tuesday.” A wealth of wedding vendors have begun offering discounted or free services to samesex couples in Pennsylvania. Main Line Unitarian Church hosted free wedding services last weekend for samesex couples who had received licenses, complete with cake, flowers and a photographer, and will also offer weddings from 4-7 p.m. May 31. “I know I speak for everyone at Main Line Unitarian Church when I say how thrilled we are as a congregation that Pennsylvania can now legally recognize what we’ve all known for a long time, that love is love,” said the Rev. Morgan McLean. Couples interested can reserve a time slot by calling 610-688-8332. On Monday, couples were married in free ceremonies at William Way LGBT Community Center, offered by Journeys of the Heart’s Bob Pileggi, in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Equality Pennsylvania and the center. The Rev. JoAnne M. Hanson of Fishtown is offering officiate services and said the first three same-sex couples to sign up will receive the service for free. For more information or to register, visit www.facebook. com/newbeginningsholistictherapies.

The Dave Magrogan Group also jumped on board with a contest in which same-sex couples can win a wedding at Stella Rossa or Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar. “I have a lot of LGBT employees, customers and friends that are so thrilled that this ban was lifted that I felt that I had to do something to commemorate this historic occasion,” Magrogan said. To enter, couples must explain in up to 50 words why they should win the wedding on either restaurant’s Facebook pages. The couple with the most “likes” by June 30 will win the wedding. For more information, visit www. http://davemagrogangroup.com/ winalgbtwedding. M Restaurant, 231 S. Eighth St., is hosting a marriage-equality celebration starting from 5-10 p.m. June 20. The restaurant will offer half-off all its house-infused cocktails, as well as $5 wine and $3 beer all night, as well as its famous three-appetizer dish for $15. The outdoor garden will be open rain or shine, and there will be live jazz. For more information, call 215-625-6666 or visit www.mrestaurantphilly.com. Another local restaurant celebrated marriage equality by providing food at the Register of Wills office, which has been processing marriage-license applications. Capital Grille sales manager Amanda Giddings said Register of Wills Ronald Donatucci has been a longtime customer of the establishment, at 13th and Chestnut streets. She said the restaurant wanted to thank Donatucci for keeping his office open late last week to accept applications from same-sex couples, and for paying the application fee for the first license issued. “My thought was that this is so awesome and that city workers are so proud of this city,” she said. “We wanted to participate, so my chef and I went to the office with dessert platters for everyone who works there.” Giddings said the restaurant wants to keep up the momentum, so every couple who comes in with a marriage license will be given a complimentary champagne toast. She said the offer has no expiration date. ■

The Philadelphia Museum of Art provided the background to Philadelphia’s first legal same-sex wedding. Fairmount residents Ashley Wilson and Lindsay Vandermay, both 29, were married by Common Pleas Judge Diana Louise Anhalt on the steps of the iconic museum just after midnight May 23. They were among 18 couples who received a marriage license May 20, within hours of a federal judge striking down Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage. Couples must wait three days before marrying after being issued a license. The couple, together for three years, had previously planned to obtain a marriage license in Delaware and hold a ceremony in the Outerbanks in North Carolina, which is still scheduled. The pair met at former lesbian bar Sisters on the night Vandermay, who attended college in Arizona, moved back to Pennsylvania. “I was there and Lindsay saw me dancing across the bar and laughing and I think she was looking for someone who didn’t take things too seriously,” Wilson said. Vandermay, a teacher in Chester County, and Wilson, an attorney in Philadelphia, were engaged three years after they met. “We had been talking about what our future would be for a while,” she said. “We made arrangements to get married in June and then on our way back from the Outerbanks, we would stop in Delaware. Ashley being an attorney, she had drawn up paperwork to make sure our wedding was as legal as it could be in Pennsylvania.” Vandermay had a hearing scheduled in Philadelphia last Friday to get her last name changed — which she cancelled because of the ruling. Wilson said she was anticipating a favorable ruling, but was still overwhelmed when it actually happened. “In the back of my mind I thought, the ruling had to go in our favor, but I then thought, this is Pennsylvania and it is such a conservative state,” Wilson said. “I was just shocked and excited. It was kind of a rush, I just started crying when I heard.” Vandermay said after receiving the call from Wilson, the couple felt an urgency to apply for the marriage license during the open window, in case the state appealed. “When Ashley called and told me, I was jumping up and down and once the kids left the classroom, one of the teachers told me to go and Ashley told me she was getting in a cab to go to City Hall,” she said. “It was so quick and so fast. We didn’t know what City Hall would look like so it was sort of like, drop everything you are doing and go.” The couple said they never anticipated how much support would surround them once they got there. “It was so cool because when we walked in, you could tell from our excitement that

we were applying and the woman at the security desk was excited and signed us in and said good luck,” Wilson said. “When we got to the Register of Wills, they asked us if we were there to apply for a license and we said yes and they just started clapping and cheering. The reception we received was unbelievable.” The pair then awaited Gov. Tom Corbett’s decision on the ruling. “I thought it would be appealed. I had it in my head this was too good to be true,” Vandermay said. But the governor announced last

ASHLEY WILSON (LEFT) AND LINDSAY VANDERMAY MARRIED ON THE STEPS OF THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT MAY 23.

Wednesday that he would let the ruling stand. With that, the couple said they started talking about tying the knot in Philadelphia, and their parents helped with last-minute plans, obtaining flowers and setting up the judge to officiate at midnight. “This is a place in history that you want to be in,” Wilson said. “It just started as an idea and, as it grew, Lindsay and I started getting more excited about the idea of getting married in front of the Art Museum — when you think Philly, you think of the Art Museum. It was an incredible view.” The couple was surrounded by a small circle of family and friends, and were even congratulated by passersby. “We couldn’t believe it was happening and we were so overjoyed,” Vandermay said. “People we didn’t even know were there and were so supportive. Nothing was planned but it was still beautiful.” The couple is still sticking with their original plans and will have a ceremony June 20 at Absolute Elegance in Corolla, N.C. “We have our wedding gowns that we had planned to wear. It will be more of a traditional type of ceremony,” Wilson said. “Like I’ve said many times, I will marry Lindsay as many times as I can.” To follow their wedding plans, visit http:// lindsayashley.ourwedding.com. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

PGN

Gayborhood Crime Watch ‘Mommy Man’: It takes a village The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the 6th Police District between May 12-18. Information is courtesy of Sixth District Capt. Brian Korn; Stacy Irving, senior director, Crime Prevention Service; Center City District; the Police Liaison Committee and Midtown Village Merchants Association. To report crime tips, visit www.phillypolice.com or call 215-686-TIPS (8477). Follow the Sixth District on Twitter @PPDBrianKorn. INCIDENTS — At 4:30 p.m. May 13, a male asked a person outside 1338 Chestnut St. for change for a $100 bill. The person gave him five $20 bills and the man stole the $100 bill back and fled. He was described as a 5-foot-7 black male in his 20s wearing a blue and white striped shirt. — At 9 p.m. May 14 (reported 8:30 a.m. May 15), a man exited a cab at 800 Spruce St. and was punched by a man who stole his wallet. The suspect was only described as a black male. — Between May 8-12, someone pried open the door of an apartment in the 900 block of Lombard Street and stole a laptop. Sixth District Officer Minnis attempted to lift fingerprints. — Between 2:30-4:10 p.m. May 12, some-

one forced open the door of a residence in the 400 block of South 11th Street and stole a laptop, iPad and jewelry. Central Detectives processed the scene for evidence and fingerprints. — Between 6:30 p.m. May 14 and 7:30 a.m. May 15, someone entered an apartment in the 300 block of South Camac Street through an unlocked window and stole a laptop. Sixth District Officer Stevens lifted fingerprints. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — At 12:05 p.m. May 14, the Sixth District Narcotic Enforcement team arrested a male for allegedly rolling a “blunt” outside 934 Market St. and recovered a quantity of marijuana. The 39-year-old suspect with a Northeast Philadelphia address was charged with possession of marijuana. — At 12:50 p.m. May 14, the Sixth District Narcotic Enforcement team arrested a male who was allegedly selling narcotic pills outside 901 Market St. The 63-year-old suspect with a homeless-shelter address was charged with illegal narcotics sales. — At 6:30 p.m. May 15, Sixth District Officers Cash and Romanczuk investigated a male outside 251 S. 13th St. who was wanted in Florida on a burglary arrest warrant. The 31-year-old suspect was charged as a fugitive. ■

to create a child

Jerry Mahoney’s “Mommy Man: How sister Susie offered to donate her eggs. I Went from Mild-Mannered Geek to Gay Susie’s offer set off a long round of family discussions — about Susie’s relationSuperdad” is a wonderful addition to the ship with the future child, her own health growing genre of LGBT parenting memoirs, not only because of its sharp writing and the likely responses from extended and smart humor, but because it shows us family and others. They persevered, however, eventually finding a surrogate as well. an aspect of LGBT parenting we haven’t seen in a book-length memoir before Mahoney shines when showing us the special bonds that can form among all — two men pursuing parenthood through those who come together to create a famgestational surrogacy. ily. Of Susie’s relationship with their surMahoney is an award-winning comedy writer whose work has appeared rogate, he observes, “Their bond was one none of us quite anticipated or in the New York Times and understood, but it was definitely Westchester Magazine as well unique. They were two women as his own parenting blog, from opposite sides of America Mommy Man: Adventures of a who had come together to help Gay Superdad (jerry-mahoney. Drew and me make a baby.” com). His book is as funny as Mahoney’s deep respect for one might expect, but also conveys a deep warmth and underthe women is evident throughstanding of relationships. out. He feared that surrogacy The two most widely known “would turn having a baby into memoirs by gay dads, Dan a business transaction,” but after introducing Susie and their Savage’s “The Kid” and Dan surrogate, realized, “This was Bucatinsky’s “Does This Baby than us, bigger than the Make Me Look Straight?” were Dana Rudolph bigger both by men who had created baby, too.” their family through open adopHe steers us through their tion. While all three have some similarities mutual journey, showing the emotional — great writing, wicked wit and an exploups and downs of starting a family while ration of the relationship between the dads their home state of California debated Proposition 8. He includes just enough and the birth mother — Mahoney’s sheds politics to put his story into context. light on the experiences unique to those Mostly, though, he gives us a view not going through gestational surrogacy, in which a woman carries an egg not her own, of politics but the pursuit of parenthood through gay-colored lenses. When their fertilized with one of the men’s sperm. He begins with his own adolescence as a surrogate goes for her ob-gyn visit, they self-proclaimed geek and a highly closeted wonder if the doctor will be homophobic. teen, showing us the tension that remaining When they visit the hospital before the closeted created through his college years birth, they must negotiate so both dads can and on into film school. be in attendance. When he and Drew go to “I didn’t have any role models or road a baby store, he observes, “It was like getting a one-time pass into the magical world maps in the gay world. I didn’t know what where straight people live. Procreating was my goals would be or where I would end the key to a fantasyland full of free stuff up,” he writes. He then shares some of his most gay men would never know.” wanderings on the way to discovering: Some things, of course, may look the coming out, dating (not always successfully), meeting his now-husband Drew, an same through both gay and straight lenses: executive at MTV, and their decision to worrying about the health of the pregbecome parents. After that, of course, came nant woman and the baby, choosing baby names, waiting anxiously through the the question of how. delivery. The blend of engagingly told They rejected international adoption, common experiences with the particulars noting the “inverse relationship between of this family make “Mommy Man” a the size of a country’s orphan pool and compelling read for parents and prospectheir tolerance of gay rights.” With domestic adoption, they were intimidated by the tive parents of all types. Above all, it shows number of would-be adoptive parents all that those who help us create our families crafting “Dear Birthparent” letters in the can be very much a part of our families. hopes of being chosen. Gestational surroThis does not diminish the roles of the prigacy seemed more certain. mary parents, but rather ensures their families are full of even more love. ■ Certainty turned out to be relative. Thus began their adventure with a surDana Rudolph is the founder and pubrogacy agency, sperm counts and finding lisher of Mombian (mombian.com), an the perfect surrogate and egg donor. Alas, award-winning blog and resource directhe agency was incompetent and potential tory for LGBT parents. Join her June 2 surrogates came up short. The men panicked when they realized they were woefor the Ninth Annual Blogging for LGBTQ fully slow in finding an egg donor. When Families Day. See mombian.com for details. it seemed they couldn’t proceed, Drew’s

Mombian

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

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NEWS PGN MORRIS from page 5

cials engaged in any wrongdoing in the Morris case. “We’re not suggesting that the police or D.A.’s Office did anything wrong. But there are questions out there, and the case merits another look. There needs to be some type of definitive report. Maybe everybody did do their job, and something horrible happened. But just to clear the air, we think it’s beneficial to have a final investigation from an outside perspective. There are questions about police conduct and prosecutorial conduct, and those questions should get laid to rest.” Babette Josephs, a former state representative and an Eighth Ward committeeperson, expressed support for the letter. But she also said Kane should move forward with a probe if Williams doesn’t cooperate. “It’s imperative for Ms. Kane to review the Morris case, and to make her findings available to the public. If Seth Williams will cooperate, all the better. But if he won’t, there’s enough evidence of a local coverup for Ms. Kane to initiate a probe, without his cooperation,” she said. “State law allows for that, when the local D.A.’s Office has abused its discretion. Whatever route is taken, clearly we need a proper investigation of the Nizah Morris case. Pennsylvanians deserve no less.” By presstime, neither Kane nor Williams had responded to the letter. Meanwhile, members of the Justice for Nizah (J4N) committee continue to seek support from various groups for a state probe into the case. Their next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 30 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The public is invited to attend. ■

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ENGAGEMENT PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

Engagement Corey Wallace and Derik Burns By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com For North Wales residents Corey Wallace and Derik Burns, New Hope Pride held many reasons to celebrate. Wallace, 25, and Burns, 27, were engaged May 17 during the annual Pride parade and festival. Wallace, who hails from Doylestown, proposed to Burns, his partner of five months, along the waterfront. Wallace works in pharmaceuticals and Burns is a banker. Wallace’s proposal came just days before a federal judge ruled that Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Wallace said the news came at a perfect time. “[Hearing about the ruling] just felt amazing,” he said. “People have been sending me text messages congratulating me on the

engagement and the ability to get married in Pennsylvania. I never thought the day would come.” Wallace and Burns met online and had their first date at the Mercer Museum in Doylestown — a date that ended up lasting nine hours. “There is a point in your date when you think enough is enough but we spent the entire day together and I didn’t want to go home, I just wanted to spend the whole day and whole night,” Wallace said. Wallace said the pair knew from the beginning of their relationship that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. “He is just right for me and treats me right,” he said. “We work well together and he is the ying to my yang.” Wallace was the one to pop the question DERIK BURNS (LEFT) AND COREY WALLACE Photo: Scott A. Drake

Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show

but said he hadn’t initially been planning to propose at New Hope Pride. “It was so beautiful out and everyone was in their happiest moment. I had the ring in my car and I didn’t have any plan of action and I brought it with me just in case,” he said. “I asked the question and he said, ‘Yeah, of course’ and thought I was joking and then I pulled out the ring and he said yes.” Wallace said the reception from friends and family has been overwhelmingly positive. “Everyone has expressed how happy they are for us,” he said. The couple hasn’t set a wedding date yet, but intend to have a large celebration. “We know we want to have it with all of our family and friends,” Wallace said. “It will be a nice big fun event.” ■

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2014 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony TUESDAY, JUNE 3 • 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Independence Visitors Center, 6th & Market Sts.

Movements for Change TUESDAY, JUNE 24 • 12 - 2:30 p.m. Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street

Step Up Against AIDS: The First Philadelphia FIGHT Stepping Showcase THURSDAY, JUNE 5 • HIV testing: 5 p.m. Doors open: 6 p.m. • Show: 7 p.m. Temple Performing Arts Center 1837 N. Broad Street

Hip Hop for Philly featuring WALE on National HIV Testing Day FRIDAY, JUNE 27 Go to www.ﬁght.org/hiphop for more information.

Faith Leaders and Community Summit Invitation Only SATURDAY, JUNE 7 • 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Marriott Downtown Hotel, 1201 Market Street Beyond The Walls: Prison Health Care & Reentry Summit TUESDAY, JUNE 10 • 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th & Arch Sts. The Legendary Crystal Ball SATURDAY, JUNE 14 • 7 p.m. - Midnight University of the Arts, Hamilton Hall 320 S. Broad Street Prevention and Outreach Summit WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18 • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pennsylvania Convention Center, 13th & Arch Sts.

Community Cookout SATURDAY, JUNE 28 • 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fairmount Park, Area #2 33rd Street & Cecil B. Moore Avenue Gospel Concert featuring Marvin Sapp SUNDAY, JUNE 29 • 5 - 8 p.m. Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ 6401 Ogontz Avenue

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

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The Salt Lake Tribune reports a gay-rights organization is calling on Utah Gov. Gary Herbert to apologize for suggesting homosexuality is a choice and for calling decisions by other state leaders to not defend same-sex marriage bans the “next step to anarchy.” John Netto of the Utah Pride Center says the governor’s comments during his monthly televised news conference Thursday were hurtful. He said that to equate same-sex marriage with anarchy is “hate speech,” and Herbert needs to be educated about the latest science regarding human sexuality. Herbert’s office didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Herbert called decisions by Oregon and Pennsylvania leaders to not defend same-sex marriage bans a “tragedy” and the “next step to anarchy.” He also said same-sex marriage isn’t the same as interracial marriage and sexual activity involves choices.

Milk stamp draws line in San Fran The San Francisco Chronicle reports the post office in San Francisco’s Castro District is selling more stamps than usual now that a neighborhood icon is the face of the nation’s newest Forever Stamp. The U.S. Postal Service on May 22 started issuing stamps honoring the late San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, who was

one of the first openly gay men elected to public office and represented the Castro before he was assassinated in 1978. AIDS Memorial Quilt creator Cleve Jones, who was an aide to Milk, and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won an Oscar for the 2008 movie “Milk,” joined dozens of people who lined up at the Castro post office to buy the new stamp. May 22 would have been Milk’s 84th birthday. He and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were shot to death at City Hall by Dan White, a former city supervisor

S.D. couples challenge marriage ban According to ABC News, six couples have filed a federal lawsuit to block South Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage, leaving North Dakota as the only U.S. state with an unchallenged ban. The lawsuit was filed May 22 in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls. It challenges both South Dakota’s ban on gay marriage and its refusal to recognize marriages of same-sex couples who legally wed in other states. The lawsuit means cases are pending in 30 states with gay marriage bans. Judges have overturned several of those bans since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act last year. Minneapolis-based attorney Josh Newville is representing the South Dakota couples. He says he’s also seriously considering filing a similar challenge in North Dakota. ■

PGN LGBTQ Youth Supplement by our youth, for our youth, for our future

New Temple class explores LGBTs in media Pride to honor youth

leaders from The Attic

By James Lamar Stankunas, 21 Temple University is known for its diverse population of students. This spring, the Media Studies and Production Department introduced a new course, “LGBT Representation in Media.” This course is taught by Dr. Adrienne Shaw, an assistant professor at Temple and the co-chair of the International Communication Association’s GLBT Studies Special Interest Group. Throughout the course, students learned the history of LGBT representation in different forms of media. Each week, Shaw designated a form of media to discuss. Eric Brizuela, one of the students enrolled in the course, said, “I learned about a lot of different media representations regarding LGBT, many of which I had never even considered, like comics and video games.” The students were assigned readings each class to go along with the class discussions and were assigned various films to watch each week. Shaw incorporated social media with her teaching by using Twitter and the hashtag #MSP4425. Students were required to submit discussion questions based on the readings by posting them to

By Sean Morris, 16

DR. ADRIENNE SHAW, ASSSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDIA STUDIES AND PRODUCTION AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, LOOKS OVER A PRINTED VERSION OF A DIGITAL TIMELINE OF LGBT HISTORY CREATED BY HER STUDENTS. Photo: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University.

Twitter with the course hashtag. Shaw would then post the questions into her lecture and get the students involved with the discussion. This created a sense of community in the class. “Overall, [it was] just a fun and laid-back class, a better learning environment in my opinion,” Brizuela said. In order to give students a sense of history, Shaw assigned a collaborative timeline where they listed five events crucial to LGBT history. All of the events were put together into one timeline for the

class to see and refer to throughout the semester. The students were also required to do group presentations. They were tasked with finding a media text with LGBT representation and relating it to the readings and course discussions. The groups presented television shows such as HBO’s “True Blood” and “Looking,” as well as Showtime’s “Weeds” and Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black.” Throughout the semester, students could attend any cultural PAGE 4 event in the

In today’s times, the LGBTequality movement has never been stronger. Now that we live in an Internet age where communication and new ideas travel at the speed of light, the movement has been able to grow exponentially from what could be considered a humble origin, with the writings of Karl Heinrich Ulrichs and the infamous Stonewall Riots. Two individuals who exemplify the strong nature of today’s equality movement are Avery McNair and Da’Shawn “Dalyla” Baker. Both of The Attic Youth Center members are capable and intelligent young adults who will serve as Youth Grand Marshals of this year’s Pride parade — and who have shown courage, endurance and, perhaps above all else, leadership. McNair, 17, has already shown herself to be a capable, confident and exceptional individual who is a proven leader not only to her peers but also the entire community. McNair, a junior at Charter High School for Architecture + Design, has been a leader in The Attic’s drag group and Work and

Pageantry as a tool of support and encouragement By William E. Shelton II, 26 Pageants are known for their glamorous costumes, bright lights, dazzling performances and brutal judging. But this year’s Mr. and Mrs. Q Spot pageant plans to transcend and redefine what it means to “walk the runway.” “Mr. and Mrs. Q Spot isn’t a beauty pageant or a talent show. It is about being ambassadors and being a spokesperson for the community. That can take you anywhere in life,” said Dan Mangini, an LGBTQ community activist and strong proponent of the Q Spot. Mr. and Mrs. Q Spot is a free event created by young adults of the Q Spot to give LGBTQ youth the opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities among their peers. The Q Spot is a late-night

safe space and resource program for individuals ages 18-29 in the LGBTQ community. Mr. and Mrs. Q Spot will take place June 28 at William Way LGBT Community Center. There will be four categories in which contestants can participate: presentation (runway), formal attire, a question-and-answer session by the judges and a talent performance, where contestants can showcase any talent, from poetry to lip-synching. “I’m for anything to better and to bring this community together. Our own community is divided. I would love to see us be one in our community,” said Stevetta Vinowski, founder and CEO of an anti-bullying group called The Freedom Organization. Vinowski will be performing for the opportunity to call herself

Mrs. Q Spot. Like many of the other contestants, Vinowski sees the pageant as an opportunity to change her community by leaving a positive impact. The winners will receive a stunning tiara, sashes and a special giveaway package. Mr. and Mrs. Q Spot will become ambassadors of the young-adult LGBTQ community and compete in other LGBTQA pageants in the region, including Black Gay Pride. “We are stepping it up this year with leaders, pioneers, entrepreneurs and artists coming from a wide range of backgrounds. I think anyone that attends [Mr. and Mrs. Q Spot] will see that our contestants are inspiring,” said Quincy Greene, the founder of the Q Spot, while talking to the contestants in his office at William Way. One of the goals of the Q Spot

is to develop leaders in the community who have shown perseverance and allow them to use their story to inspire others, creating a new movement of love, support and encouragement among young LGBTQ adults. The organizers of Mr. and Ms. Q Spot want contestants to use their uniqueness as a source of strength and motivation to go beyond their limitations. “It’s being different in this community that is going to make you stand out,” Mangini said. “What was looked at as negative growing up in a heterosexual world can make ‘Johnny,’ who is voguing down the street — which would have gotten him beaten up in high school — that can make him fabulous in our community.” The Q Spot values the diversity among all members of the community. Each PAGE 4

YOUTH PRIDE MARSHALS AVERY MCNAIR (TOP) AND DA’SHAWN “DALYLA” BAKER

W.E.R.Q. (Work and Education Readiness for Queer Youth). When asked what inspired her to be such a leader in her community, she graciously responded by saying, “I PAGE 4

What’s inside — A voice to end the blood ban: page 2 — A rallying call for help with the youth home: page 3 — Photos: page 4 — Re-reading the alphabet soup of sexuality: page 5 — Attic chat on Philly Pride: page 6 — OK to be gay; Visual arts to end violence: page 7 — Playhouse has “Open House” and poem “Love is Free”: page 8

PGN LGBTQ YOUTH SUPPLEMENT

PAGE 2

SPRING 2014

Banning the blood ban By Sydney Chin, 16 In February, my school had its annual blood drive for the American Red Cross. Openly gay teachers were not able to donate due to the Food and Drug Administration’s policy on men who have sex with men (MSM). This issue is in the dark both within my school community and the larger community of Philadelphia. I believe the FDA’s current policy will be detrimental to the American blood bank in the future if the FDA does not reform its current policy. Changes will need to be made or else the current blood shortage will persist. The ban was instituted in 1977 during the height of the HIV/ AIDS crisis. Its current policy was instituted in 1992. The peak of the HIV/AIDS crisis has been gone for quite a while, and the playing field is different now with new technologies and indepth research. According to the FDA, MSM have a higher risk for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A and HIV. The FDA states on its site that the “MSM policy minimizes even the smallest risk of getting infectious diseases such as HIV or hepatitis through a blood transfusion.” The FDA policy’s wording attaches and adds to the stigma that all gay men have HIV/AIDS,

when that is not always the case. It also implies that heterosexual men cannot have HIV. But, that is medically incorrect. This policy validates a heterosexual man’s risky sexual behaviors with multiple partners, whereas a gay man’s monogamous safe sexual relationship is completely nullified. Despite that, heterosexual men are not given a lifetime ban unlike their gay peers. Heterosexual men who decide to participate in risky sexual behavior are only given a year deferral from donating. The current FDA policy invalidates basic human rights and is outright homophobic. Additionally, our constitution is supposed to protect all citizens. The current FDA policy is unconstitutional as it infringes upon the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, which states that “no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens ... nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty ... nor deny any person within its jurisdictions the equal protection of the law.” Therefore, this policy doesn’t protect gay men’s rights at all. Instead, the current MSM policy leaves them unprotected as citizens. Testing for diseases like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A and HIV within blood is a common prac-

tice for all blood donors. This ban made sense back in the ’80s during the height of the AIDS crisis; however, scientists now have a vast amount of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Now, scientists understand how HIV works and its major stages. They know that there is a window period where one’s ELISA test can show up as a false negative, meaning one might actually have the early stages of HIV. But the ELISA test, combined with the Western Blot, has highly accurate results to know if one is HIV-positive. Since 2002, nucleic acid testing (NAT) has routinely detected the HIV virus as well. These tests are very accessible and done routinely for all blood. If high-risk blood is continually tested using a combination of the three aforementioned tests and proven to be HIV-free, then gay men should be allowed to donate their blood. Banning a single group of citizens simply doesn’t make sense if all organizations test all blood. Currently, there are blood shortages especially in our region of the Northeast. By banning gay men, the blood bank loses potential donors who could save more lives. If the FDA didn’t regulate this outrageous MSM policy, the American Red Cross would allow gay men to donate in a heartbeat. Even the highly accredited American Medical

Association finds this ban outdated. In 2010, the United States Department of Health and Human Services created a board to review this policy; however, they were not convinced by the evidence provided by the Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers and AABB (a non-profit organization) that the policy needed to be changed. In 2012, this committee called for a study on positive outcomes of changing the current policy. Brazil, Australia, Czech Republic, Finland, Great Britain, Hungary, Japan, South Africa, Sweden, Argentina and Canada have lifted lifetime bans on gay men donating their blood. All these different nations from different continents share one thing in common: a one-year deferral policy for gay men. Thus, this allows for a bigger blood supply to be available to those who need it in emergencies. The American Red Cross has openly suggested to the FDA that we follow in the same steps as our North American neighbor Canada with a similar deferral period. If we follow in Canada’s footsteps with a similar deferral time, the blood bank will only become larger and more inclusive for all. ✮ Sydney Chin is a junior at Friends Select School.

Philadelphia HIV testing sites Center City ActionAIDS 1026 Arch St. 267-940-5515 Mon. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tues. 10 a.m.-noon Wed. 1-4 p.m. Thur. noon-2 p.m. ActionAIDS North Office 2641 N. Sixth St. 215-291-9700 Third Tuesdays 1-4 p.m. The Attic Youth Center 55 S. 16th St. 215-545-4331 GALAEI 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor 215-851-1822 Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mazzoni Center and GALAEI’s Washington West Project 1201 Locust St. Mon.-Thur. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat. 1-5 p.m. 215-985-9206 Planned Parenthood Elizabeth Blackwell Office 1211 Chestnut St. Suite 405 215-496-9696 Mon.-Wed. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thur. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Planned Parenthood Locust Office 1144 Locust St. 215-351-5560 Mon. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues. and Thurs. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Wed. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St. 215-732-2220 Mon. 4-7 p.m. Youth Health Empowerment Project 1417 Locust St., third floor 215-564-6388

North Philadelphia Congreso 216 W. Somerset St. 215-763-8870 Walk-in hours Wednesdays and Thursdays Covenant House Health

Services 251 E. Bringhurst St. 215-844-1020

Hospital for Children 3601 A St. 215-427-5000

Maria de los Santos Health Center 425 W. Allegheny Ave. 215-291-2500

South/West Philadelphia

PHMC Health Connection 1035 W. Berks St. 215-765-6690 Planned Parenthood Far Northeast 2751 Comly Road 215-464-2225 Mon. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tues. and Thur. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed. and Fri. noon-3 p.m. Sat. noon-2 p.m. St. Christopher’s

CHOP 3550 Market St., fourth floor 215-590-3537 Health Center #3 555 S. 43rd St. 215-685-7504 Health Center #4 4400 Haverford Ave. 215-685-7601/7654 Urban Solutions 1408 S. Broad St., first floor 215-755-0700

College GSAs Bucks County Community College — Gay/Straight Alliance: Provides a safe haven for LGBTQA campus community members and works to combat stigma on campus; fratrikc@bucks.edu or altemose@bucks.edu. Cabrini College — Sanctuary: Offers affinity groups, peer support and educational activities to promote a greater understanding of the LGBT community. Chestnut Hill College

— H.E.R.O.: Promotes awareness of and appreciation for the LGBTQQIA community and works to instill a sense of unity between the community and allies; kociszewskim@chc.edu.

Community College of Philadelphia — Gay/Straight

Alliance: Advocates for LGBT inclusion and acceptance on campus with programming and events, and offers resources for LGBT and ally campus communities; scooks1@ccp.edu.

Drexel University

— LGBTQA Student Center: Supports the development, growth and education of Drexel students with a safe and inclusive campus location for the community and allies on campus; Creese Student Center Room 48-C.

Holy Family University

— The Alliance for Student Equality: Works to recognize the respect and dignity of the whole person in support of promoting the development of personal identity and social equality on campus; drafter@holyfamily.edu or mmbobholz@holyfamily.edu.

La Salle University — The

Alliance: Pledges to provide a safe place and support for the LGBT members of the community; http://studentaffairs.lasalle. edu/umas/service-opportunities/ advocacy-groups/the-alliance/; alliance.lasalle@gmail.com.

PGN LGBTQ YOUTH SUPPLEMENT

SPRING 2014

Philadelphia University

— Gay/Straight Alliance: Connects LGBT campus community with resources throughout the university and region; caulford4949@mail.philau.edu or horowitzh@philau.edu.

Saint Joseph’s University

— The Alliance: Fosters open and honest discussion about diversity and LGBT issues and works to affect an environment where homophobia and hatred are replaced by mutual understanding and respect; www. sju.edu/int/resources/alliance/ about.html; gsa@sju.edu.

Temple University — Queer Student Union: Strives to provide a safe social space to LGBTQIA students while exploring issues relevant to the larger community; https://twitter.com/TempleQSU; nurodney. prad@temple.edu. University of the Arts — OUT@UArts: Through discussion, cultural events and outreach through art, seeks to make a difference for LGBTQ individuals at UArts and beyond; www. uarts.edu/students/outuarts; cfreeman@uarts.edu. University of Pennsylvania — LGBT Center: More than 20 undergraduate and graduate LGBT student groups abound at Penn, with meetings and community events held at the Center, 3907 Spruce St.; www.vpul.upenn. edu/lgbtc/; center@dolphin. upenn.edu; 215-898-5044. University of the Sciences — Alliance: Increases awareness of LGBT issues on campus and provides support for LGBT students, faculty, administration and staff; http://orgs.usciences. edu/alliance/; alliance@mail. usciences.edu. West Chester University — LGBTQQA Services: Provides information, resources, support and programming for the campus community and is home to the LGBTQA Student Organization; LGBTQA@wcupa.edu; www. wcupa.edu/_services/stu.lgb/. ✮

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New LGBT youth home needs our support By Angel Hardy, 26 On Feb. 12, a new hope for LGBT young adults was conceived by two fresh-minded, generous Midwestern uproots inside the palpitating soul of a vacant North Philadelphia rowhouse. Rusty Doll and Lisa Sipes, two neighbors-turned-collaborators, would also happen to arise as civic advocates against homelessness. The epidemic of people without consistent or sustainable dwelling is often a marginalized cause that has left its persisting mark on the City of Brotherly Love for quite some time, and in recent decades has hit our city’s most susceptible and misinterpreted population: LGBT youth. Doll, 32, an Iowa native, didn’t necessarily imagine that the North Philly property he purchased a couple years back as a generic fixer-upper would now undergo a complete renovation as a safe house for their nonprofit venture, aptly titled Change Philly Today. An eager launch date of June was once planned; however, due to most of the financial backing resting on Doll’s own shoulders, the duo has postponed the date and focused on gathering further outside support. “People were really excited about our project when we first launched,” said Sipes, a quilter who has lent her popularity to drum up fundraising efforts. She admitted, “We have

now hit a plateau. We need a lot of help from our communities and we aren’t getting it. We’ve lost a bit of steam because no one seems to be giving anymore. It’s really hard to keep things going.” Doll conceded that this past winter’s heavy snow was too much for the shelter to bear, leaving behind excess water damage and uninvited setbacks. Most of the renovations made to the house have now been put on a tentative suspension until funds can be prepared to restore the roof’s damage. In spite of the shelter’s premature delays, Sipes and Doll remain confident in their initial goals for Change Philly Today as they anticipate a summer turnaround in their favor. “Given the past history of hopeful LGBT youth shelters in Philadelphia, we know we have an uphill battle,” said Doll. “Lisa and I have gotten some great insight from long-term members of Philadelphia’s LGBT community who have been partially involved in previous efforts; we know where they went wrong and hopefully we will be able to avoid mistakes.”

Such insight and support has come from the renowned Carrie Jacobs, founder of The Attic Youth Center. “We were welcomed into their facility very graciously,” exclaimed Doll. “Carrie’s acumen into the LGBT youth community has been helpful and we look forward to having the opportunity to work with her in the future.” Ever the new kids on the block, Doll sees the positivity in such ranking. “Being the new kids has its advantages; we are fresh and full of ambition,” he said. After Change Philly Today commences, Sipes and Doll hope to expand their efforts into other areas across the nation, offering safe housing to more LGBT young adults who deteriorate at the hands of oppression, familial separation and poverty. “Rusty and I just want to grow and build more housing for more people in need,” said Sipes. “The two of us are always active and participating in change, but we want to house and help as many youth as possible.”

Doll conceded that this past winter’s heavy snow was too much for the shelter to bear, leaving behind excess water damage and uninvited setbacks.

Doll and Sipes believe that a call to arms to Philadelphia’s LGBT young adults who aren’t touched by homelessness is obligatory. In doing so, they hope to assemble a youth board that will aid in everything from advising to volunteering at study groups at the shelter. Doll hopes by adding this function into Change Philly Today, it’ll help groom and cultivate some of the community’s next bright leaders. “We are clearly outside of the age demographic we are aiming to help. A group of young likeminded youth to help keep us in touch with the population we’re fighting for is extremely important to the success of this program,” said Doll. “I hope that these young folks can recognize that these people we are helping are their peers; they could be helping the kid next to them in their science or math class.” Sipes and Doll said a summer fundraiser is in the works. ✮ To donate, visit www.gofundm e. c o m / C h a n g e P h i l l y To d a y. For more information, search ChangePhillyToday on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or visit www. phillychangetoday.com. To inquire about the youth board, email lisa. sipes@changephillytoday.com or dollrusty@gmail.com. Angel Hardy is a junior at Southern New Hampshire University.

Growing up religious and LGBT By Bethany Burgess, 18 During a writing workshop with Denice Frohman, I wrote a poem about Christianity. As I wrote that poem, I recognized a feeling within myself that I have been longing for since I was in middle school. I realized that the religious beliefs I was taught growing up no longer had an effect on how I felt about my sexual orientation. The fear and confusion of growing up LGBT and religious were gone and replaced with the feelings of life and exuberance. Although that self-identifying journey is not an easy one, I believe LGBT youth who have grown up religious will take it. Oftentimes, religions can feel like small societies where the pastors or speakers of worship are in charge and the Bible or books of worship are the Constitution. And in that Constitution are the rules and rights regarding how the people of that religion should live. However, it is not until we are teenagers that we are able to fully understand the book of worship and are able to depart from the ideas of our pastor and parents. Until then, we are taught how to dress, how to conduct ourselves and what type of company to keep. We are drilled on what is

considered sin, the worst being homosexuality. We are taught that the punishment used to be death but we will still suffer eternally in hell. So the question becomes, How do LGBT youth come out in situations like this? How do they grow to accept and love themselves? The process is different for everyone and it is a feeling that no one else can understand. The process I endured was a long and hard one but it is something I reflect on every day. If I was at the same point today that I was a few years ago, I wouldn’t love myself as much as I do today. As of right now, I have not attended my home church in about two years. I left when I was about 16 because I felt unloved and unsupported in a place where I used to go to seek refuge. I was not being preached at, because hardly anyone knew of my sexual orientation, but I think it was my church family not knowing that caused that surge of emotions. I would walk around the church with a phony smile and doing the Lord’s work while committing one of the worst kinds of sin. Disappointment and failure are two of my biggest fears, and I believed that I was disappointing them by accepting my sexuality yet failing myself by letting my fear of disappointment run my life.

So I walked away from that society, but not from my faith. Instead of going to Sunday sermons, I read the Bible alone in my room, in an environment that would help me to understand the entirety of my religion, or rather the religion that was given to me at birth. In the Bible, there were things that horrified me, things that were irrelevant during this time period and things that I genuinely agreed with. And it wasn’t until I completely finished all 66 books of the Bible that I realized that coming out to my mom when I was 14 years old was not the right time. I suffered for the two years after because of my fear of a religion and hell that I did not understand. I’m 18 years old now and I am still pondering whether or not I want to be a part of the religion I was given at birth. Do I turn my back on my church family or do I endure being taught things that I do not believe are true or morally right? I’m not sure if I’ll ever get an answer to that question but, for right now, I will continue to be grateful that I am alive and able to love whom I please. ✮ Bethany Burgess is a senior at Academy at Palumbo.

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Q SPOT from page 1

MARSHALS from page 1

individual brings something different to the Mr. and Mrs. Q Spot pageant. This philosophy was used as a guideline to select the judge’s panel and their duties. Currently, the panel includes Miss Black Gay Pride Philadelphia 2008 Andrea Lamour and 2009 Finesse Ross. Unlike other pageants, the judges will not only be deciding the winner but will be grooming and prepping the contestants for the pageant. For some of the participants, it will be their first pageant. The staff at the Q Spot wants everyone to be at their best and to have a just opportunity to win. “I want to go out of my way to reach out to [young LGBTQ adults],” said Joel Dunn, a contestant hoping to become Mr. Q Spot. “I have to show them that I am there emotionally for them because there are people out there that have been in the same shoes I’ve been in before.”

didn’t seek this out” and detailed how she first came to The Attic at age 14. “I absolutely love this place. This is a big part of my life and it has changed me,” she said, noting that she’s always been active in issues important to her. “If I think something is right to fight for it, then I will fight for it.” Another capable and brave young adult is Baker, better known as Dalyla. She has been an essential part of the The Attic’s drag group, so much so that she won the top title of “Queen of The Attic” in its first year. The 18-year-old senior at Mastery Charter School recently made the brave decision to begin presenting full-time as a female at school. When asked about the process, she said she “was on the brink of transition and basically used it to come out to my school” as Dalyla. She said she “thought it would be really cool for my senior year to do something, since this is my last year. I am very passionate about drag and I love doing it that I just wanted to go that way with it.” Amongst her close friends she found acceptance and appreciated the efforts of those who perhaps were still adjusting to it; however, she does report that she faced some negative responses. Some reactions were by people who “bash all over it, they called me faggot, tranny, other derogatory things.” But she says that “at the end of the day ... I brush it off” — showing a type of courage in the face of oppression and hatred that is seldom found, but that can be looked to as inspiration. So what should people take away from these two leaders? The best thing for anyone who reads this is to ask themselves what they can do to contribute. People like McNair and Baker can have a remarkably positive influence on others, so hopefully by spreading their stories it might inspire someone else to take a stance, or even just simply to find confidence. People should be able to live within their own skins comfortably, and that is a trait that McNair and Baker both show and can serve as an excellent example of having the freedom to be yourself. ✮

MORE THAN 50 YOUTH TURNED OUT FOR THE MAY 17 Q SPOT PREMIERE AT WILLIAM WAY

Mr. and Mrs. Q Spot pageant and its winners will represent a positive example of youth leadership and civic engagement. The LGBTQ community will have two young adults who are passionate and willing to step outside of their comfort zones to create a prosperous but meaningful impact

for all individuals. ✮ The Mr. and Mrs. Q Spot pageant has a rolling admissions process with no cost to participate. To register, contact Quincy Greene at 215-225-3360. Mr. and Mrs. Q Spot will take place at 8 p.m. June 28 at the William Way

LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. Food will be provided, and there will also be confidential STD/HIV testing and counseling services available. William E. Shelton II earned a master of arts in writing studies from St. Joseph’s University.

TEMPLE from page 1

LGBT community. Towards the end of the semester, they were required to write a report on their experience at that event — whether it was a drag show, musical performance or an activist event. Student Elaica Zayas said, “The cultural event was a great way to get out into the community and to relate our course discussions to what’s actually going on in LGBT culture.” Finally, students chose a media text to write a research paper on and analyze. They also had to recreate the text in a media project. Some students decided to draw comics, film videos or write scripts. In the media project, the students were asked to fix any representational issues that the text may have had. If there weren’t any pressing issues, then they were asked to make the situation more ideal or explicitly “queer” if it wasn’t already. In the course description, it states, “By the end of the course, students will be expected to have demonstrated, through course assignments, an understanding of the course material and the links between theoretical critiques of representation, historical representations and analysis of LGBT media representation in contemporary media.” With all of these assignments, it’s no mystery that these students are wellprepared to take on the mainstream and alternative-media industry and create better representation for future LGBT characters. Kudos to Temple University for putting this course into the curriculum. It’s necessary for anyone who wishes to create media. ✮ James Lamar Stankunas is a senior at Temple University.

Sean Morris is a sophomore at Science Leadership Academy. PERFORMERS FROM THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER AT THE 2013 PHILLY PRIDE PARADE AND FESTIVAL (SEE PAGE 6 FOR MORE ON THIS YEAR’S PERFORMANCE) Photos: Scott A. Drake

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Out & About this summer

Philadelphia Pride Parade and Festival: Parade kicks off in the Gayborhood at noon. Festival, at Penn’s Landing, is $15 (or $10 if ticket bought in advance); phillypride. org. AIDS Education Month Hip-Hop for Philly: Grammy nominee Wale headlines a hip-hop concert 7-11 p.m. June 27 at Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St. Free tickets can only be obtained by young people (1324) who receive a free HIV test at a participating organization or event. Ticketholders will be entered to win free tickets to see Beyoncé and Jay Z in July; aidseducationmonth.org. Trans-Health Conference: An array of programming geared toward the transgender community, including several youth-focused sessions. Program runs June 12-14 at Pennsylvania Convention Center; trans-health.org.

OUT WITH COMCAST: Dozens of Comcast employees volunteered at The Attic Youth Center April 26 with the international Comcast Cares Day. The event allows company employees to spend the day working on service projects in their local communities. The OUT@Comcast LGBT employee resource group organized two volunteer efforts, at the John C. Anderson Apartments and The Attic. At the latter, volunteers cleaned, painted and made repairs to the building. Comcast Cares Day began in 2001 and this year garnered more than 80,000 volunteers throughout the world. This was the first time The Attic was a beneficiary of Comcast Cares Day.

THE NEXT YOUTH SUPPLEMENT WILL BE IN THE AUG. 29 ISSUE OF PGN

Youth-Health Empowerment Project 1417 Locust St., third ﬂoor 215-564-6388 www.y-hep.org A vibrant, multifaceted, communitybased health and leadership development program for Philadelphia youth, serving more than 8,000 highrisk, hard-to-reach teens and young adults annually through a range of activities. Programs include: Queer Women’s Support group, 6-7 p.m. Mondays Late-night LGBTQ Drop-in (ages 1329), 7-11 p.m. Mondays I A.M. Run Club, 7 p.m. Wednesdays Late-night HIV testing, 8 p.m. Wednesdays

255 S. 16th St. 215-545-4331 www.atticyouthcenter.org A multifaceted LGBT-youth service agency offering programming, activities and skills-building lessons. Programs include: Drop-in, 3-4 p.m. Monday-Friday Yoga, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Mondays Life Skills Lab, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Tuesdays Girl Talk II, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Tuesdays Community Meeting, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Wednesdays Boys Room, 7:15.-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays Relationship Group, 7:15.-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays Young, Trans and Uniﬁed, 7:15-8:30 p.m. Thursdays William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St. 215-732-2220 www.waygay.org A community hub offering an array of social activities, counseling and resources. Programs include: Book Club, 7 p.m. third Wednesdays Chess Club, 2-4 p.m. Sundays Loft 23 (young-adult gamers), 6-8 p.m. second and fourth Fridays TransWay, 7-9 p.m. Thursdays Rainbow Buddhist Meditation, 3-4 p.m. Sundays LGBT Peer Counseling Services, 6-9 p.m. Monday-Friday Library and Reading Room, noon-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. ✮ — compiled by Jen Gregory

The Attic Youth Center

Re-reading the alphabet soup of sexuality By Jada Gosset, 18 Across the country, the initialism “LGBT” is plastered in blog posts, news reports and school gay-straight alliances. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people make up a percentage of this sexuality-based community, but the term “LGBT” neglects to address the newer sexualities uncovered in the last decade. In truth, this initialism that arose in the 1990s is outdated and needs a change to include those newer sexualities and gender identities. “LGBT,” as it stands, leaves out an array of sexual identities, but also creates resentment among those underrepresented or misrepresented in the public eye. The lesbian and gay communities receive more recognition than those who identify with any other sexuality. From YouTube videos to legislation, this group has the largest following lobbying for equality. Attention dedicated to “LGBT” usually means same-sex marriage, but

a bill pertaining to gender-neutral bathrooms is a “trans* issue,” which highlights the tendency to separate equality movements based on who they serve. Even the larger-known social-activist groups like Human Rights Campaign lists in its mission statement that it works to achieve “equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.” It’s a very easy mistake to make, leaving out the genderqueers, asexuals and non-binaries of the nation, who are not as adequately represented. Though their numbers run smaller in comparison to the main “LGBT,” it is not their fault for being underrepresented. It seems like there’s an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality when it comes to sexuality, pertaining to the initialism. Because “LGBT” isn’t normally “LGBTQQIAPP,” people tend not to believe that they exist. Since some members of the other sexualities/identities not listed in the primary initialism decide not to stand up and take more of a leadership role, these identities

are shafted and go unknown and unnoticed by people both apart and separate of the LGBT community. Bisexuality has a large stigma, as well as the other lesserknown identities, such as asexuality and pansexuality. Many of those who hold a negative attitude towards these sexualities use the argument that people adopt them to “appear cool” and in actuality don’t want to commit to an actual sexuality. This mentality also stems from the tendency to use bisexuality as a “stepping stone” when coming to terms with one’s sexuality. Regardless of how many times one changes his or her sexual identity, the validity should be all the same. What do we do with what we have? Well, there’s the option of separating the sexualities and gender identities, but because they are so closely connected it’s difficult to do that without alienating any group. There’s also the option of creating an umbrella term, similar to the way that trans* is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expres-

sion differ from their biological sex. This umbrella term would allow for any and all sexualities that emerge as the world evolves. The only existing all-encompassing terms at the moment are “queer” and “gay.” Queer is a valid option; however, because of its malicious origins in the 1960s, some people in the community are still hesitant to use it, despite the community reclamation of the term in the past decade. Nevertheless, creating this kind of term would include every sexuality and create unity within the community, something that does not currently exist as widespread as we’d like it to be. Today it almost seems like it’s “every man for himself,” with every “letter” of the sexuality “alphabet soup” going against each other. By creating an umbrella term, every sexuality will be included in the community and the disconnect within the community may begin to repair itself. ✮ Jada Gossett is a senior at Academy at Palumbo.

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Pride from the eyes of The Attic By Micah Rodri, 19 Each year, a talented group of performers from The Attic Youth Center marches in the Pride Parade, stopping in front of the Market Street reviewing stand to show off their dance routine, complete with music, sets and costumes all centered around a theme. How does The Attic’s Pride theme get decided? Well, like everything in life, there is a process. I asked a few youth at The Attic and they all stated the same thing: by brainstorming ideas, movies, personal stories and books, and then by making a list of potential themes and voting. To learn more about this process, I interviewed The Attic Youth Center’s Xander, Vincent (Vindetta), Da’Shawn (Mz. Dalyla Mizani) and staff, including founder and executive director Carrie Jacobs. ————— Xander is 21 and describes himself as a wholesomely gay-identified young man who worked his way into leadership at The Attic Youth Center. He started as a youth performer himself for Pride in the summer of 2010 and has marched with The Attic since, working his up to become the performance coordinator. MR: What is this year’s Attic Youth Center Pride theme? Xander: It is based on Greek mythology and The Attic is portrayed to be a “temple” with many twists on mythology. The Attic Youth Center is constructing a creative and unique way to view mythology. We are creating our own mythology of gay culture. The youth are designing costumes, creating props, painting backdrops and all working together to bring together a performance. MR: What does marching in Pride mean to you? X: Everything! I like being in the spotlight. Dancing and performing is what I do. I love to show up and show out. My favorite part of

■ The Attic Youth Center 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331; atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday. See the Youth section for more events.

Pride is the costumes. Mz. Mizani: Huge! I took the lead as Alice last year when The Attic’s theme was “Alice in Wonderland.” I would say it amazed me to find myself performing on stage. It was amazing! A huge deal! MR: Any favorite costumes? X: One year, one of my costumes was a superhero/supervillian. I wore cargo pants, a purple T-shirt provided by Attic Graffix [The Attic’s youth-led print shop] and a glitter cap. Attic staff and volunteers always help youth design and create most of the costumes and props. MR: How else would you describe your role in The Attic’s Pride process? X: Pride is one big enjoyable workout and a great artistic environment. However, there are some artistic challenges we [as Attic youth] face. The egos and solo artistic vision can blindfold many people, but I am there to remind the other youth that a team has no solo spotlight. We all work together. MR: Could you tell me more about the role of leadership at The Attic? X: I never really saw myself as a leader, but I feel that I am someone people look up to and who keeps motivating people. MR: Has your role at The Attic grown over the years that you have been coming to the center? X: Yes, currently I am part of the HIV testing prevention and peer support team. ————— Vincent (Vindetta), 19, whose gender pronoun preference is she and identity is gay, is planning to attend a performing-arts school. MR: What is your role in Philly Pride 2014? Vindetta: I am working as a volunteer co-facilitator for The Attic Pride props group, and as choreog-

rapher for The Attic’s Pride performance. These roles are something different and are new experiences for me compared to last year, when I was only a group participant. I feel like I have changed a lot over this year. The Attic helped me do that — to become a leader. I am excited and happy at the same time, knowing that The Attic is helping me change for the better. MR: How have you been involved with Pride in the past? V:I only marched before I came to The Attic, but when I discovered The Attic, I marched with The Attic. When I did that, I felt empowered even though I was nervous and fearful of what others might say about me and what I wore. That did not happen, meaning I was totally accepted and it made me feel safe for once. MR: Tell me about The Attic’s Pride theme. V: It is very much outside the box and a unique theme using mythology: gods and goddesses concepts and taking it to another level. These gods and goddesses are a representation of what happens in the gay scene, from coming out to friends and family to STDs to community. It is about all of our struggles and how The Attic, which is portrayed as the “Attic Temple,” helps us overcome and fight for who we are. MR: Tell me about your costume. V: I designed my own costume and I will be the non-gender-specific God and Goddess of Beauty, with the name Vine. I chose her because being this god/goddess motivates me and strengthens me and reminds me that I can overcome insecurities and so can everyone else, whether they are in the LGBTQ community or straight community. The costume will be dark green and lime, with a beautiful touch of a flower to stand out from the crowd. I chose this earthy design because it’s natural and that’s what beauty is — natural. MR: What does marching in Pride

Community centers

■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-8985044; center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

mean to you? V: I have been marching at Philadelphia Pride since the summer of 2012. The only reason I am still marching continuously for these years is because it made me feel like I was not alone. Especially when I found The Attic, and began to march with The Attic it helped me build myself up and feel proud of who I am. MR: How much does your appearance play a part in your everyday life and your identity? V: One word: environment. I just cannot wear what I want to wear simply because it’s just too unsafe around my neighborhood and, for gay men like me, wearing the clothes I would like to wear would get me gay-bashed. That is why, when I go to The Attic, I come prepared with a change of clothes so I can safely wear what I like to wear and dress to express myself — so I can be comfortable in my own skin. ————— Da’Shawn, an 18-year-old high-school senior, identifies as a gorgeous drag queen (Dalyla Mizani) and describes herself to be gay and gender-queer. Dalyla says, “Gender-queer means you can address me with female and male pronouns.” Dalyla is also currently an intern at The Attic Youth Center’s WERQ High School Internship Group and is working on helping to create Pride props and choreography for this year’s parade. Dalyla has also been chosen as one of this year’s youth grand marshals for the parade. MR: How have you been involved in Philly Pride in past years? Dalyla: Last year was my first year at Pride and I was chosen to be Alice from “Alice in Wonderland.” I was really happy to find myself on stage performing. It was amazing! MR: Tell me about your costume this year. D: My character is the Goddess of Fun and Activism. Her name

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday Library hours: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

is Tra’ma because her name is so contradicting. It expresses the way stereotypes come to play in the LGBTQ community. Tra’ma is someone who speaks up for herself and others, but still has time to party and have fun. She will wear something with neon colors: a dress, a cheery dress with a cape or a long train. MR: What has marching in Pride meant to you? D: It is very empowering. I am standing up for something and for myself. I love it. It’s great. MR: How much does your appearance play a part in your everyday life and your identity? D: I can say that drag has helped me be who I want to be and it has taught me that I can always change it up at any time no matter what. ————— MR: From brainstorming to decision-making to the final performance and production in Pride, what does it feel like to see the youth from The Attic perform at Pride each year? “It’s absolutely amazing. I feel an overwhelming sense of pride. At every turn, I feel incredibly grateful for the privilege and opportunity to have come to know so many brave, bold and outstanding LGBTQ youth over the past 21 years at The Attic.” — Carrie Jacobs, founder and executive director of The Attic Youth Center “This year has been a great firstyear experience seeing the youth use the power of their voice to advocate and speak for what they believe in.” — Crystal Sparrow, program specialist “What I love about Pride is seeing youth feel a sense of community: We are out and proud together, and this is such an empowering feeling.” — Tara Rubinstein, program coordinator Note: Micah Rodri conducted and wrote this interview with the help of adult Attic volunteer Katherine Allen. Rodri has been coming to The Attic Youth Center for four years and marching with The Attic during Pride since the summer of 2012. She also was awarded with the Youth Grand Marshal Award in the summer of 2013.

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It’s OK to be gay (as long as you don’t say anything) By Jen Gregory, 23 Being the editor of my college newspaper really had its perks; everyone trusted me to edit their papers for them! There is nothing more that an overworked and sleep-deprived college student wants than more work piled on top of them. I had a really hard time saying “no” to people, so I usually had a nice little collection of papers to attack with a red pen before I went to sleep (which is a euphemism for hitting the pillow with my face for a few solid hours). Upon first glance, it looked like just another student club proposal, complete with a constitution and general outline of rules and regulations. Bleary-eyed, I almost tossed it back on the pile to deal with in the morning until three little letters caught my eye: “GSA.” Convinced that I had finally been deprived of sleep to the point of hallucination, I read the document, realizing that this was an early draft of a proposal for a Gay-Straight Alliance. A GSA at Holy Family University? I internally laughed at the prospect. Sure, our non-

discrimination policy clearly states that the university cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation, but surely that’s just a load of crap tossed into our legal documents so we don’t get in trouble with the law. Holy Family was still an ultra-conservative Catholic university, with ultra-conservative administration, complete with an archaic organizational and political structure. Did I mention ultra-conservative? I edited the paper (practically rewrote it because it needed a ton of work) and had a lot of trouble falling asleep that night. The word “impossible” resonated in my head and slowly eliminated its prefix, turning into “possible.” Needless to say, I tracked down the guy who penned the preliminary constitution and met an amazing group of people that I had always seen around campus but had never taken the time to speak with. The next few weeks and months were filled with meetings, committees, emails and all other types of political and bureaucratic hoops lined up for us to jump through. Surprisingly,

we were not faced with too much resistance with the actual formation of the group, but rather the identity of our group. We felt it was important that

We so very desperately wanted those three signifying letters somewhere in the name (GSA) but we were faced with an ultimatum: Pick a name without “gay” in it and you have the green light to move forward; if you don’t, then you can forget about all of this. we represent the school’s LGBT community and serve as a safe place for LGBT students, as well as straight allies. We needed to have a name that branded us as

the LGBT source, but the school wanted us to become a branch of our Multicultural Club. We fought, we argued and we won the ability to stand as our own independent student organization. But even that was a bittersweet victory because we were the only club that was assigned a “Spiritual Advisor,” a Catholic priest who would attend our meetings and ensure that our club activities were not “immoral.” Thankfully, our spiritual advisor was decidedly one of the most liberal priests employed by the university, but it still felt like we were sanctioned. The final part of the battle was the most bittersweet: naming the club. We so very desperately wanted those three signifying letters somewhere in the name (GSA) but we were faced with an ultimatum: Pick a name without “gay” in it and you have the green light to move forward; if you don’t, then you can forget about all of this. Thus, the Alliance for Student Equality was born. I wish I could say that the club went on to do amazing things for the Holy Family LGBT com-

munity but, to my knowledge, it seems to have fallen by the wayside. One of our most vocal founding members graduated at the end of that semester, I took on more responsibilities by becoming a resident advisor at school, and our club description in our Student Handbook the following year could not even contain “GSA” or “LGBT.” When I graduated, the Alliance for Student Equality was nothing more than a finalized constitution and a quiet Facebook group. To my knowledge, no student has stepped up to lead the club and our spiritual advisor passed away just a few short months ago. With no spiritual advisor and no solid description of what the club is meant to be for the school community, nor the presence of a single interested person, I fear that the only record of the Holy Family LGBT community will be three pieces of paper stapled together, a Facebook group that will be deleted after extended inactivity and this article. ✮ Jen Gregory is pursuing a master’s degree in technical and professional communication from the University of Wisconsin.

Hozier’s ‘Take Me To Church’: The role of visual arts to quell the violence In Russia By Justin Dowdall At the moment of death and violence, we are left the most exposed. What we have risked, the people we love and what we lived and died for are the only things that save us from the pointlessness of existence. If this sounds grim, I would remind the reader that I am writing this article as an exploration of the act of love in the face of violence. For countless gay men and women in Russia, the reality of their love is a terror that few can fully appreciate. With the eyes of the world on this nation, I would suggest that as a community we have failed to address the problems in Russia with the immediacy they deserve. By this, I mean that we have missed an opportunity to shed light on a hateful régime that is doing little or nothing to stop the rampant attacks that have plagued the queer community. Each year, a growing number of the Russian LGBTQI community have been attacked in their homes simply for being who they

are. However, not all is lost, and small glimmers of hope have emerged. They have emerged in the act of causing political unrest and from the creation of art, from both allies and the community alike. One example of such art is a video by Irish artist Hozier, directed by Brendan Canty and Conal Thomson of Feel Good Lost productions. This video was released earlier this year as an extension of Hoizer’s single “Take Me To Church.” The song is powerful and stands alone as an emerging hit. In conjunction with the images of the video, Hoizer has created something truly significant that takes on multiple layers of meaning. This brilliant video has allowed Hoizer to crash into the American art scene in a way that is both poetic and politi-

cally significant. In the video, Hoizer pulls us into the question of what it means to be exposed to a horrible act of violence, yet draws in the viewer with his hypnotic melodies and empathetic prose. From this, we are made witnesses to a brutal crime that represents a real and hateful spectacle. This reality is a truth that Russia must face. Through the director’s use of powerful imagery, the video sets us into a scat-

tered prism of light and darkness. It brings the viewer into conversation with both the problem and a solution; as a mesmerizing visual dialectic, the video exposes the use of the body to project the violence through a media spectacle. At the conclusion of the video, we see a group of young men acting as a mob — a mob of “young men,” to be more accurate — raise their own video camera to share this hate with the world. Mimetically, the director critiques this use of spectacle by making the object of analysis their hate. He therefore reduces the power of their attempts at media “use” by turning the camera back on the young assailants, exposing the injustice against the two gay lovers. From this video, we are left raw, aware A SCENE FROM IRISH MUSICIAN HOZIER’S now that there is no “TAKE ME TO CHURCH” MUSIC VIDEO static world. I say

this as we stand on the edge of a great wave and we hold the earth within our hands as it forms around us. Although as a community we have seen a great may victories here in the United States, we cannot forget that the struggle is not just for those in the U.S., but rather for justice around the world. We see clearly that this video is not the new guard calling for an ideological shift against the old, but rather youth itself calling for our generation to pick sides within our own ranks. As young people, we should answer the call. In a more philosophical language, we are forced to address the plight of the Other, as this video sheds light on issues that impact the loss of our collective humanity in the face of religious dogma and hate. In this way, Hoizer taps into the universal right to be human (qua human), to love whom we choose and to hold accountable those who stand in the way of this love. ✮ Justin Dowdall is a senior at Temple University.

PGN LGBTQ YOUTH SUPPLEMENT

PAGE 8

Love is free By Timothy Wayne Moore, 26

Love is free Not dependant on creed Race, gender or religion We are now living in a new age Where to love oneself you must be brave, To make a declaration That no one else’s doctrine can enslave another’s soul So bold because love is shared by the same gender Beautiful children please remember To love what makes you different Not fitting into extreme norms Break form to love yourself You are equal in worth Even when words hurt, When others seek to destroy the inner you Hold onto your truth For so many colorful youth You don’t have much to grab onto Though young you fill adult shoes Surviving life because you choose To live how you want to, The streets are mean When homeless in your teens But take the journey to discovering you Even if you cry yourself to sleep For legitimate reasons to weep Just keep repeating Love is on the way Even if you’re sad today It gets better If you remember You are so wonderfully unique Loving you is the key Hold onto love Against the arrows that follow Ignorant minds try to constrain Try to contain another’s story Maintain the glory of being beautifully you In such a black and white world You are the seeds of majestic flowers Blooming by breaking form You are brave, you are strong You are vulnerable and exposed Yet the flower that blooms From a crack in concrete Is a miracle for all to see. Timothy Wayne Moore is a graduate student at Rosemont College pursuing a master’s degree in leadership.

SPRING 2014

‘Full House’ to draw packed houses at Society Hill Playhouse By Jen Gregory, 23 Folks young and old will be able to experience Quince Productions’ “Full House: A Series of Cabarets” when the production kicks off June 12. The all-ages event will be a jampacked three-day, seven-show musical menagerie. “Many of the shows sell out and it’s a good idea to get tickets in advance,” said producing artistic director Rich Rubin. Since each cabaret features a different performer, the seats are usually filled with the performer’s following. Quince Productions began the cabaret series in 2009, a time when there were not many highprofile showcases for cabarets, Rubin said. Staying true to its mission of providing the masses with a wide variety of performing arts, Quince Productions moved forward with the first of what would become the company’s biggest moneymaker show of the year. “We’ve been able to draw on

ALEXANDER KACALA, A PERFORMER IN THE UPCOMING “FULL HOUSE” CABARET SERIES AT SOCIETY HILL PLAYHOUSE

a wider talent pool as the series becomes better known,” said Rubin. “[The] major growth has been in the diversity and wide range of performers. It’s no longer just, ‘So who the hell do I know that can sing?’” Quince is stretching the boundaries and limits of what is considered “cabaret” by offering an eclectic mix of performers and musical styles. The formula is mostly traditional, but with “more than a few surprises,” Rubin said. With show names such as: “Dude Looks Like a Lady #notliterally #agenderbendingcabaret,” featuring Elizabeth Holmes and Geoff Bruen and “b*+che$ B Cr@zy: an artfully self-indulgent but still charming cabaret,” featuring Samantha Morrone, the audiences are sure to be in for an exciting night. Additionally, philanthropists will receive an added level of enjoyment from out performer

Alexander Kacala’s, show since he will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the William Way LGBT Community Center. With a show that generates so much attention, one would think “popular” equates to “stressful.” This is definitely not so with “Full House.” “It’s actually the least-stressful show of the whole season,” Rubin said. “There’s a casual, easygoing atmosphere in the series and the performers love having the chance to be the creative force behind their own evening.” The shows will be held at the Society Hill Playhouse (Red Room) from June 12-15. Tickets can be purchased individually or in two-, three- and all-show package deals online at quinceproductions.tix.com. ✮ Jen Gregory is pursuing a master’s in technical and professional communication from the University of Wisconsin.

Are you a young person? Do you like to write? Have an opinion? Or an interest in LGBT news or arts? If all of these apply to you, consider writing for PGN’s third LGBTQ Youth Supplement, hitting stands Aug. 29. Deadline is Aug. 15.

Email editor@epgn.com for more info.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

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Eating Out Should Be Fun! Read PGN’s food reviews every second and fourth week of the month - and check out our archive of past reviews on epgn.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

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Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly Worth Watching

Page 35 Page 40 Page 38 Page 33 Page 39

PAGE 34

Meshell Ndegeocello’s new album burns bright By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Out singer, songwriter and musical wunderkind Meshell Ndegeocello continues to explore the sonic universe with her latest album “Comet, Come To Me,” due out June 3. The new album, like the artist, defies any easy categorization and expectation, which is par for the course for an artist who has marched to her own beat ever since she was signed to Madonna’s Maverick label more than 20 years ago. Since then, she has forged a career as an independent musician who doesn’t put any genrespecific boundaries on her creativity. Her latest album faithfully captures the nuances of folk, rock, funk, R&B and reggae. And when Ndegeocello takes on these genres of music, the listener feels like he or she is getting the genuine product and not something synthesized and copied. “I struggle with that, especially when I play live,” Ndegeocello said about crafting her sounds. “Most sound people try to make the live show sound the same. Every song is the same with the feeling. In the studio I have a little more control. How the music hits you, hits your ear and your body influences the listener. I try not to make things brash or sometimes they have to be brash. That’s the energy of it. But yeah, it’s super important

to me, the soundscaping. There is a Motown sound. There is something sonically specific that moves people. They may not be able to articulate it but I think it is just as important. And as we move into a world where everybody can make music on their laptop, it’s important to me to maintain that integrity.” This album also finds Ndegeocello getting more adventurous with the album covers, where she wears stylistically striking costumes and body paint. “I like the element of transformation,” she said. “I think it’s more of that and I want to get out of trying to participate within fashion. I think of the album as, what costumes can I create? What other alternate ideas of myself exist within? So let’s try to create those.” Ndegeocello has been performing mostly new material and covers of some of her favorite artists on recent tours but she has been known to whip out

the occasional songs from earlier albums, often stripped-down and re-imagined. She said that she plans to air out more of her older songs on her upcoming tour. “On this next tour I’m doing, I’m my own opening act and I’m playing the older music so when I get to my set of new stuff, I don’t have to hear anybody ask for it,” she said. “We’re doing it acoustic and we’ll revisit those songs.

When I am playing it, I feel like I’m doing karaoke or I’m a cover band of myself if I try to do it exactly like it. I’m just a different person. It feels different. I have to bring a new experience to it or it is just rote and lacks life or zeal, in my limited opinion. It’ll be interesting to see how songs that are spoken-word or rap-oriented will translate years on. It’s interesting because a good song can be played on a guitar, so that’s the goal. I’m trying to pick the ones that feel good in that way.” Ndegeocello may be playing older songs for the enjoyment of longtime fans, but she said that occasions where she bows to the desires of what people want from her as a performer are rare. “I’m not really fan-friendly,” she said. “I think I fail them often. I just try to make new fans or ones that understand the point is not to stay stagnant. The point is to try and grow as a musician. I’m happy with the

fans who can get something from it and I apologize to those I disappoint. I’m trying to be more open and give them more than just music.” To that end, Ndegeocello recent released an EP of live tracks, “Continuous Performance,” for free via download on her website. If you don’t have it, don’t go looking for it now: It was a limited-time deal. But Ndegeocello said there might be more live recordings for her in the future. “We’re thinking about that,” she said. “We might try to record a few of these shows. I’m influenced by Bob Marley, who did a bunch of tours and pieced together a collection of a bunch of tours. I might try to do that this year and see how it works.” On one of the EP’s tracks, Ndegeocello is joined on stage by singer Joan Osborne, whom she introduced as a “victim of the industry.” For an artist as fiercely independent as Ndegeocello, seeing how talented artists corralled and pigeonholed stylistically continues to be worrisome for her. “She’s a mentor,” Ndegeocello said about Osborne. “I saw what it was like for her. She had a huge hit. She’s one of the most incredible vocalists in the world. She can sing blues, jazz, country ... She’s an instrument. When they found out she was interested in all kinds of music it was like, PAGE 32

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

PGN FEATURE

Food and Drink Directory Photos: Jason Rodgers

NDEGEOCELLO from page 31

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‘No, I need you to do the same thing you did last time.’ I kind of had something similar. But I got away with doing three records that were totally from my heart and then I got pressured to be something else. I only wish I had 80 percent of the voice she has. But you can see that happen. What’s going to happen to Rihanna? Does everyone end up in Vegas? What is the future for those who want another path? Katy Perry is a great writer so I think she’ll continue on. But I’m curious. What happens to the singer? Everyone wants to be remembered but maybe you won’t be.” Ndegeocello added that she is happy with how she has insulated herself from the pressure of the music industry over the course of her career. “I’ve had people help me,” she said. “I’ve surrounded myself with people for the last five or six years. I had an agent who wasn’t trying to rob me or put me on a circuit that was weird. I felt he truly loved music. I have a real insular life and I like it that way. It’s scary to be so influenced by the needs and ideas of others in order to try and maintain your place in the zeitgeist. I like my quiet life and I like having a nice regular experience in life.” Ndegeocello might be flying under the radar of the mainstream music industry, but makers of musical instruments have definitely taken notice of her prowess and influence. Recently, Reverend guitar company created a signature bass named after her. For Ndegeocello, having a bass guitar made to her own specifications allows her to take pressure off of some of her prized vintage instruments. “I have some really old instruments and I was traveling and it was really difficult the way they were treated,” she said. “They were becoming severely damaged. There is this Detroit bass-maker called Reverend. They were American-made so that intrigued me. So I started playing one and they’ve been so kind to me with equipment and making me what I want. So I’m trying my own signature bass and it is made out of something that can’t be destroyed and it travels well. It doesn’t sound like any other bass. I like it. It’s got a clean dub-by sound. I have a Fender jazz bass that I love. It’s one of my prized possessions. That’s why I can’t go on the road with it. It’s something I cherish. I usually like things that are really old because the sound quality is so woody and natural. Plus I want to try a new sound. I want something different.” She added that the want for something different means she might be getting even more sonically adventurous on her next album. “I want to somehow have my next experience sound like Fela [Kuti] meets Kraftwerk: cyber, yet really in the bush, something that is different. I’m tired of sounding like the past all the time. Everyone is making retro records. I want to see what else there is as well.” ■ “Comet, Come to Me” is due out June 3. Meshell Ndegeocello performs 8 p.m. June 6 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215222-1400 or visit www.meshell.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

BOOKS PGN

Author questions culture of tolerance in new book By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com We know this year has seen a number of LGBT-related milestones, like marriage equality becoming legal in Pennsylvania and other states, and we have recently seen gay athletes make strides in the world of professional sports ... but don’t get comfortable. That, in a nutshell, is the sentiment behind “The Tolerance Trap,” the new book by Suzanna Danuta Walters, director of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and professor of Sociology at Northeastern University. She raises provocative questions about whether victories on issues like same-sex marriage are making people more complacent about other pressing issues regarding LGBT equality. “I do think that there is a popular storyline out there that it is not a big deal anymore,” Walters said. “Even if you look at what happened in the [openly gay NFL draftee] Michael Sam case. There are many ways to look at his coming out and what that meant. In the press it was talked about as a sign of social transformation. The times have changed so much that even a macho football player can come out. I read this, and I’m sure a lot of gay activists read this, as much more the glass is half full, that even in 2014, we still are talking about this and we

still have firsts to get over. Then there was the outcry about his kiss and this was news and people gave a damn. That is how far we haven’t come. Part of the impetus for this b o o k wa s t o complicate that story a bit.” Personally we don’t know of many who think the need for LGBT activism is over and are ready to hang up their protest shoes. But, Walter argues that short-term goals of the LGBT movement can be at odds with lasting long-term changes in society. “There’s a way in which the gay movement and its straight allies have banked on a language of tolerance and acceptance,” Walters said. “As long as they tolerate us, that’s good. That’s come to be our standard language now and I want us to have a higher bar. We used to talk about liberation and freedom. But a lot of the mainstream gay movement and some of our spokespeople have adopted a low bar of tolerance as the means and the ends to gay inclusion and

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I think that’s a mistake.” We pointed out that tolerance might not be perfect, but it sure is preferable to open hostility. “I’ll take tolerance any day over gay bashing and all of that stuff but I actually think that tolerance undermines thinking about real freedom,” she said. “We tolerate a rainy day or a boring meeting. We don’t talk about tolerating something we really love and celebrate. So I think the language of tolerance is about accepting something you’d rather do without. It’s a different language than celebration. We’ve gone from ‘We’re here! We’re queer! Get used to it!’ to ‘We’re here. We’re kind of gay. Please tolerate us.’ It’s a very different ethos. Tolerance undermines that potential because what can be tolerated can always not be tolerated.” But can we at least do a little bit of a victory dance? Walters said yes. “Let me be absolutely clear: I’d much

rather come out in this world than the world I came out in,” Walters said. “I think that gaining marriage rights is an important thing. I’m 52 and the changes in my lifetime have been enormous. I never thought I’d see half of what I see. I’d be the last person to pretend that the changes over the course of my own life haven’t been enormous. But if you read these events as only a sign that we’re just one gay-marrying state away from full liberation, then you are making a mistake. It’s not just about complacency, but it’s also about to what extent the range of issues that affect these lesbians and transgender people don’t get addressed, particularly when all we talk about is either a celebrity coming out or marriage. And we still can’t pass ENDA. This book is part of the attempt to make sure we look at the range of issues that still plague our country in terms of homophobia and the relationship between homophobia and sexism and racism and so on. It also argues that the language we have of tolerance and acceptance are themselves words and frameworks that will never get us to that other place.” ■ Suzanna Danuta Walters hosts a discussion and signing session for “The Tolerance Trap,” 6-7 p.m. June 3 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. For more information, visit www.suzannawalters.com.

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

Suzi Nash

Samantha Jo Dato: Her journey from cocktail waitress to conference coordinator “I’ve preached the importance of having role models, mentors and friends who support you. It took a village for me to be who I am today, and it still takes a village to assist me in the journey ahead. While the struggles were mine alone to grapple with, I am a product of my support system — a community that included straight parents and siblings, gay and lesbian classmates, gender-nonconforming teen support group members, drag queens who practiced at the community recreation center where I hung out as a kid, queer volleyball teammates, and older trans women who used their transition experiences to light my path.” — Janet Mock Janet Mock is one of the keynote speakers at the upcoming 13th annual Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference. The conference was founded in 2002 by a group of transgender activists, allies and service providers who saw the need to educate providers on transgender care. They gathered in a few rooms at a Friends school for a day of education, with about 150 people attending the event. Last year at the conference, 3,200 people attended, 250 workshops were offered and there were more than 50 additional activities during the three days of the conference. This year’s conference will again gather a village full of people, providing support and community — and, best of all, the three-day conference is free to all attendees. This week we find out more about Samantha Jo Dato, the logistical coordinator for the conference. PGN: Once upon a time ... SD: I was a not-so-office-oriented transitioning woman from New Jersey — Atlantic City, I’m a saltwater taffy girl. PGN: I don’t know too many people who actually grew up in Atlantic City. What was it like? SD: It was really fun, it didn’t seem like everything was so far away or so distant like it does now. The casino, tourist part didn’t start until after I got older so we grew up knowing who our neighbors and our elders were. It was very intimate. PGN: Tell me a little about the family. SD: I am the middle child; we have two girls, one boy. I have a younger brother and an older sister. I’m the black-sheepish one: stubborn, always fighting for attention, but we have a good relationship now. I think we’ve all grown to ... um [laughs] tolerate each other! PGN: What was your favorite thing to do as a kid? SD: I don’t know. I guess playing dressup was my most favoritest thing to do. I would go in my mom’s room and put on

all her make-up and accessories. It was the highlight of my life! I still love dressing up.

always like, “You’re in Philadelphia, I’m in Jersey, let’s get together!” She calls ... a lot.

PGN: Was that with or without your mom’s permission? SD: Without! Of course, without! But with repercussions and several beatings!

PGN: When did you first become aware that trans people existed? SD: There are two different scenarios. I had always been comfortable in women’s clothing. Since I was about 5 or 6, I remember playing dress-up in my mom’s clothes and I remember wanting to go out in the world like that. At age 11, I got fully dressed up and ran through my neighborhood and everyone was like, “That was like Haney in drag in his mom’s wig!” In my mind I already felt comfortable and present there. My first realization of a transgender person was at work. After school I used to work at an apartmentcomplex gym. There was a woman that I’d seen work out before and never thought anything about it until a group of guys were saying, “Oh, that’s a man.” And I was like, “Is it? What? What do you mean she’s a man?!” That experience came to me

PGN: What was school like? SD: School was effortless when I was younger. But then as I got older I started getting into fashion, and into trouble trying to be grown-up and popular. My attention span disappeared. So I dropped out of high school and went to New York, but I made my mom a promise that I would graduate, so I did go back to school in 2006 and got my GED. I wouldn’t recommend dropping out, but I did learn a lot about the world. PGN: So when you went to New York, was it to get into fashion? SD: Oh, no. I was just trying to be grown. I was hanging out and playing with friends. I didn’t want to obey any rules and Atlantic City was just too small and isolated for me. My mom could find out anything and everything about me. Anything I did, by the time I got home my mother already knew about it and was waiting for me. I was like, “This city is not for me. I want to see the stars and the lights.” So I went to the Big Apple.

comfortable and fluid, someone told me that they were going to fire me because I’d become so androgynous. I found the Mazzoni Center; the Link To Care program was the only one of its kind on the East Coast and it was an uphill battle learning how to be treated, how to be a woman and how to finesse things especially when you’re an alpha woman. I’m really a tomboy and most people don’t know that: I love trucks and pit bulls, swimming, jet skiing. [Laughs] I’m not as prissy as people think I am. But then I found therapy in doing make-up, and that became my second career. Of course I wanted the best so I found myself working for Mac makeup. It feels wonderful to enhance beauty, taking it from its raw and natural state and putting finishing touches on it. A lot of intimate moments came from it. You have someone in your chair for 40 minutes and you have to find things to talk about. I think it was my first chance to give back and care about someone and something else. It was very enlightening and prepared me for work as an activist. The Mazzoni thing kind of fell into my lap, and it’s been my third career.

PGN: What was that like? SD: Well, that was when I started transitioning and living like a woman. Well, I guess I wouldn’t call it transitioning that early, but I was starting to piece it together and answer a lot of unanswered questions. But then I realized that being a woman costs a lot of money, so I needed to move back home and get a job and get some more education. I’d had the dessert before the meal so I went back to school and got a job and got my act together. PGN: Since you’re such a fashionista, what is your favorite piece of clothing? SD: I don’t know about favorite, but the most talked-about would be a pair of sky-blue Moschino jeans that I had as a kid. Fran from “The Nanny” used to love designer clothes and one episode she was wearing the same jeans. First the uproar was that my sister had to go tell my mom that I was wearing women’s jeans and then the second uproar was that a piece of clothing that I owned was shown on such a popular sitcom! It was really cool. PGN: How do you get along with the family now? SD: As I said, my siblings and I tolerate each other but my mother’s come around. I was just on the phone with her and she’s

when I was about 12 and I think it struck a note: I can do that too! PGN: You’ve been working for a long time and had a varied career, from cocktail waitress at Bally’s to preparing taxes. What’s a favorite moment? SD: I’ve always worked, I know nothing else. I would say I’ve had three careers. I was a cocktail waitress for 10 years and I transitioned on the job. I started off as a male server and then as I became more

Photo: Suzi Nash

PGN: Tell me about your work as an activist. SD: I’ve seen a lot of bullying and a lot of transwomen with self-esteem problems. I’ve seen women suffer because of not knowing where to go to get the right resources or not going because the resources didn’t look like them. There can be a barrier when the person helping is a cis man or cis woman, even if they’re gay. I felt like I’d done OK with myself mentally with a good head on my shoulders and hoped I could encourage and inspire other women to find their power too. I also worked to help doctors and service providers be more trans-friendly. Then the job for trans health coordinator opened up and I applied and got it!

PGN: What are some of the problems you see? SD: A lot of transwomen don’t seek help until it’s near-fatal because dealing with the medical profession often reintroduces trauma. You go in with your guard up and only tell them what they need to avoid questions. You skip important things like mammograms and prostate exams and other things you need to live a happy and healthy long life. PAGE 38

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

Q Puzzle Too gay to function in the closet Across

1. Type of salami you can put in your hero 6. “Showboat”’s “Nobody ___ But Me” 10. Eight for Estefan 14. Egg shapes 15. Pride member 16. Have sex, with “around” 17. Lifeboat lowerer 18. Eat it 19. Hauled ass 20. Start of Dish Nation’s question for Daniel Franzese after coming out 23. Fits of anger 24. One of AA’s 12 25. Birthplace of Socrates 28. Rupert Everett’s chips 32. Author Rednour 33. Not as crazy

34. Log Cabin member, for short 35. Round Table title 36. More of the question 38. Threesome for Michelangelo 39. Part of SASE (abbr.) 40. Record a George Michael song again 41. Lo follower 42. One who always has a bone? 44. Eyed impolitely 46. Deep desires 47. Missile shot off by the Air Force 48. Franzese’s answer 53. Disney’s “___ and the Detectives” 54. Former queen of Jordan 55. Story of Greeks that busted some Trojans 57. “Limp Watches” painter 58. Mower brand 59. Vehicle that may be bi? 60. Alison Bechdel cartoon character

PORTRAIT from page 35

There’s work to be done on both sides to educate service providers and the people who need them. PGN: What women are inspirations for you? SD: It’s scary that I am my mother. As much as we didn’t see eye to eye when I was a teenager, I’ve come to find that I’m just like her. She’s definitely an inspiration to me. Aside from her, I don’t have any one person — everyone is inspiring to me. I try to take a little something from each person I meet. PGN: Describe the first time you fell in love. SD: Oh! I thought I knew love many times. But the first time was with someone who is now my best friend: Sh Á Ruan Gantt, she was the first person who accepted me totally for who I am. All of my bad, my chaotic, my delusional and my crazy, she made me look deep within and find the good. It helped me refocus and change how I viewed myself. PGN: What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever lied about? SD: I don’t know! I used to lie all the time when I was a kid. I was always trying to stay one step ahead of my mother’s detective work but she always caught me. Now I can’t lie. I’m like, “I did it and I’m sorry.” I’m glad I got it out of my system then. PGN: Three things on your bucket list? SD: Jumping out of a plane, definitely. Getting married! And getting a doctorate. In what, I don’t know, but I’m going to get one! PGN: So the Trans-Health Conference is coming up soon. What was your reaction the first time you went?

61. Ron Howard role 62. Look from Snidely Whiplash

Down

1. Alanis Morissette role, in _Dogma_ 2. “Well, Did You ___” (song of 11-Down) 3. “The Death of Friends” author Michael 4. “Hamlet” Oscar winner 5. In the rear, of a seaman 6. St. ___ fire 7. Place 8. Emulate three men in a tub 9. Service volunteer 10. Compensate for 11. “You’re the Top” writer 12. Cultivated pansies 13. On in years 21. “Let’s do it!” 22. Get the ball rolling 25. Targets of tops 26. Use your head 27. San Francisco’s “Mayor of Castro Street”

28. Ante up 29. Type of quartz 30. Queer, to straights 31. Blow, as dough 33. Sport in which sweaty men embrace 36. “Looks ___ everything” 37. Becomes involved with 41. Noted Andy Warhol subject 43. Actor Jordan 44. “The L Word” network 45. Some things to talk about 47. Spasm, like an orgasm 48. Noncommittal words 49. Fruit ___ (gay district) 50. Petty of “A League of Their Own” 51. “Well done!” 52. Oz visitor Dorothy 53. TV announcer Hall 56. Austrian article

SD: It was two years ago and I was like a kid in the candy store: There were so many trans people about and so many things to learn. I was like, Oh! Oh! I want to talk to you! I want to learn this! I want to listen to that person! I don’t think I got as much out of it as I could have because I was just all over the place. One of the things I’m looking forward to this year are some of the new things we’ve implemented, like the welcoming orientation, which is designed to help people get the lay of the land so they can get the max out of the conference. I’m also working with the workshop presenters so that they can be powerful and enthusiastic and impactful for every person who takes the time to hear them present. And we’re doing a volunteer station because I know that often, you have people show up to volunteer and nobody knows what to do with them. Now we now are better organized and I’m excited because it helps people feel empowered when they join or help. PGN: I read you said that this conference is not just important to our area, but important to the world. SD: It is! Whether people want to believe it or not, trans is the new “in thing.” There are so many people transitioning or finding their place on the gender line that soon the world is going to realize how big the trans community is, that we are relevant to society and that we are your neighbors too. People are going to be impacted by the trans community, whether it’s a family member or neighbor or coworker. It’s important for those around us to really understand us and become intentional allies. And that’s something you can learn at this conference. We provide training and ally safe

PAGE 40

spaces and ongoing education and learning experiences. We want intentional and unapologetic allies. Just a small conversation on the elevator can change someone’s attitude. PGN: What’s something that we don’t know about you? SD: Most people call me Samantha Jo Dato, but it’s really Samantha OJ Dato. My middle name is actually Olivia Jasmine, and somewhere along the way the initials got switched for entertainment purposes and it stuck! PGN: You once said that, “Transgender identity is not dependent upon medical procedures. It’s about aligning yourself with your gender identity. There are still many misconceptions about transgender individuals and the trans community that prevail within mainstream society. In the not-too-distant past, many people believed that trans or transgender people were suffering from mental illness. Others believed transgender means a man wants to have surgery to be a woman. The true definition of transgender is not limited to those two narrowing perspectives.” SD: I did? Ha! I don’t remember saying that but it sounds about right. PGN: What are some misconceptions that people have about the trans community? SD: One of the craziest stereotypes that first comes to mind is that not every transwoman is interested in every man they come across. Because I think you’re a nice neighbor or friendly mailman and I say hello does not mean I want to sleep with you. I love having male energy around me but I don’t want any of them. I have a boyfriend and I have standards.

One of them is called employment, one of them is physical attraction. You’ll have someone who’s 4-feet tall with no teeth and a pot belly, who thinks just because you’re trans and act friendly you want to sleep with them. No! PGN: Is it because there’s an over-sexualization of trans people in the media? SD: Yes. It’s uncomfortable. I’m a corporate person and I’ll have guys hooting and hollering or pulling their cars over to yell things. But we are more than our physique or looks. Unfortunately, I think that’s how many people were introduced to us, and the learning curve hasn’t happened yet. But I think it’s well on its way. I think seeing people like Janet Mock and Harper Jean Tobin — both keynote speakers at the conference — in the mainstream media is changing people’s perceptions. Seeing people like Laverne Cox and Chaz Bono and other trans people helps them realize that we’re important people with brains and thoughts and feelings and not just sexual objects. PGN: Yes, people sometimes mock the importance of role models but I think they’re important. As the saying goes, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” SD: That makes sense. It’s something that I work on every day, to be better and greater than I was the day before. I’d like to think that I’m more than my oppression. It’s an exciting time. ■ For more information on the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference, visit www. trans-health.org. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol. com.

PGN TELEVISION

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

Worth Watching SMELLS LIKE ROCK AND ROLL: Rocker Joan Jett and pop starlet Lorde take over vocal duties for a reunited Nirvana, who are inducted this year alongside Linda Ronstadt, KISS and the E Street Band at “2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,” airing 8 p.m. May 31 on HBO.

BACK IN BLACK: New episodes of the second season of the dark comedy “Orange is the New Black” are available for viewing on Netflix starting June 6.

FACE THE MUSIC: On the new reality competition “Sing Your Face Off,” celebrities are transformed and trained to perform as legendary musical icons, including celebrities ex-Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach (pictured), basketball player Landry Fields, comedian Jon Lovitz and more, 9 p.m. May 31 on ABC. Photo: ABC/Kelsey

THE PIRATES OF PRIMETIME: John Malkovich stars as the barbarous pirate Blackbeard, reigning over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreants, in the new series “Crossbones,” premiering 10 p.m. on NBC.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead Fri. 05/30

epgn.com

Check Us Out Online

Scene in Philly Cartoons Columns & Back Archives

Eels The alt-rock band performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-5727650. Failure The alt-rock band performs 8 p.m. at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011. Sheila E. The singer and percussionist performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Entertainment Listings in

Voyage The Journey tribute band performs 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808.

Meetings, Team Sports, & Support Groups on our

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings The R&B band performs 8:30 p.m. at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100.

Out and About Community Bulletin Board

Find a PGN anywhere in the Greater Philadlephia Region epgn.com/pages/ where_to_ﬁnd Zoomable interactive Google map of locations you can pick up a PGN

Sat. 05/31 Roots Picnic The Roots, Snoop Dogg, Janelle Monae, Action Bronson, Biz Markie and more perform starting noon at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, 601 N. Columbus Blvd.; www.rootspicnic. com. Wanda Sykes The out comedian performs 7 and 10 p.m. at Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way; 609317-1000.

Billy Idol The singer performs 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk; 609343-4000. Buckcherry The rock band performs 8 p.m. at Xfinity Live, 1100 Pattison Ave.; 267443-6415. Peek-A-Boo Revue’s Sweet 16 Birthday Show The burlesque troupe performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. Rust The Neil Young tribute band performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400. A Very Tabu Prom A benefit event for The Attic Youth Center, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675. Weird Beard Revue Boylesque artists perform 8-9:30 p.m. at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St.; 215-5920656.

Sun. 06/01 Danity Kane The R&B girl group performs 8 p.m. at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011.

Mon. 06/02 Free Quizzo and Board Game Night Roll the dice, 7 p.m. at World Cafe

REIGNING QUEEN OF COMEDY: Out comedian and host of “Last Comic Standing” Wanda Sykes returns to Atlantic City for two uproarious performances, 7 and 10 p.m. May 31 at Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way. For more information or tickets, call 609317-1000.

Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Thu. 06/05

Fri. 06/06

Sin City The action noir film is screened 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

Lez Zeppelin The all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band performs 8 p.m. at The Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore; 610649-8389.

Lipstick Mondays A weekly drag show featuring a changing roster of queens takes the stage 9 p.m. at The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 215-8622081.

The Burlesque Show The naughty fun begins 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3171000.

Bill Geist and Willie Geist The “CBS New Sunday Morning” correspondent and his son talk about their new book “Good Talk, Dad: The Birds and the Bees ... and Other Conversations We Forgot to Have,” 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-686-5322.

Tue. 06/03

Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215545-4511.

Suzanna Danuta Walters The author of “The Tolerance Trap” hosts a reading 68 p.m. at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.

Jack Johnson The singer performs 7:30 p.m. at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-546-7900. Jessie’s Girl The ’80s tribute band performs 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808.

Meshell Ndegeochello The out R&B singer/songwriter performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Morrissey The out rock singer performs 8 p.m. at Revel’s Ovation Hall, 500 Boardwalk; 855348-0500. Bearlesque A bear-themed burlesque show 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at Tabu Lounge, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-9649675. Christine The horror film based on the Stephen King novel is screened 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223. ■

Tantric The rock band performs 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808.

Wed. 6/04 4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

FREE ‘PASSAGES’: West Philly’s queer and female acrobatics company Tangle Movement Arts performs an all-new free show, Passages, from 2-4 p.m. May 31 at The Porch 30th Street Station, 30th and Market streets. For more information, visit www.tangle-arts.com.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

response to the world of classical antiquity in nearly 50 prints from four critical decades of his career through Aug. 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.

WHEN THE LADIES BREAK: All-female Led Zeppelin tribute band Lez Zeppelin break out the classic rock when they perform 8 p.m. June 5 at The Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore. For more information or tickets, call 610-6498389.

That’s So Gay: Outing Early America The Library Company of Philadelphia presents the exhibition exploring gay culture through Oct. 17, 1314 Locust St.; 215-546-3181. Where Children Sleep The James A. Michener Art Museum hosts an exhibition of photographs by James Mollison through June 29, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-340-9800.

Closing

Opening The Kinsey Sicks The “drag-apella” group performs June 58 at the Rrazz Room, in The Ramada New Hope, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 888-596-1027. Julie Budd The singer performs May 30-31 at the Rrazz Room, in The Ramada New Hope, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 888-5961027. Ritu Comes Home InterAct Theatre Company presents the story of a couple who unexpectedly has a thirdworld child they sponsored show up to live with them, May 30-June 22, 2030 Sansom St.; 215-568-8077.

Continuing Artificial Light: Flash Photography in the Twentieth Century Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of diverse examples of flash photography, which gained widespread use in the 1920s with the invention of the mass-produced flashbulb, through Aug. 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. SOLUTION from page 38

Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat Arden Theatre Company presents the classic children’s story through June 22, 40 N. Second St.; 215-922-1122. How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying The Walnut Street Theatre presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about a lowly window-washer climbing the corporate ladder through July 13, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change Walnut Street Theatre presents the hilarious revue about love and relationships through June 29 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215-5743550. Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition highlighting the works of the famed fashion designer through Nov. 30, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Picasso Prints: Myths, Minotaurs, and Muses Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of Pablo Picasso’s

It’s easy to lose perspective on home repair projects.

Altar Boyz The musical comedy about a Christian boy band runs through June 1 at Arts Bank at University of the Arts, 601 S. Broad St.; 215-545-1664. Paul Evans: Crossing Boundaries and Crafting Modernism The James A. Michener Art Museum hosts an exhibition of works from the designer and craftsman through June 1, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-3409800. This Is The Week That Is Plays and Players Theater presents the news-oriented comedy production through June 1, 1714 Delancey St.; 866-811-4111. ■

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.

RE-FORMED SCHOOL: Danity Kane were successful when P. Diddy, who engineered the formation of the group, broke them up on MTV’s “Making the Band.” Now, mostly reformed (four out of ﬁve of the group’s members are back together), the R&B/pop girl group is back in action 8 p.m. June 1 at TLA, 334 South St. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1011.

Turn to PGN’s Services and Home Repair Directories for help you can trust.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

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Classifieds Real Estate Sale

Real Estate Sale

VENTNOR, NJ House for sale in Ventnor NJ. 2 story 5 bedroom house, needs some repairs. Priced right. Call 215 468 9166. ________________________________________38-25 NEW YORK LAND BARGAINS 3 Acres Southern Tier: $9,995. 6 Acres on Trout Stream: $19,995. 8.4 Acres New Turkey Hunter’s Cabin: $29,995. Financing w/ Low Monthly Payments! Call Christmas & Associates: 800-229-7843. Or Visit: www.landandcamps. com Owner/Broker. ________________________________________38-22

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Deadline for Line Advertising is Friday at 3 p.m. for the following Friday’s issue. You may place your ad via our secure voicemail system, fax or e-mail at any time, or on our Web site. Please have the following information ready to place your ad:

YOUR AD COPY • YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER • CREDIT CARD INFORMATION PHONE: 215-625-8501 ext. 200 OR 215-451-6182 (DIRECT) • FAX: 215-925-6437 • E-MAIL: don@epgn.com

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All classified advertising must be in our office by 3 p.m. Friday for the next Friday’s paper. Ads arriving after that time will be held for the next available issue. PGN reserves the right to edit or rewrite ads as needed, to refuse any ad for any reason and to determine the final classification. Ads determined to be in bad taste, directed to or from persons under the legal age of consent or containing racially or sexually discriminatory language will be refused. We need your full name, mailing address and daytime phone number on the insertion order form for you ad. This information is confidential and will not appear in the paper. Any ads received without full information will be destroyed. Sexually explicit language will be edited or refused at the discretion of the management.

PAYMENT AND PLACEMENT

Classified ads may be placed online or by mail, fax, e-mail or in person at the PGN offices at 505 S. Fourth St., Phila. Phone, fax and e-mail orders are accepted with credit/debit cards only. A $10 minimum applies to all charges. If you are paying in person with cash, please have the exact change as we cannot make change at the office. All ads must be prepaid for their entire run. NO EXCEPTIONS! DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL; IT’S NOT SAFE AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.

TERM DISCOUNTS - BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ISSUES PREPAID 4 weeks, 5% • 8 weeks, 10% • 16 weeks, 15% • 26 weeks, 20% CANCELLATION POLICY All PGN Classified ads are cancelable and refundable except for “FRIENDS” ads. Deadline for cancellation is 3 p.m. Friday. The balance will be credited to your credit/debit card. Checks take two weeks to process. The date of the first issue the ad appeared in, along with the classification, your name, address and daytime phone number is required to cancel your ad.

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 real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com ________________________________________38-22 NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ- FLORENTINE FAMILY MOTEL Beach/Boardwalk Block, Heated Pools, Efﬁciency/Motel units refrigerator, elevator. Color Brochure/Specials 609522-4075 Department 104 www.ﬂorentinemotel.com ________________________________________38-22 Rooms for men. oceanhouseatlanticcity.com ________________________________________38-34

For Sale SAWMILLS from only $4897.00- MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com 1-800-578-1363 Ext.300N ________________________________________38-22

Services MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEEDED! Become a Medical Ofﬁce Assistant now! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Online training gets you ready! HS Diploma/GED & PC/Internet needed! 1-888-424-9412. ________________________________________38-22

Legal Notices IF YOU USED THE BLOOD THINNER PRADAXA and suffered internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, required hospitalization, or a loved one died while taking Pradaxa between October 2010 and the present. You may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles H. Johnson 1-800-535-5727. ________________________________________38-22

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Adoption ADOPTION A caring married couple seeks to adopt. Will be hands-on mom/devoted dad. Financial security. Expenses paid. Let’s help each other. Jo Ann & John. 1-866-900-9366. ________________________________________38-22 Loving married couple longs to adopt newborn. We’ll provide a beautiful life, unconditional love, opportunities & security. Expenses paid. Tricia & Don anytime at 1-800-348-1748. https://donandtriciaadopt.shutterﬂy.com ________________________________________38-22 Young, married couple wishes to adopt child of any race. Loving, secure, happy home. Promises lots of hugs, reading, and fun. Expenses paid. JamieAndConorAdopt.com 917-324-4884. ________________________________________38-22

PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

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Friends Men

Open 24hrs

LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. ________________________________________38-25 Philly boy looking for mail correspondence with guys in Philly while I ﬁnish my incarceration. 6’3”, blond hair, hazel eyes. Lots to discuss. Will reply to every letter. Give this a try, I guarantee you’ll have fun. Kenneth Houck, #06743-015, Englewood FCE, 9595 W. Quincy Ave., Littleton CO 80123. ________________________________________38-25 SOUTH OF THE BORDER GWM seeking men south of the border: Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, South Americans, also Asians for friendship and more. Social drinker, no drugs and pefer non smoker. Ole! 856-547-4163. ________________________________________38-27 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________38-23 IN SEARCH OF SOMEONE To share my love and life. Intelligent, older WM looking for a special guy. Take a chance! Call Alan at 215-677-5610. ________________________________________38-26 BM with big tool wans to nail a bottom to the ﬂoor. BM has equipment to make a bottom wish he wants more. I’m 6 ft and 198 lbs. and have 8.5 inches and 1.25 girth and know how to use it. Call anytime 215-763-3391. All replies answered. ________________________________________38-23 Good looking WM, 55, looks 40, seeking boyishly cute, lean, smooth, clean shaven, 135lbs. or less, Bi or GWM, 30 to 45, for cuddle/make out partner at my place near Plym. Mtg. Leave msg. @ 484-213-8479. ________________________________________38-22

ADMISSION:

Massage

“THE ONLY ALL MALE ADULT THEATER IN THE CITY”

2026 Sansom St (located 3 doors up from Sansom St Gym)

215-557-9319 4 Small Theaters with Video & Dark Room Area

HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday - Thursday

7am-6am

(closed an hour for cleaning)

Friday- Sunday:

$12.00

David, 64, 6’, 200 lbs., attentive. 215-569-4949. (24/7) ________________________________________38-28 Peter: 6’, 200 lbs., Northern Italian. Call 908-630-0400. ________________________________________38-24

THE BIGGER, BETTER & CLEANER CLUB IN THE CITY...

BUSY TIMES FOR US: These our are most popular days when people come-

SATURDAY AFTERNOON DELIGHT 4 Hour Lockers (8am - 4pm) • Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00

SUNDAY RELIEF Half Price Rooms (6am Sunday till 8am Monday) Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50

MONDAY thru FRIDAY: Business Mans Locker Special (8am to 4pm) • Members: $5.00 and Non-Members: $15.00

TUESDAYS Half Price Rooms (6am till 12 Midnight) • Members: $12.50 and Non-Members: $22.50

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE $12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight) Check out our website for our WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events.... Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!! 2026 Sansom St/ PH: 215-557-9319

PGN

Religion/Spirituality

Arch Street United Methodist Church Services 8:30 and 11 a.m. at 55 N. Broad St.; youth/adult Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. prayer service; 215568-6250. Bethlehem-Judah Ministries Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 5091 N. Dupont Hwy., Suite D, Dover, Del.; 302750-4045. BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church Services 10:15 a.m. at 2040 Street Road, Warrington; 215343-0406. Calvary United Methodist Church Reconciling, welcoming and affirming church holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 801 S. 48th St.; 215-724-1702. Central Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services at 10:45 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:30 a.m, at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-0664. Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church Services 11 a.m. and Spirit at Play, an arts-based Sunday school for children, 9:30 a.m. at 8812 Germantown Ave.; 215-242-9321. Church of the Crucifixion Inclusive Episcopal community holds services 10 a.m. Sundays and 6 p.m. Fridays at 620 S. Eighth St.; 215-922-1128. Church of the Holy Trinity Inclusive church holds services 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays at 1904 Walnut St.; 215-567-1267. Congregation Rodeph Shalom Shabbat services every Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 10:45 a.m. at 615 N. Broad St. ; 215-627-6747. Dignity Jersey Shore An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets the first Saturday of the month in Asbury Park; 732-502-0305. Dignity Metro NJ An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets 4 p.m. the first and third Sundays of the month at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood; 973-509-0118. Dignity Philadelphia Holds Mass 7 p.m. Sundays at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-546-2093, dignityphila@aol.com. Drexel Hill Baptist Church Nonjudgmental Christian congregation affiliated with American Baptist Churches of the USA holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 4400 State Road, Drexel Hill; 610-259-2356, www. dhbaptist.com. Emanuel Lutheran Church Reconciling in Christ congregation meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:30 a.m., New and Kirkpatrick streets, New Brunswick, N.J.; 732-545-2673; www. emmanuelnb.org. Evangelicals Concerned Lesbian and gay Christian counseling; 215-860-7445. First Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds prayer services 10:30 a.m. Sundays and community worship 11:30 a.m. at 123 S. 17th St.; 215-563-3853. First Baptist Church of Moorestown Welcoming and affirming congregation holds Bible study and discussion at 9 a.m. Sundays and worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 19 W. Main St., Moorestown, N.J.; 856-235-1180; www.fbcmoorestown.org; info@fbcmoorestown.org. First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne Welcoming church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 140 N. Lansdowne Ave.; 610-622-0800; www.lansdownepresbyterianchurch.com. First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia A liberal, welcoming and diverse congregation that affirms the dignity of all. Sunday services at 10 a.m., 2125 Chestnut St.; 215-563-3980, www.firstuu-philly.org. The First United Methodist Church of Germantown A sexual-minority-affirming congregation holds services at 10 a.m., summer services 11 a.m., Sundays, with lunch to follow, at 6001 Germantown Ave.; 215-438-3077, www.fumcog.org. Grace Epiphany Church A welcoming and diverse Episcopal congregation in Mt. Airy with services 9:30 a.m. Sundays at 224 E. Gowen Ave.; 215248-2950, www.grace-epi.org. Holy Communion Lutheran Church ELCA Reconciling in Christ congregation worships 9 a.m. Sundays at 2111 Sansom St. and 11 a.m. at 2110 Chestnut St. in the main sanctuary; 215-567-3668, www.lc-hc.org. Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church Sexual-minority congregation worships at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 1223 Middletown Road (Route 352), Glen Mills; 610-3581716, www.ImagoDeiMCC.org. Living Water United Church of Christ An open and affirming congregation that meets for worship 11 a.m. on Sundays at 6250 Loretto Ave.; 267-388-6081, www. lwucc.org. Kol Tzedek Reconstructionist synagogue committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community meets at Calvary Center, 801 S. 48th St.; 215-764-6364, www.kol-tzedek.org. Mainline Unitarian Church Holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon; 610-688-8332, www.mluc.org. Maple Shade Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ Affirming congregation open to all sexual orientations

and gender identities holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 45 N. Forklanding Road, Maple Shade, N.J.; 856-779-7739, mapleshadeucc.org. Metropolitan Community Church of Christ the Liberator Holds services 10:45 a.m. Sundays at the Pride Center of New Jersey; 732-823-2193, mccctl.com. Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia Services 1 p.m. Sundays at the University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, 3637 Chestnut St.; 215-294-2020, www. mccphiladelphia.com. Old First Reformed Church Open and affirming United Church worships at 11 a.m., summer services at 10 a.m, at 151 N. Fourth St.; 215-9224566, www.oldfirstucc.org. Penns Park United Methodist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; 215-5987601. Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral Progressive and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays with Holy Eucharist at 3723 Chestnut St.; 215-3860234, www.philadelphiacathedral.org. Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Group Meets 5 p.m. Sundays at William Way. Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting worships 11 a.m., summer services 10 a.m, Sundays at 1515 Cherry St.; 215-2417000, cpmm@afsc.org. Resurrection Lutheran Church Services 10 a.m. Sundays at 620 Welsh Road, Horsham; 215646-2597. Silverside Church Services 10 a.m. Sundays followed by a group discussion at 2800 Silverside Road, Wilmington, Del.; 302-478-5921, silversidechurch.org. St. Asaph’s Church Inclusive and progressive Episcopal church holds services 8 and 10 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:15 a.m., at 27 Conshohocken State Road, Bala Cynwyd; 610-664-0966, www.saintasaphs.org. St. John’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) Reconciling in Christ congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 24 N. Ridge Ave., Ambler; 215-646-2451, www. stjohnsambler.org. St. Luke and The Epiphany Church Open and welcoming church holds fall liturgy 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays, summer sevices 10 a.m., at 330 S. 13th St.; 215-7321918, stlukeandtheepiphany.org. St. Mary of Grace Parish Inclusive church in the Catholic tradition celebrates Mass 6 p.m. Sundays in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media; 610-566-1393, www. inclusivecatholics.org. St. Mary’s Church Diverse and inclusive Episcopal church celebrates the Eucharist 11 a.m. Sundays at 3916 Locust Walk; 215-3863916; www.stmarysatpenn.org. St. Paul Episcopal Church Welcoming and inclusive church holds services 9:30 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 89 Pinewood Drive, Levittown; 215-688-1796, www.stpaullevittown.org. Tabernacle United Church Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 3700 Chestnut St.; 215-386-4100, tabunited.org. Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church Sunday worship with nursery care, 10:30 a.m. and fourth Thursday of the month contemporary worship with Communion at 7 p.m. at 2212 Spruce St.; 215-732-2515, trinityphiladelphia.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County Welcoming congregation holds services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. Sundays, summer services 10:30 a.m., at 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media. Interweave, a group for LGBT parishioners and allies, meets noon the first Sunday of the month; 610-5664853. www.uucdc.org. Unitarian Society of Germantown Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 6511 Lincoln Drive; 215-844-1157, www.usguu.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill Services 10:15 a.m. Interweave, a group of LGBT Unitarians and their allies, meets at 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; 856-667-3618, uucch.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration Welcoming congregation holds services 11 a.m. Sundays at 6900 Stenton Ave.; 215-247-2561, www.uurestoration.us. Unitarian Universalist Congregation, South Jersey Shore Services 10 a.m. Sundays in Galloway Township; 609-9659400, www.uucsjs.org. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown Services 10:30 a.m. at 1565 S. Keim St.; 610-327-2662, www. uupottstown.org. United Christian Church Open, affirming and welcoming congregation holds services 10:15 a.m. Sundays, summer services 9:15 a.m., at 8525 New Falls Road, Levittown; 215-946-6800. Unity Fellowship Church of Philadelphia Diverse, affirming LGBT congregation holds services 2 p.m. Sundays at 55 N. Broad St.; 215-240-6106. University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 3637 Chestnut St. preceded by “Adult Forum: Sundays” at 9:30 a.m.; 215-387-2885, www.uniphila.org.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

Community Bulletin Board 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. Groups meet and activities are held 4-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 48:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available MondayFriday. See the Youth section for more events.

■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St., 215-898-5044; center@dolphin. upenn.edu. Regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

■ ActionAIDS: 215-981-0088 ■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: 215-587-9377 ■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: 856-933-9500 ext. 221 ■ AIDS Library: 215-985-4851 ■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215592-1513 ■ AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800662-6080 ■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: 215-685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc.: 215-496-0330 ■ District Attorney LGBT Liaison: Helen “Nellie” Fitzpatrick, 215-686-

■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065 rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. ■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday Library hours: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

Key numbers 9980, helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378 ■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: 215-686-2555

■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670 ■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: 1-877-pride-2000 ■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-6863318 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288

■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658

■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537

■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

Health

Anonymous, free, conﬁdential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 W. Somerset St.; 215763-8870. ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088; www.actionaids.org. AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 1711 S. Broad St.; 215-629-2300; www.asiac.org. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Washington West Project, 1201 Locust St.; 215-851-1822 or 866-222-3871; www.galaei. org. Spanish/English HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays (walk-in) and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays (by appoint-

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia GALLOP holds board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; GALLOP also provides a free referral service; 215-627-9090; www.galloplaw. org. ■ Greater Philadelphia Professional Network Networking group for area business professionals, selfemployed and business owners meets monthly in a different location throughout the city, invites speakers on various topics, partners with other nonprofits and maintains a website where everyone is invited to sign up for email notices for activities and

ment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1821. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing available 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays at 13 S. MacDade Blvd., Suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; 610-586-9077. Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronicdisease management, including comprehensive HIV care, 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-noon Friday; 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups events; www.gppn.org; 215-9223377.

■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association The Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www. nlgja.org/philly; philly@nlgja.org.

■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals. Visit www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com for information about events, programs and membership; 215-557-0190; 1717 Arch St., Suite 3370.

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus A regional organization dedicated to promoting gay and lesbian tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region holds meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; P.O. Box 58143, Philadelphia, PA 19102; www. philadelphiagaytourism.com; 215-840-2039.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com May 30-June 5, 2014

Before the sweet nothings, whisper something that can keep him safe.

Protect yourself and your partner. Talk about testing, your status, condoms, and new options like medicines that prevent and treat HIV. Get the facts and tips on how to start the conversation at cdc.gov/ActAgainstAIDS/StartTalking

facebook.com/StartTalkingHIV

@TalkHIV