PGN July 11-17, 2014 by The Philadelphia Gay News

Summer in the city PAGE 23

Thinking Queerly column debut: Shining a light on the mental health of the LGBT community PAGE 16

Family Portrait: Lorenzo Buffa is a man to watch PAGE 25

PA school nixes musical, sparking outcry PAGE 5 July 11-17, 2014

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Vol. 38 No. 28

Man alleges antigay Center City attack

Senate confirms Fletman to bench By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Philadelphia now has a fourth openly LGBT Court of Common Pleas judge. The state Senate unanimously approved Abbe Fletman to the bench June 30. Fletman was approved among a host of other judicial nominees put forth by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously recommended Fletman for confirmation. She was originally notified of her nomination on June 19. Fletman will join Judges Dan Anders, Ann Butchart and Barbara McDermott as openly LGBT Common Pleas judges. Anders told PGN that Fletman, who declined to comment, is highly qualified for the position. “I’ve known Abbe since I started working in Philly as a lawyer. She is well-regarded as a talented commercial litigator, practicing in intellectual property, and she has also fought for equality,” Anders said. “She is someone that litigators have recognized as a super lawyer in Pennsylvania. She has won several awards for her professional talent and her legal skills.” Fletman is one of the first female cochairs of the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia. Anders said although it is important to have diversity among all facets of government, having qualified members of the judiciary is also integral, which Fletman is, he said. “Abbe is extremely qualified, and it adds to the legitimacy of government when the individuals who represent the citizens of Philadelphia reflect the full and rich diversity of its population,” he said. Fletman recently won The Legal Intelligencer’s 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also served as co-chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Legal Rights of Lesbians and Gay Men Committee and helped launch the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section’s LGBT Litigator Committee. Fletman worked as a newspaper reporter before pursuing a career in law. She will serve on the bench until 2015, when she will be up for reelection. ■

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

RISING BLOOD PRESSURE: The National Gay Blood Drive comes to Pennsylvania this Friday, and local organizers staged a kick-off fundraising event July 8 at 12th Street Gym. The effort encourages gay and bisexual men, who are banned from donating blood, to bring allies to donate blood in their place. Local organizers, including Máire Moriarty, Ben Beduhn, Melissa Moriarty and Kyle Diaz, distributed information about the drive at the event, where supporters had the chance to take home baked goods and prizes. The National Gay Blood Drive will be staged at the Philadelphia Red Cross Donor Center, 700 Spring Garden St., from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. July 11. Photo: Scott A. Drake

A Center City man says he was attacked on the Fourth of July by a group of men who hurled antigay epithets. Khalif Samad Parker, 22, said the incident took place outside the Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St., shortly after midnight July 4. There were up to three attackers, he said. Parker was at a friend’s apartment at 13th and Ellsworth streets and was heading to Woody’s before returning to his Center City home. Parker was walking north by himself on Broad when he passed a group of up to three white males. “I was walking up Broad Street and I soon realized there were people talking behind me, and usually when I have my PAGE 22 headphones in I can’t

‘Gay porn twin’ talks life post-prison By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com This is the second in a two-part series. “Money injects you with stupidity. I felt like it was never gonna end.” But Taleon Goffney’s crime spree did end, on Feb. 19, 2008, a night that he says changed the trajectory of his life. An end to the spree In the weeks leading up to the burglary of Moon’s Beauty Shop and the adjoining Wings and More in South Philadelphia, Goffney and his twin brother, Keyontyli, had begun targeting businesses that could net them a bigger payout. Goffney’s girlfriend at the time was pregnant, and he said he was looking for larger-scale, more sophisticated burglaries to plan for the future. “She was pregnant so I was trying to think realistic. I had to get out of that super-criminal mindstate,” Goffney said.

“So I told Keyon we had to slow it down and go for the bigger jobs. Check-cashing places; they got big money — 20, 30 grand — and we needed six figures to take us outta the game because we were spending it so fast.” Goffney did his usual casing of the adjoining businesses, located at Ninth Street and Washington Avenue, a few weeks prior. Then, the night of the burglary, he dropped his car off in a parking garage at Juniper and Wharton streets and rode to the shop with his brother. The twins were equipped with twoway radios, and Keyontyli waited in the car while Goffney mounted the roof and cut his way into the two adjoining businesses. Within about an hour, he said, he had breached both ATMs and was getting ready to head back out. “I had maybe about 12 grand on me — it wasn’t as much as I expected — and I was like, ‘Keyon, I’m coming up,’ and I hear the chirp from the radio and just heard him say, ‘Run, they got me.’ I get up to PAGE 20 the roof and I can see

MAZEL TOV!: PGN publisher Mark Segal (right) and new husband Jason Villemez performed the Jewish glass-breaking wedding tradition after tying the knot Saturday night. The couple has been together for 10 years. Read more about their wedding on page 9. Photo: Scott A. Drake

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

mended the William Way Center for endorsing a state probe. “Over the past few years, the William Way Community Center has sought greater accountability towards including the transgender community,” Davis told PGN. “I see this as a step towards that.”

News Briefing

Schneller seeks involvement in Whitewood appeal

William Way endorses Morris probe The William Way LGBT Community Center supports a state probe of the Nizah Morris case. Chris Bartlett, executive director of the center, confirmed its support earlier this month. Morris sustained a fatal head injury shortly after she entered a police vehicle in December 2002. The transwoman’s homicide remains unsolved, and advocates want a state investigation. The center adds its name to about 20 federal, state and local organizations that support a state probe into the Morris case. The Justice for Nizah committee continues to seek additional supporters prior to sending a letter to state Attorney General Kathleen Kane, urging her to investigate the case. Jordan Gwendolyn Davis, a member of the Justice for Nizah committee, com-

James D. Schneller, a prolific anti-LGBT activist, has asked to be an appellant in a marriage-equality challenge pending in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Schneller claims a lower-court ruling in May that legalizes same-sex marriages in Pennsylvania infringes on people’s religious freedoms. The ruling in the case, which is known as Whitewood, is being appealed by a Schuylkill County official. Last month, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals said Schneller may file a five-page pleading, explaining why he should be allowed to appeal the Whitewood ruling. He has until July 14 to file the pleading, according to court records. Schneller also seeks involvement in a marriage-equality case pending in state Supreme Court. State officials say 124 same-sex cou-

ples who received marriage licenses in Montgomery County prior to May 20 should get new marriage licenses. But county officials maintain the validity of the 124 marriages, and the case remains ongoing.

Gay inmate seeks prison transfer Kenneth J. Houck Jr., an openly gay inmate who was assaulted while reading an LGBT novel, has requested a transfer to a prison closer to his family. In November 2011, Houck was brutally assaulted by two other inmates at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. He sustained multiple fractures to his right leg, along with other injuries, which he continues to recover from. Houck, 39, is currently incarcerated at federal prison in Littleton, Colo. In May, he requested a transfer to a federal prison in Hopewell, Va., which is closer to his family. In a letter to PGN, Houck said the Hopewell facility has appropriate healthcare resources for his ongoing medical and mental-health issues. To date, his transfer request hasn’t been approved by prison authorities. Chris Burke, a spokesperson for the federal Bureau of Prisons, didn’t comment spe-

cifically on Houck’s request. But in general, Burke said, transfer requests are handled by an inmate’s case manager. Houck is serving a 97-month sentence after pleading guilty to one count of transporting child pornography. His scheduled release date is April 24, 2017. — Timothy Cwiek

Youth poetry event comes to Philly The 17th annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam will be held in Philadelphia July 16-19. About 500 youth poets and spoken wordartists ages 13-19 will compete in a multiround poetry slam competition. Competitors will also participate in workshops and meetings and engage in conversation about youth issues that are often overlooked. Brave New Voices is the subject of a hit HBO series, and it will capture teens speaking out about bullying, mental illness, LGBTQ issues and more. For more information on Brave New Voices, visit www. youthspeaks.org/bravenewvoices. ■ —Matty Bennett

locations in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA — NORTH OF C.C.

1 Shot Coffee, 1040 N. Second St. • 2601 Parkway Condos lobby, 2601 Pennsylvania Ave. • Bebashi, 1217 Spring Garden St. • Beehive Hair Salon, 2319 Fairmount Ave. • Beth Ahavah, 615 N. Broad St. • Bridgeview Place Condo lobby, 315 New St. • Colonnade Condos lobby, 1601 Spring Garden St. • Community College CCP Lambda, 1700 Spring Garden St. • Congresso de Latinos, American St. & Lehigh Ave. • Crooked Frame Café, 2545 Brown St. • Darling’s Diner, 1033 N. Second St. • Filter Coffee House, 331 Race St. • Girard Vet, 28th St. & Girard Ave. • HIV Early Intervention Clinic, St. Joseph’s Hospital, 16th St. & Girard Ave. • Logan View Apts. lobby, 17th & Callowhill sts. • Northern Liberties Iron Works, 821 N. Second St. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphian Condos lobby, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. • PYT Restaurant, 1050 N. Hancock St., at the Piazza • Sammy’s Place, 1449 N. Fifth St., 1st ﬂoor • SILOAM Ministries, 1133 Spring Garden St. • Temple University Student Activity Center, 1755 N. 12th St. • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • Whole Foods Market, 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. •

PHILADELPHIA — SOUTH OF C.C.

Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Class Act Auto Repair, 2042 S. Bancroft St. • Equal, 1516 Snyder Ave. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Expressive Hand, 622 S. Ninth St. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Hideaway, Days Inn, 2015 Penrose Ave. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • South Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • Ultimo Coffee, 1900 S. 15th St. •

PHILADELPHIA — UNIVERSITY CITY

Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Bucks County Coffee, 3430 Sansom St. • Bucks County Coffee, 30 S. 33rd St., Rom. 113 • Drexel University, 4001 Walnut St. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •

PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS — OTHER

Almost Paradise, 742 Frankford Ave. • Coffee Junction, 7210 Cresheim Road • Elfant Wissahickon Realty, 8962 Ridge Ave. • Fantasy Island Books, 7363 State Road • GWHS Beacon Center, 10175 Bustleton Ave. • Harry’s Natural Foods, 1805 Cottman Ave. • Infusion Salon, 7133 Germantown Ave. • Morris House, 5537 Woodland Ave. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphia University KANBAR Center, 4201 Henry Ave. • Prevention Point, 166 W. Lehigh Ave. • Today’s Videos, 9255 Roosevelt Blvd. • Touch of Class Books, 3342 Kensington Ave. • WCAU TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road • Weaver’s Way, 559 Carpenter Lane • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • WPVI TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road •

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

http://www.epgn.com/pages/where_to_find WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION ON THIS LIST? Contact Don at don@epgn.com or 215-625-8501 ext. 200 to arrange for delivery of complimentary copies.

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Talk

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

can be the perfect foreplay.

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

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Weekly features

News&Opinion 2 — News Briefing 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Mark My Words Street Talk Transmissions 17 — Crime Watch 9, 12 & 14 — Weddings

AC &

24 25 27 30 31 32

— — — — — —

C o l u m n s

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

14 — Out Money: How much do you need to retire? 16 — Thinking Queerly: Mental health of LGBTs 31 — Get Out and Play: Help wanted

Classifieds 35 — Real Estate 37 — Personals 39 — Bulletin Board

Former Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation executive to head international tourism group

SUMMER POPS: The most recent Pennsylvania Horticultural Society pop-up garden was inaugurated July 8 in the formerly empty lot next to Jamaican Jerk Hut on South Street. PHS director of sustainable communities Glen Abrams (left), PHS president Drew Becher and Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus artistic director Joseph Buches were among the hundreds who packed the park to the sound of steel drums prior to the evening’s storms. Zelkova trees from this spring’s Philadelphia Flower Show, palm trees, hammocks and other decorations continue the tropical theme established by the Jamaican Jerk Hut. The latest addition to the fourth-year program will have musical guests, rotating food trucks as well as the usual beer garden libations. Hours vary seven days a week. Photo: Scott A. Drake

This week in PGN

The filmed Lincoln Center Theater’s performance of “The Nance” will be shown at local venues.

6 — Johnson & Johnson learns from lunch talks 7 — Central PA community center wins national award 8 — Legal eagles top LGBT list

23 — Arts & Culture cover story: Bringing Donna Summer back to the stage 26 — The Go-Go’s bring back the 1980s 28 — Philly photographer finds art in the past “People act like being gay is a terminal illness. And it has nothing to do with your character. My brother’s life was hard because he’s gay, and my life was hard at that time because I was lumped in with him. But that’s been hard for him his whole life.”

Queen, Adam Lambert come to the Wells Fargo Center.

~ Taleon Goffney, page 20

Next week Gettin’ On Outward Bound Paw Prints

Two weeks Mombian On Being Well Work it Out

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

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Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2014 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155 The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. 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

PA school at center of antigay controversy

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com A Lycoming County school is under fire after canceling a musical that has gay content. South Williamsport Junior Senior High School drama department was preparing to perform the Broadway musical “Spamalot” this coming spring, but school administrators pulled the plug due to what they called controversial content. According to WNEP, drama department director Dawn Burch received an email from principal Jesse Smith that the show was inappropriate because of aspects like a same-sex wedding and other sexual content. Burch also told WNEP that the principal allegedly wrote that LGBT individuals do not exist in the South Williamsport community. A copy of the email has not been made public. School superintendent Mark Stamm denied to PGN that Burch made the antigay comment. Stamm told PGN that the drama program consists of students from grades seven-12. He said the musicals, which are open to the public, should be appropriate for audiences of all ages. “We want our performances to be appropriate for the student performers and audiences so that anyone participating or watching can enjoy all aspects of the show,” he said. “The South Williamsport Area School District strives to provide a rigorous and relevant educational program that accommodates all students. We serve the community and all its children.” Burch’s attorney, Clifford Rieders, said

his firm plans to contact the school this week to urge it to issue a press release, making public all of the facts of the situation. Reiders said he hopes the school district is transparent about the situation. “We want the outcome to be that the school district will be honest about its goals and reasons for prohibiting this particular play and that they will take action that will not reflect negatively on Dawn Burch,” he said. “She is a person of integrity and she is honorable in her dealings. We want to have a correct record out there and we want to know what the school district is doing and why. We need them to be up front on what they are doing.” Keystone Progress hosted a press conference July 3 at the New Covenant United Church of Christ to address the issue. Keystone Progress North-Central organizer Alison Hirsch said the crowd had a mixed recreation to the incident. “There were people that said if there was bad language or immorality in the musical, they agreed that it should have been pulled but they didn’t get the point. This was a chance to have a teachable moment to make it clear that the LGBT community is a marginalized one and we need to find a way to address the problem,” she said. Hirsch said Keystone Progress, along with Equality Central PA, hopes to host a public forum with the school administration to discuss LGBT issue. Hirsch said the administration seemed open to the idea. “It is not just about what the principal said or how they can improve the drama department,” she said. “It is about making the kids who are questioning their sexuality feel loved and protected in their schools.” No decision has been made on what musical will replace “Spamalot.” ■

Philadelphia Gay News

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

REGIONAL PGN

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N.J.-based corp. marks third year of LGBT initiative

NEW EXPERIENCES CHERISHED MEMORIES

By Matty Bennett PGN Contributor

MARINEMAX HELPS YOU ENJOY NEW EXPERIENCES Get the most out of your boating experience. Learn all about our full line of boats, boating classes, events, Getaways!® and more. Stop by your local MarineMax today! MarineMax Somers Point 600 Bay Avenue | Somers Point, NJ 08244 (888) 614-8034 | www.marinemax.com/somerspoint ®

Five years ago, Johnson & Johnson started hosting Gay 101 “lunch and learns” to find out more about the LGBT community as a consumer group. Today, the New Jersey-based corporation has a national campaign called “Care With Pride” that delivers thousands of dollars to LGBT charities to raise awareness about the negative impact of bullying on the overall health and well-being of youth, with particular attention to cultivating respect and equality for the LGBT community. Since the beginning of the campaign in 2012, “Care With Pride” has supported the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays with its antibullying efforts. And this year, “Care With Pride” is also supporting the Trevor Project and Family Equality Council. By the end of 2014, organizers of “Care With Pride” hope to have raised more than $500,000 for beneficiaries since the program’s inception. Scott Creighton, global vice president of marketing excellence at Johnson &

Johnson, has been a part of the “Care With Pride” initiative since its inception. He said one thing that inspired him was a documentary called “Bully,” which chronicles the lives of five children who deal with bullying on a daily basis — two of whom end up committing suicide.

Creighton spoke passionately about the cause and the inspiration behind it. “When you learn about bullying and how it tears down kids’ self-esteem, the drop-out rates, the vicious cycle it creates, and how years later the impact on their psyche is still relevant, you realize this is an extremely important topic,” he said. Creighton said that despite Johnson & Johnson being perceived as a conservative company, respecting the dignity and recognizing the merit of all its employees is firmly rooted in the business’ mission statement. Creighton also pointed out that Johnson & Johnson was voted 14 in Adweek’s list of best-loved brands by the LGBT community this year. This is the first year

Johnson & Johnson has been on the list. “Not only are we doing good work, we have a responsibility to the communities in which we live and work,” Creighton said. “I think the LGBT community responds well to this — and this message extends beyond the LGBT community because every parent wants safe schools for students.” T h i s year’s “Care With Pride” program includes the Safe School Action Pack, which is a coupon booklet that contains the best ways to make schools safe for all students. When a coupon is redeemed, Johnson & Johnson will make a donation to its LGBT charity partners. These booklets were distributed at Philadelphia Pride and can also be downloaded at www.CareWithPride.com. A n o t h e r wa y t o g e t involved this year is to download the Johnson & Johnson Donate a Photo app. One dollar for every photo shared will go to “Care With Pride” charitable partners. To learn more about the initiative through Johnson & Johnson, visit www. CareWithPride.com. ■

Scott A. Drake Photography

267-736-6743

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Former Philly tourism exec named to head int’l group By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com A former Philadelphia tourism executive who spearheaded the city’s pioneering LGBT tourism effort was recently tapped to bring his expertise to the international scale. Jeff Guaracino, the chief strategy and communications officer at Atlantic City Alliance and former vice president of communications at Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (now Visit Philly), was late last month elected as the board chair of the International Gay and Lesbian Tourism Association Foundation. Guaracino, 41, takes over leadership from founding board president Charlie Rounds, who will remain on the board. Guaracino explained that the foundation, which originated in 2012, is a different entity than the association, which has existed for more than 30 years. “The goal of the IGLTA is primarily business to business: people who sell travel, like RSVP Vacations or Hilton, and then people who buy travel, like meeting-planner folks. It’s designed to really help grow the global business of travel,” he said. “But the mission of the foundation is different. Our job

is to do education, as well as to cultivate future generations of leaders in LGBT travel through our scholarship program and initiatives that are educational in nature.” F o r instance, Guaracino said, the foundation is undertaking a p i o n e e ring research study of LGBT travelers in China, an understudied population. “China is so huge, but no one has a really good understanding of the LGBT traveler in China. The culture is more closed,” he said. “So it’s very exciting to begin to quantify what the market could look like and how gay or lesbian travelers in China are different, or not, than those in the United States.” Its scholarshp program helps students from all over the world — Africa, South America, Europe, North America — attend its annual convention.

PA LGBT group wins national award By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com A Central Pennsylvania LGBT community center has been working on an LGBT history project for nearly two years and, earlier this month, the hard work finally paid off. The LGBT Center of Central PA History Project received the 2014 J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award. The award is given by the Society of American Archivists and honors institutions, individuals and organizations that promote public awareness and appreciation of archives. Organizations of National History Day also received the Jameson award, and the pair, along with other scholarship and award winners, will be honored next month at a Washington, D.C., awards ceremony. The history project started as an assignment of the center’s Aging with Pride Initiative, which sought to collect stories about LGBT history from Central Pennsylvania. The project features personal stories, written accounts and video interviews, as well as photographs, documents and artifacts that support the stories. The center worked in collaboration with the Dickinson College Archives in Carlisle, which receives, catalogs, stores and publicizes the archival materials and artifacts donated to the project for researchers and the public. Dickinson College special-collections librarian Malinda Triller Doran said the college got involved in the project, which

began in August 2012, last summer. Last fall, the library hosted an exhibit reception to encourage people to donate materials to the LGBT History Project, which they will stage again this fall. “We brought together those who were interested in the project and showed what things we are collecting and donating,” she said. “We want to create more awareness of what we are doing here.” The collection runs the gamut — newspaper clippings, newsletters from various activist and LGBT organizations, posters, event buttons, trophies from a local LGBT volleyball team, books and gay bar memorabilia such as T-shirts, matchbook covers and napkins. Organizers, which include project chair Barry Loveland and center executive director Louie Marven, plan to develop the exhibit into a traveling one, so it can be on display at the center and throughout the region. Doran said it is an honor to be recognized by the SAA, of which she is a member. “This is something that is very important to us. We’ve been working hard,” she said. “To be a part of this and recognized for helping document a portion of history that might otherwise be lost makes me proud.” In a press release, the SAA said the award committee appreciated the center’s efforts to collaborate, as well as its multi-media approach, which includes website access. For more information on the project, visit www.centralpalgbtcenter.org/lgbt-historyproject. ■

Guaracino said he had an opportunity to attend an LGBT tourism conference more than 10 years ago, shortly after starting at GPTMC. “It opened my eyes to the global network of people who are connecting communities through tourism,” he said. Attending that conference, he said, was influential to his work in helping to lead the groundbreaking LGBT-tourism initiative GPTMC launched in 2003, “Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay.” He said he learned through his work in Philadelphia and Atlantic City that he has a knack for helping entitites that are in their early stages, like the IGLTA Foundation, find their footing. “GPTMC was still really less than 5 when I joined it and I helped launch and built out and develop programs. Then I went to the AC Alliance and have helped build up

programs and launch the organization,” he said. “I tend to find I’m very, very good at things that need new definition and need to incubate over time. I’m good at the second, third and fourth baby steps of an organization.” His election, Guaracino said, is a win for the city’s continued LGBT work. “A Philadelphian being the head of an international foundation continues Philadelphia’s leadership position; Philadelphia is seen as an LGBT leader in many areas — whether it’s the tourism campaign, senior housing or for the first civil-rights marches. And if we can really make a difference in other people’s lives and change minds and attitudes on LGBT travel and about our community, that’s the real win.” For more information, visit www.igltafoundation.org. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

PGN LOCAL

Philly lawyers top LGBT list By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com The National LGBT Bar Association last week announced its “40 Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40” list and this year two Philadelphia lawyers made the list. Rebecca Levin of Jerner & Palmer LLP and Ruth Uselton of Ballard Spahr LLP were among the 40 honorees. “These young professionals represent the very best of our profession,” said association executive director D’Arcy Kemnitz in a statement about this year’s awardees. “They come from law firms, nonprofits, corporations and the government. Their extraordinary accomplishments underscore the significant talent the LGBT community brings to the legal profession, and highlight the real change our members make in the lives of their clients, their community and their country, every single day. We’re proud to honor them.” Rebecca Levin Levin has worked as an associate at Jerner & Palmer LLP since November 2010. Levin, 33, hails from Jenkintown and received her law degree from American University. She said she has always been interested in LGBT rights, which motivated her to pursue a career in law. “I went to law school looking to work on those issues and found a lot of the issues we see at the family-unit level,” she said. Levin works on cases involving child support and custody, divorce, termination of domestic partnerships, civil-union dissolution and domestic violence and protection from abuse. Levin is co-chair of the LGBT Rights Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association and sits on the board of trustees of the LGBT Rights Section of the

New Jersey State Bar Association. She is also the founder of the National LGBT Bar Association’s Family Law Institute and served on the association’s board from 200610. Levin said it was gratifying to be recognized by the organization she served. “I’ve always been involved with them and they are a great organization that connects attorneys across the country,” she said. “I found a home within that and to be recognized by them is an honor.” Ruth Uselton Uselton was working as a grant writer for the Women’s Sports Foundation before she delved into the legal world. Uselton, 34, is originally from Texas but moved to the Philadelphia area at age 8. She graduated from New York Law School in 2008 and is currently an associate in the litigation department at Ballard Spahr LLP “I’ve always had a general interest in law and that led me to pursue a career,” she said. “It wasn’t just about working at a large firm or making a lot of money. I thought I would be good at it and it interested me. I loved it and enjoyed law school.” Uselton worked as a summer associate at Ballard Spahr LLP during her second year in law school before landing a position after graduation. “The culture here is great and very open and accepting of diversity, especially LGBT staff, associates and partners,” she said. Uselton said the designation from the association was both rewarding and surprising. “I was shocked. I still consider myself young in my career; I’ve only been practicing for six years and I know there are a lot of great attorneys and leaders in the LGBT community in Philly, so it is an honor.” ■

QDF @QCKDRR NE XNTQ @AH KH SX SN O@X

WEDDING PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

Wedding Mark Segal and Jason Villemez By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com PGN publisher Mark Segal and partner Jason Villemez picked up their marriage license the afternoon Pennsylvania legalized same-sex marriage, as Philadelphia City Hall was teeming with reporters, video cameras and well-wishers. And, last weekend, they officially married, in a setting much different than the frenzy of that historic day. On July 5, Segal and Villemez, together for 10 years, were married before about 30 family and friends in a ceremony officiated by the Hon. Judge Dan Anders, Philadelphia’s first openly gay judge. The ceremony was held in the private dining room at The Prime Rib in Center City. The wedding party included Segal’s nephew, Jeffrey Segal, and Villemez’s sisters, Lillian Freeman and Ryan Christie. Villemez, 29, is an associate producer at Comcast, while Segal, 63, is PGN’s founder and publisher. Segal is a native of Philadelphia, while Villemez hails from Central Maryland and moved to the city in 2006, two years after the couple started dating. “Mark and I met while I was in college, through a mutual friend who suggested, quite serendipitously, that I get in contact with him,” Villemez said. “He thought that we’d get along well, and turns out that after 10 years, our friend was right.” They corresponded for about a year via phone and email before actually meeting. Segal joked that his first impression of Villemez upon meeting him was that “he’s too young,” but Villemez said the connection and the courtship were natural. “I knew he was sweet, thoughtful and genuine,” he said. “He sung one of my favorite songs to me as I came up the steps of 30th Street Station; he’d printed out the lyrics and had them in his hand to make sure he got them right. Doing that took courage, which Mark possesses in spades, in all aspects of his life.” While their actual age difference was never a problem — they joked in their wed-

ding vows that they both consider themselves 42, the middle ground of their ages — that they were at different junctures in their lives has been challenging at times. “Building a career while dating someone whose professional life was already shaped was, and still is, a great challenge for me and for us,” Villemez said. For instance, Villemez spent time in Japan teaching English, as well as working in Washington, D.C. “But we made the mutual decision to stick through it, and we developed routines that reminded us that, despite being physically apart, we were both still together,” Villemez said. “When I was in Japan, I’d call him during my morning right before leaving for work, as he was getting ready for bed. I also sent him as much tchotchke as I could and postcards galore. You could probably build a paper house from all the postcards I sent.” Segal added that the couple approaches life in very different ways — but that also helps them to complement one another. For instance, Villemez said, Segal has helped show him his own innate humor. “The fact that he laughs at my jokes or, more appropriately, laughs at me laughing at my own jokes, helped me realize that the number-one thing I look for in a friend and partner is someone who can withstand the absurdity,” Villemez said. Likewise, Segal said that, when he starts getting wrapped up in a project, Villemez keeps him grounded but motivated. “He encourages me to dream, and when working towards those dreams, no matter how difficult, he’s always there in my corner, lending a shoulder or offering suggestions,” Segal said. They began discussing marriage, though not seriously, after about seven or eight years together, Villemez said. “We’d joke about it in passing, thinking that we still had a while before we had to truly make that decision,” he said. But that changed May 20, when Judge John E. Jones handed down his historic ruling making marriage equality a reality in Pennsylvania, effective that afternoon. The couple didn’t plan on getting a license that

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soon but, in the cab ride over to the City Hall celebration, Villemez said they “both thought that we owed it to ourselves, and that we deserved to celebrate and show our love as much as any other couple. I think it was at that moment in the cab that it truly became a reality, because we’d finally come to the realization that we were worthy of it.” Their decision almost was hampered by a forgotten wallet — but Councilman Jim Kenney and Register of Wills Ronald Donatucci lent the pair the requisite $80

license fee. They had 60 days to complete and file the license, and spent the ensuing weeks planning the wedding, which they kept under wraps from everyone but the invitees. The guests surrounded the couple as they exchanged their vows, which were peppered with both laughs and tears. And, after Anders pronounced them spouses, the couple stomped on a glass in the Jewish tradition as the guests proclaimed, “Mazel tov!” They signed their license after the ceremony, which was followed by dinner, a toast from Segal’s nephew and a messy cupcakesharing by the newlyweds. While the tone of the event was celebratory, Segal said the weight of the actual legal marriage has begun dawning on them. “Suprisingly so,” said Segal about how different it feels to be married. “I never thought that it would. I just thought it was a piece of paper, but knowing that the state recognizing our relationship as they do any other is very empowering — and overwhelmingly emotional.” While the short timeframe from May 20July 5 was stress-inducing, Villemez said being able to share their love and commitment before all of their family and friends was well worth the work. “It was one of the happiest days of my life,” he said. ■

PERFORMANCE NOW JULY 12 – SEPTEMBER 21, 2014

This provocative exhibition presents a survey of visual performance art at the start of the 21st century and includes work by Marina Abramović, Jérôme Bel, Christian Jankowski, William Kentridge, Jesper Just, and Laurie Simmons. Performance Now is a traveling exhibition produced by Independent Curators International (ICI), New York, and Performa, New York. The curator for the exhibition is RoseLee Goldberg, Founding Director and Curator of Performa. The exhibition and tour are made possible, in part, by grants from the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; the ICI Board of Trustees; and donors to ICI’s Access Fund.

2301 Kentmere Parkway Wilmington, DE 19806 302.571.9590 | delart.org

Additional support is provided by grants from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Image: Drawing Lesson 47 (Interview for New York Studio School) (detail), 2010. William Kentridge (born 1955). Single-channel video, sound, and color, 4:48 min. Courtesy of the artist.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

PGN EDITORIAL

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Matt Barber

Editorial

Movement on ENDA There was big news on the Employment Nondiscrimination Act this week — the legislation lost a slew of big-name LGBT supporters. While, in theory, that sentence sounds negative, the move could actually take the legislation one step closer to fruition. In a wave of announcements Tuesday, groups like the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National Center for Lesbian Rights, American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal all dropped their support for the longstalled bill, which seeks to ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. But, last year, to get past a crucial Senate vote, which ultimately was in the affirmative, lawmakers expanded the religious exemptions in the bill, effectively allowing most entities with religious beliefs that do not comport with LGBT people to not have to follow the law’s tenets. It is that religious exemption, coupled with the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing some companies to deny contraceptive health care to employees because of their personal religious beliefs, that prompted this week’s actions. The coalition of LGBT groups all said that countless LGBT workers would remain unprotected should ENDA pass in its current form. ENDA has been introduced every legislative session but one since 1994 and has remained one of the most critical pieces of legislation that LGBT advocates lobby for. So to have these four leading national LGBT groups say in unison that they cannot support the measure sends a powerful message. Several years ago, the issue of ENDA caused a significant rift in the LGBT community, as protections for transgender people were written out of the bill in order to secure its passage, which ultimately was unsuccessful. Some advocates at that time decried the bill in that version, while others embraced it for political expediency. What Tuesday’s development did was state that political expediency cannot be tolerated when it comes to basic LGBT rights. Supporting the bill while allowing the broadest possible religious exemptions just to get it passed could be doing more harm than good, as it would give religious entities the rubber stamp to discriminate, with the support of the LGBT community. Instead, the bold move taken by the four agencies, and the others that likely will follow their lead, illustrates the value and necessity of the law. By refusing to compromise, the LGBT organizations are showing that LGBT rights can and should not be sacrificed for political gain. That important statement lends legitimacy to the cause, to the bill and, hopefully, to the momentum to bring the issue forward. ■

America is a weird place. On the one hand, we have court after court giving the legal middle finger to antigay-marriage laws across the land. On the other hand, we have a Supreme Court that just ruled that for-profit companies have religious beliefs and that those religious beliefs make it OK for them to deny contraceptive coverage to their employees. It’s a big fuck you to the Affordable Care Act, to doctors, to women, to men who want to make sex with women but don’t want to make babies, and, yes, to people who have sincerely held religious beliefs. After all, the Supreme Court didn’t rule in favor of people here, it ruled in favor of giving for-profit corporations expanded rights that trump the rights of their employees. Which is an alarming trend of this Supreme Court. So if you’re anything like me, you’ve had to make a concerted effort not to get into arguments on Facebook about the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby ruling because some dumb just cannot be cured and ain’t nobody got time for that. To say that I am unhappy with the ruling is an understatement. Meanwhile, the religious right is super-excited about the ruling, and leading the circle jerk is Liberty Council’s Matt Barber. You see, the hope is that this ruling will help pave the way for businesses to get out of having to abide by pesky discrimination laws that cover LGBT people. “Hobby Lobby may help protect businesses from those pushing counter-biblical LGBT lifestyles and anti-Christian agenda,” Barber tweeted soon after the ruling was announced June 30. And Lord knows that’s what businesses, the only “people” that really matter in America, need protection from: making wedding cakes for homos. Later he tweeted: “Let me be clear: Yes, the Hobby Lobby case gives us hope that we may yet defeat the homofascist LGBT activist[s],” going on to reference the First Amendment. The First Amendment, of course, applies only to Christians. If you’re not imaginary

friends with Jesus, then STFU. Also, it’s cute that he calls homos “fascists” like he’s scared of us. It also makes me wonder if he knows what a fascist is. I’ll give you a hint: It’s probably not a lesbian looking for a wedding photographer. On Barber’s BarbWire (get it?) website, there is a photo of a Hobby Lobby store and imposed over the photo is an image of a hand holding a revolver pointing straight out at the viewer, the Obama reelection logo in the barrel, with “ObamaCare” written underneath. Which I guess is supposed to mean that somebody is going to shoot ObamaCare or maybe just Obama. It isn’t clear. In the top right-hand cover is the address to an end-times website that looks like it’s a parody, but it is not. That the Hobby Lobby ruling should give Barber a boner and that he should follow that boner and arrive at the gays is not a surprise. He’s kind of obsessed. According to Right Wing Watch, on his Faith and Freedom radio show, Barber claimed that marriage equality was the work of the devil. “Marriage is the cornerstone institution of any healthy society,” Barber said, “and so clearly the Father of Lies, the Enemy of the World, hates marriage, wants to destroy marriage and so this concept of counterfeit marriage, of same-sex marriage, is the brainchild.” Which is how, in Barber’s twisted mind, Hobby Lobby, a for-profit company that sells hot glue and fake flowers, is an agent of the Lord. As a legally married homo, I have to say I don’t feel like I’m an agent of Satan. I mean, for one thing, I don’t believe he exists. So if there’s some kind of lobbying I’m supposed to be doing on the devil’s behalf, I am doing a super-shitty job. Although I’d be flattered if Barber thought differently. ■

Lord knows that’s what businesses, the only “people” that really matter in America, need protection from: making wedding cakes for homos.

Correction In “Family Portrait” in the July 4-10 edition of PGN, the date for the Haddonﬁeld Crafts & Fine Art Festival was listed incorrectly. The festival is July 12-13.

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 and roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister and teaches writing at the University of Michigan.

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.

OP-ED PGN

An LGBT pioneer marries Something happened last week that I Ron and Jim each paid $40 so Jason and I thought would never happen in my lifecould get a license. Then, we noticed that time: I got married. And now, a few days the license was only good for 60 days. later, it still is an amazement to me. Since we live a very public life, we I never thought that little piece of paper decided at that moment that we wanted a and ceremony would mean this much. If I very private and small wedding with no had any questions about that, it hoopla — no public officials, celebrities or press — and all was answered when all of our wedding guests had gone home our invitees were sworn to Saturday night, and Jason and I secrecy. Family came in from six states and our friend Judge had time alone. The look of joy Dan Anders was the only choice on his face was the most beautiful expression I’ve seen in our to perform the ceremony. That led to the question of who cried 10 years together. It was pure more during the ceremony — joy and empowerment. His look the grooms or the judge. was so reassuring and loving We each spoke our vows, that, in all honesty, even after 10 years, it melted my heart. and when Judge Anders uttered You can talk all about those that line, “By the power vested 1,100 rights that that piece of in me by the Commonwealth paper gives you, but to me the of Pennsylvania,” and then he most valuable it thing it gave added “and Judge Jones,” a chill was that one look — that look Mark Segal of joy and emotions hit me hard. of joy on Jason’s face. We had planned to take all For Jason and me, it all started May 20, the relatives from out of town to brunch when our city was about to start issuing on Sunday but, during the reception, Jason marriage licenses to same-sex couples. explained that the family wanted to keep The man in charge, Register of Wills Ron this private so we were hosting the brunch Donatucci, had honored me by having at home. This meant that, after the recepme deputized to assist in handing out the tion, Jason and I had to go shopping. In forms. It was reported on the news and our suits, and freshly married, off we went Jason called to ask if I’d like him to join to the only store we knew that would be me. I think we both knew at that moment open at midnight: Walmart. We were the that we were helping other couples, so why happiest people you would ever see at a not us? Walmart. ■ Unfortunately, in the rush to get to Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the City Hall, I had forgotten my wallet. City nation’s most-award-winning commenCouncilman Jim Kenney (who wanted to be a witness on this historic day for the tator in LGBT media. You can follow LGBT community) and Ron heard Jason him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ and me talking and since, according to law, MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter. the $80 license fee must be paid in cash, com/PhilaGayNews.

Mark My Words

Transmissions

Gwendolyn Ann Smith

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

Street Talk Is a National Gay Blood Drive effective? “Yes. It’s unfair to discriminate against people based on antiquated views. Gay and bisexual men should Alex Bois be allowed to baker donate blood. Queen Village If their blood is proven to be clean, they should be accepted just like anyone else. If the National Gay Blood Drive can help make that happen, all the better.”

“Yes, because it will raise awareness about the bad FDA policy. But it shouldn’t become a viable, Jamie Funk alternate student way for the Wallingford Red Cross to get blood. It should be a temporary measure, to get the FDA to change its policy.”

“Yes. The blood drive has my wholehearted support. If nothing else, it shows that gay and bisexual men are civicDillon Parish minded. student They want Orlando, Fla. to contribute to society. The ban is archaic. Unless I see sufficient peerreviewed evidence to the contrary, I’ll maintain my position.”

“I think it’s a great idea. It could at least raise consciousness to a ridiculous policy. I don’t think it will Jacob Somogye change the student FDA’s mind, Washington Square but it’s a West step in the right direction. I applaud the organizers.”

Can we talk, Joan? American comedian and television host Joan Rivers, who may be best known for her difficult history with “The Tonight Show,” her 1980s “Can We Talk?” catch phrase and her many facelifts, has decided to add to her controversial history. After officiating the impromptu wedding of two gay male fans of hers at a New York book-signing, the 81-year-old Rivers was asked if she thought the United States would first have a gay president or a woman president. In reply, Rivers said, “We already have it with Obama, so let’s just calm down.” That statement itself is oddly reminiscent of Toni Morrison’s oft-misunderstood declaration that President Bill Clinton was America’s first black president. I suppose one could look at this and consider the parallels. Morrison intended her statement as a reference to how Clinton was being vilified during the impeachment hearing, and how he was characterized by stereotypes

that were often associated with being black in America. With that thought in mind, perhaps Rivers would have a point. Perhaps one could tie the way Obama detractors view him as weak or soft into gay stereotypes. Rivers, however, did not stop there, so that is not the conversation we legitimately have. No, Rivers continued, “You know Michelle [Obama] is a tranny.” When asked to clarify, she said, “A transgender, we all know. It’s OK.” She then continues past the presumably shocked questioner, continuing to mumble to others as she passes by. No, first and foremost, I think we should get one thing out of the way. Rivers has spent quite a number of decades trying to keep the spotlight on her. She certainly knows that the best way to sell more copies of her latest book is to court controversy. On this same book tour she’s been busy lashing out at members of

PETA who protested her love of fur. I do think that a lot of this is a shrewd — if not altogether wise — move on Rivers’ part to get her name in the press by whatever means possible. Even this very column, in its own small way, is drawing attention to her thanks to these incendiary comments she made. There are those in the less-stable edge of the conservative movement who have indeed been trying to somehow “out” Obama for being gay, and Rivers’ comments feed perfectly into their twisted narrative. I’m sure they’ll also buy a few books, too. I’m not trying to excuse what she said, though, nor will I fall into the easy trap of excusing her for her age, claiming, “She just doesn’t know better.” No, I think she knows plenty. Let’s take a closer look, rather, at what Rivers had to say. First off, if Michelle Obama was transgender, does that make President Obama

gay? It’s complicated, but I would have to assume that — if that were the case — then Michelle would identify as female. That would not exactly make for a samesex relationship. It’s an absolutely hamfisted understanding of what it means to be transgender, let alone the nature of sex, gender and desire. That also would not explain Sasha and Malia Obama, but I digress. What Rivers is really saying isn’t so much that Michelle Obama is transgender, but that she is a man. This is where things get even stickier. Setting aside that Ms. Obama is not male, it is important to note that there is a long history of critiquing AfricanAmerican women for being “masculine” in appearance compared to caucasian beauty standards. Whether Rivers realized that she was making a racist statement as well as a transphobic comment, I don’t know. I do PAGE 12 know that whether or

WEDDING PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

Wedding

TRANS from page 11

Larry Benjamin and Stanley Willauer Jr. By Matty Bennett PGN Contributor For many reasons, June 28 is an unforgettable date for Larry Benjamin and Stanley Willauer Jr. It was the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the 17th anniversary of their original commitment ceremony — and now it is the date of Benjamin and Willauer’s official marriage. The couple was already planning to get married in a different state on that day, but with Judge John Jones’s historic ruling May 20 that brought marriage equality to Pennsylvania, they were able to get married in Philadelphia, where they live. Benjamin, 54, is a Bronx-born gay romance author, recently nominated for a Lambda Literary Award for his novel “Unbroken.” He studied at the University of Pennsylvania, and said he fell in love with the diversity of Philadelphia. Willauer, 54, grew up in a small town outside of Easton, and he works in sales and interior design. Years prior to marrying, Benjamin and Willauer’s relationship started off on an interesting note. Benjamin explained the circumstances in which he met his

husband. “When I moved back to Philadelphia in 1988, I took a part-time job delivering the Wall Street Journal. I was delivering at a high-rise condo where Stanley happened to be the concierge,” he said. “I went to use the main elevator, and he started yelling at me, saying I wasn’t allowed to use that one, that I needed to use the elevator for deliveries. The whole time I was thinking, He’s one of the most handsome men I have ever met.” It took them five years to finally have their first date — and it was good timing for Benjamin. “I was dating lunatics and losers,” he joked. “I kept thinking, Why can’t I date a guy like Stanley? Eventually he invited me to a barbeque at his house.” As the two spent more

and more time together, it became clear that they were building the foundation of a solid relationship. Seventeen years ago, Benjamin and Willauer decided to have a commitment ceremony. “ We f o u n d rings at Tiffany’s and we were like, Now what?” Benjamin said. “I didn’t want him to hand me the rings across the counter and say we’re married. So we did a ceremony at our house with a couple-dozen friends.” Their official wedding this past June 28, however, was even smaller. Benjamin and Willauer invited six of their close friends and supporters to witness their wedding. “We had no family present; the six people who were there were the six people who kept saying, ‘When are you going to get married?’” Benjamin said. “Something we know is that blood doesn’t make family. Family is made by the people who love and support you, and those six people are our Philadelphia family.” The wedding took place at the Philadelphia Wedding

not she knew is irrelevant. What is important is that she did. Then there’s how Rivers spoke about transgender people. First, she referred to Michelle Obama as “a transgender.” Transgender, however, is not a noun. It is an adjective in this context. As Rivers meant it, Michelle Obama would be more correctly referred to as “a transgender woman.” You can even shorten that to “a woman” and be correct. But she only used “transgender” to clarify, after calling the First Lady of the United States a “tranny.” I personally stand in the unenviable position of seeing the word “tranny” from both sides. While one should be free to selfidentify with whatever term they choose — including “tranny” — it is worth acknowledging that this is a term often evoked by those seeking to harm transgender people, and that one should consider alternatives when possible. Of course, one should also not assign such a term to others who do not selfidentify with it. That should just be obvious. So in walks Joan Rivers, calling the wife of our president a “tranny” while claiming the president himself is gay. It’s a twisted mess of a statement, likely made by someone whose only real concern is pushing paper. Yet it shows just how out of touch, just how cringeworthy Rivers truly is. That she chose to make this in the wake of a wedding of two of her gay fans only adds to the insult. So, Joan Rivers, whether you were simply courting controversy, speaking out of pure ignorance or both, now is the time to apologize and make an effort to learn. Until then, you can keep the books. ■

Chapel. The chapel is located in East Falls. where the couple lives. Benjamin and Willauer said it was important to have their wedding take place in the community in which they have lived for 15 years. Thus the flowers for the ceremony came from Falls Flowers, and after the ceremony, the couple and their friends had dinner at In Riva. Benjamin and Willauer walked into the ceremony to Sam Smith’s song “Stay With Me,” and said they were especially taken by the lyrics, “Stay with me, you’re all I need.” Both Benjamin and Willauer talked about the acceptance and love they experienced on their wedding day, and how memorable that made it for the couple. “ H av i n g g r ow n u p t h e way I did, in a small, rural Pennsylvania town, what made the wedding so special was how everyone was so accepting and congratulatory,” Willauer said. “From the moment we walked in, I didn’t feel out of place at all. I felt normal.” Benjamin echoed his husband’s sentiment. “Nobody made us feel differGwen Smith wishes she could be half the ent or strange. We felt like we woman Michelle Obama is. You can find her belonged. To me, that is true on the web at www.gwensmith.com. equality.” ■

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PGN

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Michael Clark and Ronald Giemza By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com M i c h a e l T. C l a r k , a l o n g t i m e L G B T a d vo cate, will wed Ronald B. Giemza inside their West Philadelphia residence later this month. Clark, 59, became active in the LGBT community in 1976. He’s been coupled with Giemza, a former Catholic priest, since 1980. They met at Dignity, an LGBT Catholic organization. “Dignity was an important part of our lives at that time, and I’m grateful it was the venue that brought us together,” Clark told PGN. Clark said he has enjoyed planning the details of his upcoming wedding. “We’re doing a Quakers t y l e w e d d i n g ,” C l a r k explained. “There’s no minister. You basically marry each other. So the couple is the minister. We’re having an old friend facilitate. Basically we’re inviting a small group of family and friends. A majority of our family members will be in attendance.” Both men practice Buddhism, so the ceremony will have a Buddhist flair. “One of the things we’re going to do, instead of rings — Ron cannot wear jewelry, it somehow starts to annoy him. So we’re going to exchange Buddhist prayer beads instead of rings,” Clark said. The wedding ceremony will be held noon July 26 in their living room. A reception at their house will follow. “We’re expecting 50 people for the ceremony itself, and probably about 100 people for the open-house wedding reception,” Clark said. Giemza, 70, retired about eight years ago. He enjoys cooking, pottery and maintaining the household, he said. Fo r a b o u t 2 0 y e a r s , Giemza was employed at the Community Organization for Mental Health and

Retardation Inc. “Part of that time, I was director of mental-health services at COMHAR,” he said. Clark is employed as director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at Rutgers School of NursingCamden. He began that position July 1. “I’ve been a nurse practi-

tioner and educator for the past 25 years,” Clark said. “I’m starting a new position at Rutgers. I’m very excited about the new challenge.” His LGBT activism had been on a hiatus for several years, Clark noted. “I’m now re-entering activism in the LGBT community by serving as chair of the advocacy and outreach committee of the LGBT Elder Initiative,” he said. Giemza expressed excitement about marrying Clark. “It’s a significant, exciting new phase in our relationship,” he said. “I very much look forward to being a married man. It’s mindboggling to me that we’re able to do this. It was a foregone conclusion ever since I was in my 20s that I’d never get married.” Giemza shares many common interests with Clark. “We like hiking together. We l i k e t h e o u t d o o r s together. We like traveling and visiting new places. Every morning we sit for an hour or so, around 6 a.m., drink coffee and talk. And we both like our pets.” Clark was asked if there’s a secret for maintaining a long-term relationship. “You have to have a healthy sense of identity in order to have a healthy relationship,” he said. “You really have to have your own life. The partnership adds to it. But it can’t be the core of a person’s being.” ■

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MENTAL PGN HEALTH

Exploring mental health through an LGBT lens When thinking about mental illness and being linked to genetics, life experiences LGBTQ-identified people, mental-health play a role. Specifically, experiences from professionals must ask the our childhood have a profound impact on the adults we age-old question: What came become. They influence how first, the chicken or the egg? we relate to others and cope in Regardless of sexual orientation various situations, the general and gender identity, about one ease with which we function in in five Americans suffers from a diagnosed mental illness; most the world and our overall selfrelate to genetic predisposition esteem. They may even affect whether or not certain genes as evidenced by conditions such as depression and alcoholism are expressed. For example, a person may be born with a running in families. Members of our community are by no means predisposition to alcoholism, exceptions to this. but if they’re raised in a loving and supportive environment LGBTQ individuals are as and experience little adversity likely to inherit such conditions as any heterosexual person, and Kristina Furia in their lives, they may never yet our community has markbecome alcoholics. Alternately, edly higher rates of mental illanother person with that same ness than the American population at large. gene whose childhood was riddled with Why? Well, in addition to mental illness conflict and instability very well may

Thinking Queerly

become an alcoholic. So, which of these reasons caused an LGBTQ-identified client to come to my office reporting severe symptoms of depression and anxiety? What had caused him to be so depressed that he feared he wouldn’t be able to leave the house to make it to his first therapy appointment? Is it his genetics in combination with his long history of being unaccepted, shamed and alienated because of his sexual orientation? Or is there no genetic component at all, implying that his life experiences alone have caused his condition? There’s no definitive answer to any of these questions, but the possibility that some mental illness is caused solely by unfortunate life experiences cannot be ruled out. In the age of emerging marriage equality around the country and of pop culture’s acceptance of openly gay TV personalities, actors and even athletes, some may argue that our community’s struggles are winding down. Hopefully this is true, but LGBTQ people throughout our country, and especially internationally, still face varying degrees of negative interactions and experiences as a result of their sexual and/or gender identity. Young people coming out this decade are surely met with different reactions than those of previous decades. Generally speaking, they experience greater acceptance and less blatant mistreatment. However, the reality is we’re still living in a society where projects such as the Trevor Project and the “It Gets Better” campaign are hugely relevant, and that simply wouldn’t be if society weren’t continuing to convey a message of nonacceptance, however subtle or camouflaged. I’m often asked why I dedicate a portion of my therapy practice to the LGBTQ community. “Isn’t therapy the same for gay people and straight people?” The answer is generally twofold: First, our community has a specific set of concerns and experiences because of society’s long history

of denying us equality while dishing out plentiful supplies of homophobia. Second, beginning therapy often incites nervous feelings in everyone, without also having to deal with discomfort and anxiety related to “coming out” to your therapist and how they might respond to this disclosure. Beyond that, our country is still engaged in a battle to prohibit conversion therapy, the approach often referred to as “pray the gay away.” While by no means is this a commonplace technique among competent mental-health professionals, LGBTQ-identified people seeking therapeutic services are likely doing so knowing that this profoundly appalling technique isn’t entirely off the table. Should there come a day when LGBTQ individuals are fully accepted with immediacy by family and friends, are granted full rights and protections under the law and are sent no messages of hatred, nonacceptance or shame, I believe it is entirely likely that our community’s rates of mental illness will become on par with the general population’s. Until then, however, we must all acknowledge that the LGBTQ population in this country experiences more adversity throughout our mental and emotional developmental journeys and, because of this, too many lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer individuals experience the additional struggle of mental illness. This monthly column will address some of these struggles as well as dedicate space for answering any specific questions you might have. If you have any questions regarding mental health, or have a topic you would like me to discuss in a future column, please email me at furia.therapist@gmail.com. ■ Kristina Furia is a psychotherapist specializing in issues and concerns of the LGBTQ community in addition to depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other mental illnesses. Her private practice, Philadelphia LGBTQ Counseling, offers both individual and couples sessions (www.lgbtphillytherapy.com).

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

Gayborhood Crime Watch The following incidents in the Midtown Village and Washington Square West areas were reported to the Sixth Police District between June 23-29. 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 — Between 10:45 a.m.-5:50 p.m. June 23, someone entered an apartment in the 1300 block of Pine Street by removing a window screen and stole a laptop. Sixth District Officer Sprouls lifted fingerprints.

ing a blue-and-white-striped shirt and black jeff cap. — Between 12:30 p.m. June 24 and 7:40 p.m. June 26, someone broke into an apartment in the 1200 block of Chestnut Street and stole a laptop and jewelry. Sixth District Officer Maiorano lifted fingerprints. — Between May 1-June 27, four antique items went missing from a closed antique shop in the 1000 block of Pine Street. There was no forced entry into the premises, and only two people other than the owner have keys. Sixth District Officer Corrado lifted fingerprints. — On June 27, a sexual assault occurred inside an apartment in the 1300 block of Locus Street, allgedly perpetrated by a family member of the victim.

— At 9:30 a.m. June 24, a food cart was stolen from 1300 Chestnut St. by a person allegedly known to the owner. It was later recovered in the 900 block of South 12th Street, missing tires and food items. Central Detective Division knows the identity of the suspect and is investigating.

— At 11:40 p.m. June 27, two men attempted to grab a man’s bag outside 12th and Manning streets but were unsuccessful. Both culprits were black males; the first was 23, 5-foot9, clean-shaven and wearing a green shirt, while the second was 26, 6-foot-1, with a beard and wearing a red shirt.

— At 2:45 p.m. June 24, a woman’s wallet was stolen from her unattended handbag inside an office at 125 S. Ninth St. The suspect is a 5-foot-10, 200-pound, 45-year-old black male wearing a green polo shirt and khakis.

— At 3:30 a.m. June 28, a man sitting on a bench at 1300 Market St. stole another person’s phone from the victim’s pocket and fled east on Market Street. The culprit was described as a black male in his 20s, wearing a white T-shirt with red sleeves.

— At 3:45 a.m. June 25, a man was sprayed with pepper mace and hit with a wooden chair by a man allegedly known to him during an argument outside 1222 Locust St. The suspect was a 25-year-old black male, 5-foot-5, 200 pounds, with a goatee and dark complexion wearing a black tank top and sky-blue jeans. Central Detective Division will determine the identity of the suspect and obtain an arrest warrant. — At 2:30 p.m. June 25, a man reached over the counter at AT&T at 1206 Walnut St. and stole a Galaxy phone. The perpetrator was described as a 55-year-old black male wear-

— At 6:20 p.m. June 28, two males snatched a woman’s handbag in the 800 block of Sansom Street after she made a purchase at Golden Nugget jewelry store. The suspects were two black males; the first was in his early 30s and the second was about 45 with a Jamaican accent. NON-SUMMARY ARRESTS — On June 24, Sixth District plainclothes Officers Ferrero and Grant set up surveillance in the area of Juniper and Walnut streets and at 1:10 p.m. observed a male steal an

unattended bicycle from outside 200 S. Juniper St. The 25-year-old suspect with a local address was charged with theft. — At 5:20 p.m. June 24, Sixth District Officers Stevens and Haas arrested a 31-year-old man with an Oak Lane address in the unit block of South 11th Street for DUI. The suspect was also charged with possession of cocaine. — At 10:45 a.m. June 25, a man was sitting in the 800 block of Market Street with his duffle set down beside him, and a male grabbed the bag and fled. Sixth District bike-patrol Officer Downey saw what occurred and, after a short pursuit, apprehended the suspect at 900 Chestnut St. and recovered the duffle bag. The 18-year-old suspect with a West Philadelphia address was charged with theft. — At 11 a.m. June 26, officers assigned to the Sixth District Narcotics Enforcement Team observed a narcotics transaction outside 10th and Market streets. A 32-year-old suspect with a South Philadelphia address was charged with illegal narcotics sales. A quantity of narcotics pills and cash were recovered. — At 4:18 p.m. June 28, a man was in the 1300 block of Locust Street when a male punched him in the face and attempted to steal his wallet. Sixth District Sgt. Metellus observed the incident and apprehended the suspect. The 38-year-old homeless man was charged with robbery and related offenses. — At midnight June 29 inside Smokin’ Betty’s, 116 S. 11th St., a woman’s handbag was stolen from the back of her chair. Witnesses called 911 and Sixth District plainclothes Officers Keenan, Calhoun and Seifert stopped a female and two males fitting the description in the unit block of South 10th Street. The handbag was recovered and security video showed the three to be the suspects. The 30-year-old female, 31-year-old homeless male and 32-year-old North Philadelphia male were all charged with theft. ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

FINANCES PGN

Understanding your retirement incomereplacement ratio Q: I’m 63 and considering retirement in the next few years. I honestly have no idea if I’ve saved enough money to support my retirement, assuming I’ll be around for a long time. How can I tell if I’ll be OK? A: I promise that you are not alone with this question! Many people planning for or approaching retirement have uncertainty about their savings and need for income in retirement. While meeting with a professional is highly recommended, here are some thoughts to get your retirement income-planning process started.

Out Money Jeremy Gussick

Although the term “retirement incomereplacement ratio” sounds formidable, it’s actually a simple, understandable concept that doesn’t require any fancy math. The ratio helps you zero in on your retirementsavings goal and periodically measure your progress as you move toward your target. Will you need 60, 75, 90 or even 100 percent of the income you have in your last year of work to maintain a desirable standard of living after you retire? The answer to this question is your incomereplacement ratio: the percentage of your pre-retirement earnings that will provide you with the same standard of living in retirement. For example, if your preretirement income is $50,000 but your income after retirement is $35,000, you have a replacement ratio of 70 percent ($35,000 divided by $50,000). Setting the foundation of your plan Widely used by financial planners, replacement ratios are common elements of worksheets, online calculators and computer-software programs created to help individuals plan how they will finance their retirement years. With the ratio, you can estimate how much income you may need for a comfortable retirement and how much money you need to save to supplement your expected sources of income — which may be some combination of Social Security, pension benefits, personal investments and post-retirement employment. If these income sources fall short of your goal, you can increase your rate of saving or take other actions to close the projected deficit, such as planning to reduce living expenses or moving to a lower-cost locale in retirement.

PGN FINANCES

What research tells us Opinions vary on the question of how much replacement income retirees need. However, one recent study from the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that if current Social Security benefits are not reduced, between 83-86 percent of workers with at least 30 years of eligibility in a 401(k) retirement plan could have enough funds to replace at least 60 percent of their age-64 wages on an inflation-adjusted basis.1 When the ante is upped to 70 percent of age-64 pay, the EBRI study found that three-quarters of workers would still have adequate income, relying solely on 401(k) savings and Social Security benefits. At an 80-percent replacement rate, 67 percent of the lowest income group studied would still meet the threshold if they had 30 years of eligibility in a 401(k) plan.1 The bottom line: Many people may need between 60-80 percent of their final working years’ income to maintain their lifestyle after retiring — and long-term commitment to an employer-sponsored retirement plan is key to meeting that goal. Why don’t retirees need 100 percent of their working income? Lower taxes may be one reason. When a person is no longer employed, there are no Social Security payroll taxes to pay. Federal income taxes are usually lower because Social Security benefits are either partially or fully tax-free for many retirees, and extra deductions are available for people over 65. In addition, many people no longer need to save for retirement, and those who have paid off debts before retiring or eliminated work-related expenses, such as commuting costs, also

have a greater share of their income available for spending. However, one increasingly important “unknown” is the rising cost of medical care. Already, medical care has been taking a bigger bite out of retiree budgets as health-care expenses have risen; some employers have reduced or eliminated medical coverage for retired employees; and life expectancy has lengthened. In addition, retirees have faced higher contributions for Medicare benefits and increased premiums for Medicare supplemental-insurance policies. The outlook for future retirees While recent retirees and those nearing retirement may have adequate replacement income, the situation may not be so favorable in the future. For instance, the increasing financial strains on Social Security caused by the nation’s aging population may lead Congress to alter the system at some point in the future, perhaps reducing Social Security benefits or increasing the age of eligibility. As a result of these trends, future retirees may have to rely more on income from personal savings and investments than today’s retirees. What you can do Putting yourself on track to a secure retirement requires a few calculations, which can be accomplished relatively easily by using a retirement-planning worksheet or calculator available on the Internet, or from financial advisors and retirement-plan providers. Calculators and worksheets typically factor in a replacement-income ratio, along with assumptions about future inflation rates, longevity and the growth

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

rate of retirement savings. (As you complete these calculations, bear in mind that such assumptions can’t be guaranteed.) Calculators and worksheets also usually take into account information about your current retirement account balances, rate of savings and anticipated benefits from outside sources, including Social Security and pensions. While ballpark estimates may be adequate when retirement is a long way off, more accurate planning is advisable as your actual retirement date approaches. If you don’t feel up to the task of refining the numbers, consult a financial advisor. He or she can help you develop detailed income and expense projections, review your assumptions about inflation and future returns from savings and investments and determine a prudent level of withdrawals from your assets. ■ Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute, “Can Social Security and 401(k) Savings Be Enough?” Jan. 22, 2014. Jeremy R. Gussick is a Certified Financial Planner (TM) professional with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a Five Star Wealth Manager by Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund and the Independence Business Alliance, the Philadelphia Region’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce. OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Gussick, email him at jeremy.gussick@lpl.com. LPL Financial, a 1

Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. This article was prepared with the assistance of Wealth Management Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by Wealth Management Systems Inc., or its sources, neither Wealth Management Systems Inc., nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall Wealth Management Systems Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscribers’ or others’ use of the content. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, 1996-2013, based on total revenues. **Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of year 2012 and 2013 Five Star Wealth Managers. Wealth Management Systems, Inc. and LPL Financial are not affiliated entities.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

GOFFNEY from page 1

the cops surrounding the car,” he said. “So I took off running like this [demonstrates], jumping roofs. I jumped down and hid my toolbag in someone’s garbage. I took my hoodie off and wrapped the money into like a pouch and stuffed it under a car. As long as they didn’t get those things, and my brother kept his mouth shut, we were cool.” Goffney said he blended into the latenight/early-morning crowd of patrons at Pat’s and Geno’s Steaks, adjacent from each other at Ninth Street and Passyunk Avenue. At one point, a police officer walked by him, within inches, he said. Goffney thought he was in the clear. But, when he went back to the lot later that morning to retrieve his car, he was surrounded. Even as he was being taken in, Goffney said, he didn’t grasp the severity of the situation. “I thought, the toolbag’s gone, the money’s gone, they don’t have anything. And when I was in trouble before, from 200608, I had a public defender — we called them public pretenders. But once you got money, the rules changed. I felt like, I have money, I can pay lawyers and it’s fine. That was my mentality. I felt like money could fix everything. Even though I was in more trouble than I could have ever imagined, I thought money could fix it.” But, when he arrived at the detective division and saw his twin, he started to grasp how wrong he was. “I came in and looked to my left and saw my brother and he just went like this [shakes head] and I knew. We’re twins, we have that connection,” he said. “I’d been in trouble with the cops before; my brother had never been in that situation. He wasn’t ready for that. They grabbed him, drilled him and he talked.” Goffney said Keyontyli’s eight-page confession sealed the deal on his own fate. “My lawyer came in and said, ‘I have bad news.’ And he pulled out this manila envelope with an eight-page statement with his signature. He told them everything about me, that I was the mastermind, everything. He was scared, but damn. My twin? I’d never seen it coming.” Behind bars Goffney faced a slew of charges, from this and other burglaries. He ultimately pleaded guilty to such charges as burglary, criminal conspiracy, resisting arrest and criminal mischief and was sentenced to three-eight years in prison. The intense media coverage of the twins’ case prompted stories about Goffney’s past in gay porn to circulate among his fellow inmates — and to estrange him from them. “I don’t consider myself gay but because of what happened, I suffered a gay man’s adversity,” he said. He said men would exit the showers when he would enter, seemingly afraid he would make advances. Inmates frequently flung antigay epithets at him, and he often

LOCAL PGN

ate meals alone. “Nobody wanted to sit next to the ‘faggot.’” While the antigay animus was pervasive, so too was support from the LGBT community. “When I got locked up, my friends left, some family left, but the gay community always stuck up for me,” Goffney said. “People in the community sent me mail, money, magazines. They were encouraging me, ‘You can do this, you can do this.’ I did six years and even five-and-a-half years in, I was still getting letters from people in the gay community. They really stuck by me.” Goffney noted that the experience gave him a better understanding of the attitudes his brother, and other LGBT people, have faced. “People act like being gay is a terminal illness. And it has nothing to do with your character. My brother’s life was hard because he’s gay, and my life was hard at that time because I was lumped in with him. But that’s been hard for him his whole life.” But, for the first half of his sentence, Goffney said, he harbored intense resentment about Keyontyli’s confession. Keyontyli negotiated a plea deal and was sentenced to two days in prison, which he already served, and four-years’ probation. The rift between the brothers extended to their family. His mother, who was also arrested for conspiracy connected to the twins’ burglaries, would come to visit him in prison, Goffney said, and they’d get into arguments if she mentioned she spoke to Keyontyli. “It was dividing my family,” he said. “I was like, ‘Mom, why do you speak to him? He ratted on me, and on you.’ And she was like, ‘He’s not strong like you.’” The divide remained until Goffney got a letter from his twin, about three years into his prison term. “He wrote me out of the blue. He said that his intent wasn’t to hurt me, that he was just scared. I mean they were slamming on the desk, yanking on his neck when they were interrogating him. I had to just let it go. He’s my twin; we’re one minute apart. I knew he didn’t do it out of malice or to try to injure me; he was scared. But that was the hardest part of prison — trying to get over that my brother ratted me out.” Mending fences with his twin was among the many evolutions Goffney said he went through while locked up. In one sense, he said, he’s grateful for his six years behind bars. “As much as I hate to say it, if I didn’t do that much time, the way that money was, I probably would have gone right back out and done it again,” he said. “Before, I may get two or three months and I’d just think it was worth it for the $20 thousand I got. I’d just go out and try to make up the money. The money had me cocky. But by my third year in, I knew I couldn’t do that anymore.” Goffney entered prison at 25 and said he met many men younger than he was who were going to be spending the rest of their lives in jail.

“I was talking to this kid who was 18 years old and he had a life sentence. He doesn’t even know what a lifetime means,” Goffney said. “And I would be talking to lifers, and they’d say to me, ‘You’re a bright kid, you don’t belong in here.’” Also resonating were the words of his sentencing judge, who sought to illustrate to him that, if he returned to his criminal ways, the court would throw the book at him. His record as a seven-time convicted felon is not an enviable epithet — or one that he wants to expand upon. “I’ve been convicted in front of seven judges: Sentence, sentence, sentence, sen-

tence. There ain’t gonna be a next time for me.” Even his late grandmother played a role in convincing him to turn his life around once he was released, Goffney said. “My grandma used to say something when she was alive. She would say to me, ‘You, your brother and your mother, all of you, if you put just as much effort into doing the right thing as you do into doing wrong, ya’ll would be rich.’ She died while I was in prison. I had to say goodbye over the phone,” he said. “But after all these years, I finally get it. The brain power it took behind something like what I did ... She was right.” Looking for a new life It is his grandmother’s voice, Goffney said, that he hears when he’s tempted. Since being released in April, he said he has found himself in stores, eyeing up the ATM and thinking about how easy it would be to break open. “That happened the other day and I was like, Oh man,” he laughed. “But I think about what my grandmom said and just repeat it. Put the effort into doing the right thing. That’s what I’m doing.” Goffney and Keyontyli, who is modeling in California, have teamed with a Pennsylvania-based production company,

Twiintone Entertainment, to help share their story. Twiintone is helmed by twins Troy and Trevor Parham — who happen to be police officers — and who worked with the Goffneys on a screenplay for a movie they’re hoping to produce, and possibly star in, about the Goffneys’ lives. Goffney has put out several spoken-word videos on Youtube, which offer words about overcoming adversity. In “Higher Aim,” made the day he got out of jail, Goffney talked frankly about his crimes, directing his monologue to young people whose backgrounds may also lead them to the streets. “It looks good; the girls look good, the money looks good, the friends look good. But when I went to prison, I went by myself,” he said. “I don’t want people to lose confidence, because I did,” he said about his hope for reaching youth with his message. “My brother and I were so proud of ourselves when we were younger. We were each other’s best motivators and kept each other sharp. But somewhere along the line, that got lost.” Gaining that confidence back is no easy task. A simple Google search of Goffney’s name brings up dozens of pages of news stories about the burglaries, and about the porn. “Every girl I date Googles me. You think I’m gonna get a return phone call? You can’t hide with the Internet. My brother’s modeling under a false name now. We’re trying to hide. I don’t want to walk around with this shame. But I gave away my selfrespect. I lost it in a day. And it’s gonna take years to get back.” Time has become a strange specter in his life, Goffney said. Having spent more than nine-and-a-half years in prison from ages 18-32, he missed out on most of his 20s. He said he’s trying to “not play catchup” with that time but can’t help imagining what he would have done with those years, had he not taken the dark turn he did. “I was an artist. I could draw you, the way you look, every hair. I was a karate champion. I let it all go.” If the last decade were different, Goffney said, he could picture his brother having a successful modeling career in Europe and himself married with children, coaching a sports team. “I like seeing people win,” he said. He hasn’t lost hope of himself winning. Goffney said he eventually sees that future he had planned coming to fruition. But, for now, he’s focusing on using his story to put his grandmother’s advice into practice — doing right for himself, and for others. “I worry about money now. But then I think about those guys in jail who are never coming out, that 18-year-old. He’s never coming back out. Was the money really worth that much? Was it really worth the gay porn? I’d give it all back for my selfrespect. You can’t lose faith in yourself. That’s richer than money. That’s richer than friends. That’s richer than everything.” ■

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

ASSAULT from page 1

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hear anything, but these people were so close behind me that I could hear them over my music,” he said. “I took my headphones off and I could hear them calling me a faggot and saying all this other stuff and so I turned my music down and walked a little faster.” Parker said he turned around at one point and one of the males lifted up his shirt to show a gun in the waist of his pants. Parker said he continued walking but eventually turned around to confront the group. “I am not easily shaken and I turned around and said, ‘What are you trying to do? I am not intimidated, so just leave me alone,’” he said. Parker said the same male who flashed the gun punched him from behind on his right jaw, knocking him over. While on the ground, Parker, who said he did not get physically aggressive with the man, told the attacker about the legal consequences he could face, and the man again punched him in the face and walked off. Parker called 911 and gave the responding officer a description but has not yet filed a report at a police precinct. He went to the hospital right after the incident and was treated for a laceration on his eyebrow, caused by the attacker connecting with his glasses. His left eye was swollen shut. The suspect is described as a white male between 1825 with a thin build. He was wearing a black wife-beater tank top and silver basketball shorts. He had dark hair and a chinstrap beard. Parker said he hopes his story helps promote safety and awareness. “I am pretty good at bouncing back and looking on the optimistic side about it but, as a gay man, I shouldn’t fear my city that I live in and that I love,” he said. “People should be cautious and aware of their surroundings and let others know that this is still going on, unfortunately. Be aware of it and protect yourself; you are stronger than someone who is hateful for no reason.” ■

AC ul t ure rts

PGN FEATURE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

PAGE 29

Local singer celebrates disco icon in new stage show By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com The queen of disco may be filling the dance floors in a better place now, but a local singer is channeling her considerable talents to keep the music of Donna Summer alive. Rainere Martin had put her career as a singer on the back burner until she had the opportunity to perform as the iconic disco, R&B and pop singer in Atlantic City and later at retro disco and ’80s events at clubs and theaters across the country. “I never wanted to be anyone else,” Martin said. “I wanted to make it in my own right. I gave up singing for years and years; I had just gotten that itch right before [Summer] passed away to start singing. I started doing little things and after she passed away, I landed ‘Legends in Concert’ in Atlantic City. That was a pure blessing. I happened to be at the right place at the right time.” Martin said there was a Summer tribute artist set to perform who fell ill. Organizers reviewed Martin’s audition tape and summarily offered her the position. She has entertained Summer fans across

the country as the late legend but said she’s eager to build an audience in her native Philadelphia. “The people that come to my show are diehard Donna Summer fans. I’ve acquired fans in every other city but my own, so that is the reason I put this production together in Philly, because this is my hometown.” Her latest show, “An Evening With Donna,” which she is bringing to Plays and Players Theater July 19, has Martin taking Summer’s fans on a sonic and visual ride through her legendary career. “I do about eight of her greatest hits and then I have dancers in between and there’s video f o o t a g e ,” Martin said. “ Yo u ’ r e getting moments from her life from video collages and still pictures of her. Towards the end of the show, I bring me out as myself and do a dedication to my grandmother. So it’s an evening about getting to know Rainere as well.” Martin’s performances of Summer music are so spot-on that she has been called on by members of Summer’s family to perform at tribute events. One of Summer’s nephews invited her to perform at a benefit concert in celebration of a mural that was painted of the singer at

her high school. “I attended and I met two of her sisters, her brother and nieces and nephews. They basically welcomed me with open arms and gave me their blessing,” Martin said. “That is something that I will forever cherish because that is sticky territory when you are trying to take the torch of their loved one and carry it on. I actually stay in touch with her niece and talk with her on a regular basis.” Martin said her portrayal of Summer was a harder sell to the singer’s diehard fans. “Some of her fans are tougher to get approval from than her family was,” she said. “They are just really critical. Actually one of the fans traveled all the way from Canada to be at the affair at her high school. He had been a fan for 35 years of her career. And I acquired some of her fans from that performance there. They reached out to me on Facebook. One of the guys was saying he wanted to hate me so bad because they are so protective of Donna. He came to the affair not wanting to like me because he doesn’t like anyone imitating her. He said when I opened my mouth to sing, chills went down his spine because the sound and the look was so uncanny. I wanted their approval because it is important for me to let them know that I’m not PAGE 24

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

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

PGN FEATURE

Worth Watching SECRET SERVICE: Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey star in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” the story of a black butler working at the White House serving eight U.S. presidents over the course of three decades, who finds his personal life deeply affected by the sweeping social changes he witnesses from his prestigious job, 6:45 p.m. July 13 on Showtime.

DESPERATE MEASURES: Queen Latifah stars in “Set It Off,” the action drama about women who decide to beat the system and become bank robbers, 9 p.m. July 14 on BET.

HOT STUFF: Rainere Martin pays tribute to the immortal Donna Summer DONNA from page 23

UNFRIENDLY SKIES: Based on the hit horror novel by Guillermo del Toro, “The Strain” makes the jump to the small screen. In the premiere, a plane filled with dead passengers spurs an investigation, in which a vampiric virus spreads through New York City, 10 p.m. July 13 on FX.

ROCKET WOMAN: Halle Berry stars in the new summer series “Extant” as an astronaut trying to reconnect with her family after returning from a year in outer space, 9 p.m. July 16 on CBS. Photo: CBS/Sonja Flemming

trying to be Donna. I’m just trying to carry her legacy on. I went up to her older sister and asked her if she liked it. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and gave me a big hug and said, ‘It is still rough for us dealing with this. When I closed my eyes, I would have sworn it was Donna singing.’ That right there is all the validation that I need to know that I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing.” She added that being embraced by Summer‘s LGBT fans was rewarding as well. “For them to jump onboard like that and for me to break through to them, that is saying that I am doing my job well,” she said. “They are the toughest critics out of everybody. They’ve embraced me and I’ve embraced them. I love everybody. The most important thing I want people to understand is I don’t want to be referred to as a Donna Summer impersonator. I’m a Donna Summer tribute artist. There’s a big difference. Paying homage to someone is different than just playing them or trying to be them. I don’t have to alter my voice. When you hear me sing, you hear Donna within the song but you also

hear Rainere; that’s my voice. When I sing her music, I don’t try to sound like her. I was just blessed to have the same tone that Donna had. That’s why a lot of people associate me with her. The people see that vision and embrace me and I give that love right back.” Even with the adoration and support of Summer’s family and fans, Martin said there is one aspect about her tribute shows that makes everything worthwhile: the fabulous retro fashions she gets to wear. “That’s the best part about doing it because I’m that girly type of girl. I had a lot of gowns and evening wear and you can’t wear that every day. Maybe you can wear it once a year. So that’s one of the best things about doing Donna, because you can play dress-up on a regular basis. It’s an excuse to go out and buy another sequined gown or glittery dress. It’s absolutely amazing.” ■ Rainere Martin brings “An Evening with Donna” to Philadelphia 3 and 8 p.m. July 19 at Plays and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey Place. For more information or tickets, visit http://aneveningwithdonna. brownpapertickets.com or call 800-8383006 ext. 1.

PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

Suzi Nash

Lorenzo Buffa: Time out with the woodsy watchmaker “We are a small and independent business based out of Philadelphia. We care about craftsmanship and beauty in simplicity. We aspire to transform and re-imagine unique and beautiful materials. We are inspired most by nature — leaves, trees, rocks, trickling water falls, crickets at night — we love it all.” Such is the motto of the locally based Analog Watch Company. We spoke to creator and University of the Arts grad Lorenzo Buffa about what makes him, and his company, tick. PGN: Are you from these parts? LB: I’ve lived in Philadelphia for about 10 years but I’m originally from Palmerton, a small industrial town of about 5,000 people. It was designed with working-class housing so everyone could work at the local zinc factory. Later it was designated as a Superfund site because of the hazardous waste. When I was a kid I could see the Appalachian Trail from my bedroom window but it was barren because of all the zinc. It’s grassy again since they’re trying to restore it, but unfortunately all the closed factories are too hazardous and too expensive to try to clean up.

I went to my friend’s house instead. Her mom drove me to school and she had mustache bleach above her lip because she’d been getting ready for work. I have a very vivid memory of being consoled while staring at her mustache bleach. PGN: What kind of activities did you participate in at school? Sports? LB: No. I knew I was gay when I was 9. This was back when AOL had chat rooms. I’d go to gay chat rooms and tell people I was only 9 or so and people would accuse me of being some kind of pedophile. Nine-11 was very hard for me; I went to a Catholic school, had an immigrant father and a very religious family. It was a dark time, which is a shame because that’s when you should be enjoying your youth. But once I turned 12 or 13 I got over my self-hatred and knew that I would end up in the city someday, which gave me hope. I mean, I was out in eighth grade and where I’m from, that’s not exactly common.

PGN: Any siblings? LB: Two brothers: one older, one younger.

PGN: Did you find that because of your personality — and the fact that you had free pizza — people were more understanding or was it rough? LB: Rough. I identify a lot with people who came out in the ’70s and ’80s just because of how backwards the area where I grew up was. I had a knife pulled on me, I’d been beaten up quite a few times; it was pretty terrible. Fortunately, because I was very outspoken and wouldn’t back down, some people just got bored with hassling me. I think I represented myself very proudly and securely as an out youth in high school. But it was difficult the entire four years in high school. Not a single other person came out. I got in trouble, started doing drugs and got kicked out of high school, stuff that was all residual of being an emotional queer youth in a very repressive environment. But I’m thankful for it because I feel like I got all that out of the way before I moved to the big city. I’d done all my self-discovery, flamboyant behavior and drugs. Anything I needed to do to gestate and create a well-adjusted gay adult, I feel like I did before I got here.

PGN: Who was your best friend as a kid? LB: I went to Catholic school until eighth grade and my best friend was a kid named Philip. The benefit of that relationship was that he lived in a more rural part of town, whereas we lived on the main street. I used to hang out in the woods with him and catch crayfish and do typical boy stuff. His dad built an amazing tree house that we loved to play in. In high school, my best friend was a former Mormon. She had four siblings and her mom left their dad to get away from the church. They then became super-liberal, left of left. The day after I came out to my mom, I would normally have gotten a ride to school from her but

PGN: What was the family reaction to you coming out? LB: I didn’t tell my dad until I was in my 20s. He knew, because people would call the pizza shop and shout, “Your son’s a fag!” But when I told my mother, at age 11, that I was bisexual, it was very awkward. Her reaction was, “OK, but don’t tell your father, I don’t know what he’ll do.” She sort of pushed me back in the closet until I was 14. When I finally told him, I was 23 and it was during Thanksgiving dinner. He initially reacted harshly but then my mother and brothers, who had had time to adjust to it, kind of forced him to accept it or be the odd man out.

PGN: What did the parents do? [Smiles] Were they zinc farmers? LB: No. My dad moved to Northeast Philly from Italy when he was about 24 and met my mom in the pizza shop where he was working. They got married after four months and moved upstate and bought a pizza shop. So for the majority of my life, we lived above my parents’ pizza parlor. PGN: If you smell fresh dough, does it bring back nostalgic memories or make you ill? LB: I actually still love pizza, but I have very high standards because my dad was very obsessive about quality. The smell of my dad coming upstairs after standing in yeast for 12 hours will still make me recoil, though.

PGN: So your brothers were OK with it? LB: Well, yeah. Unlike my partner’s family, who are super loving and accepting, I’m uncomfortable bringing partners home even now. But they are evolving: I think that the fact that I’ve been able to achieve some “success” has helped their respect for me as an individual. They were all here for the opening of the store. PGN: Were you always very artsy? LB: Yes, I was always very creative as a kid. As I mentioned, I realized I was gay because of AOL. I really got into computers and graphic design and when I was 13 I opened a graphic-design business online. Ebay was just getting started and I created logo design packages for people. Now you can go on the Internet and get one created for $99 but back then no one else was doing it. So I made very good money for a 14-yearold, which started the entrepreneurial component of my life.

my relationship with my family was really rocky. At school, they want to look at your parents’ income, but since we were on non-speaking terms I petitioned to get my tuition based off of my income. I decided that if I was going to go back to school and take on any debts, I wanted to be really wise about it. I bought a house in a terrible neighborhood for $53,000 — I only needed to put down $3,000 — and I got two roommates, which covered the mortgage and then some, which allowed me to go to school without worrying about money. It’s important to understand the debts of an adult education in this country. It’s unfortunate that so many people go to school because that’s what culture tells them they have to do without any real idea of what it feels like to be saddled with hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt. You might get a degree but if you can’t find a job after you’re screwed. The reason Analog got started was because I wasn’t able to find a job in my field. So I took my senior project and made it into a career. PGN: What made you choose watches? LB: I wanted to be pragmatic and do a project that would show that I was jobready, something visual and tangible. My peers were doing theoretical presentations but I wanted something real. So I came up with Analog Watches and created a complete marketing presentation and made the prototypes in the school shop. When I couldn’t find a job after graduation, I applied for some grant money to launch the collection for real. I also started a Kickstarter campaign and was able to hit my goal in two days. It sounds miraculous but I really took time to do research on how to get the best response before launching the campaign. There was a lot of methodology involved. PGN: What’s the most rewarding feeling of the business? LB: Knowing that people around the world are wearing my watch because they believed in my aesthetic.

Photo: Suzi Nash

PGN: When did you move to Philly? LB: When I was 17 I moved here and subletted an apartment from a friend for one summer. I was pretty emancipated: I bought my own car and paid my own insurance. I went back to Palmerton to finish my senior year of high school and then moved to California for a year to be with a boyfriend. After that, I moved back to Philly and at 22 enrolled in the University of the Arts. I waited until that age because

PGN: I love your website and found it interesting that you put videos of other companies on the site. LB: One of my passions is making things. Currently in Philadelphia there really isn’t a directory of manufacturers in the region. There are people who PAGE 30

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

PGN MUSIC

The Go-Go’s take on ’80s rock ‘Vacation’ By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Rock fans are going to get a chance to relive the 1980s this weekend when the Replay America tour comes to the area, headlined by all-girl pop pioneers The Go-Go’s. The show also features Scandal front woman Patty Smyth, Motels singer Martha Davis, Naked Eyes and Cutting Crew. The Go-Go’s guitarist and songwriter Jane Wiedlin said the group thought that hitting the road this summer as part of an ’80s package would be a fun way to tour. “It’s definitely the first revue-type show we’ve ever done,” she said. “The people that love The Go-Go’s also love Martha Davis’ music and Patty Smyth’s music, so I think the tour is ideal.” Before The Go-Go’s burst onto the scene in the early 1980s, there were very few allgirl rock bands, aside from The Runaways, to be found. Wiedlin said the success of the group inspired many musicians, both female and male, to start rock bands. “Kurt Cobain loved The Go-Go’s,” she said, “Veruca Salt said they loved The GoGo’s. Green Day’s Billy Joe Armstrong loved The Go-Go’s. So we’ve had some amazing people that have paid us compliments and said they were influenced by us.” Wiedlin added that, while there are more women making careers for themselves in rock music these days, it is still a maledominated industry and female artists are still held to standards that men aren’t. “People talk about The Runaways doing it before The Go-Go’s but no one seems to remember that The Runaways weren’t successful at it,” Wiedlin said. “We were the first time that someone did [an all-girl rock group] that was successful. Unfortunately, there are still very few all-female bands that actually play their own instruments and write their own songs and are successful. If you are talking about solo female artists, unfortunately women are expected to be young and beautiful and perfect forever. I do think there is a lot of sexism in the world and people don’t really seem to talk about it. There’s a lot going on with women’s rights right now. There seems to be huge shitstorm out there right now where there are millions and millions of Americans who consider women to be a

subspecies of man. There’s a lot happening in politics with the Supreme Court that show a lot of people don’t consider women equal to men. We are actually more than half of the world’s population. So it’s a very annoying point for me because I definitely consider myself a feminist and anyone who doesn’t think the way I do is stupid and wrong [laughs]. It’s kind of ridiculous. It’s not just the entertainment business. We are still living in incredibly sexist times.” Oddly enough, Wiedlin said, these days, the group has more men in the audience than women. “Back in the day when we were very popular, we had a huge following of young women,” she said. “We showed young

THE GO-GO’S

women new possibilities that girls could rock too. That was great. Over the last 10 or 20 years — I’m not sure when it started — but now our biggest fans are gay men. Of course we love guys. From the time I was a kid, all my friends were gay men or gay boys. So it is a big honor to be loved by the gay community.” The Go-Go’s haven’t released an album of new music since 2001’s “God Bless The Go-Go’s,” but Wiedlin said some new music might be on the horizon. “When this tour is over, we are going to get together and do some writing,” she said. “[The Go-Go’s guitarist] Charlotte [Caffey] and I were collaborators for so many years and we wrote so many songs that I love. I’m very excited to work with her and the other girls again on some new songs.” ■ The Go-Go’s headline the Replay America tour 7:30 p.m. July 11 at The Plaza PPL Park, 1 Stadium Drive, Chester. For more information or tickets, call 610859-3100 or visit www.gogos.com/replayamerica-2014-summer-tour/.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

ART PGN

Food and Drink Directory

Local photog explores forgotten Philly By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Some people like to spend a sunny day leisurely walking through the park or on the beach. Others like to risk their safety on a stroll through crumbling deserted buildings. Tracy Levesque is one of the latter, taking viewers on a trip through the hidden beauty of Philadelphia’s urban decay in “What Remains,” an exhibition of her photography and the visual art of Drew Leshko, through July 19 at Paradigm Gallery. The local out photographer captured images of abandoned Philadelphia buildings and their architecture, many of which no longer exist, for her contribution to the exhibition. “I’ve been doing this for long enough that some of these buildings have either been torn down or caught fire and then had to be demolished to make way for something else,” she said about her work. “I’m motivated by an emotional attachment to buildings in a ‘stray dog at the pound’ kind of way. I really do love Philadelphia. I move here in 1988 and I’ve always loved Philadelphia buildings in all kinds of states — from abandoned to beautiful renovations. I really just want to — before they are

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gone or while they are still around — show people how beautiful they are. That’s my motivation for doing this. There is decay but there are also great buildings. Philadelphia has this problem of not being able to keep nice things. We let things rot to death or feel that we can’t afford to renovate buildings and we just demolish them. The truth is, it costs less to renovate than to tear it down and build something new. I want people to see what I see in these buildings.” One of the benefits of seeing the exhibition, other than the fact that they get a rare glimpse into many buildings that no longer are around, is that people can experience the vicarious thrill of getting an insider’s look at the buildings without sticking their proverbial necks out. The streets of Philadelphia can be dicey, even in the most well-kept of neighborhoods. So, one can imagine that traipsing forgotten buildings to capture photographs in less-traveled areas of town can be a tad perilous for a

number of reasons. “There’s always a risk. It depends on the site,” Levesque said. “Number one, it’s an illegal activity. There are a lot of urban explorers; I feel that it’s about a lot of conquering and a lot of ego. Then there are a lot of selfies and ‘Look at this site!’ For me, it is not like that at all. I take my entire self out of the whole thing. I don’t reveal my identity on Instagram and I never say the name of the site unless it’s completely gone. I never show my face. So I really try to not do anything that links me to a site. It’s not like ‘look at the illegal thing I did.’ I just want to take pictures. And then a lot of these site are dangerous. Some buildings are made of concrete and are pretty sturdy and you don’t have to worry about the floor falling. Some buildings are made of wood and everything is just crumbling. The floors can be like twigs and not sturdy at all. It’s a dangerous activity but I enjoy it.” Levesque added that, with an activity like this, there is safety in number — and a little secrecy. “I’m part of a queer urban exploration group,” she said. “It’s a hidden secret. I wouldn’t want to put a link to it online but we’re easy to find — it’s not difficult.” ■ “What Remains” in on view through July 19 at Paradigm Gallery and Studio, 746 S. Fourth St. For more information, visit www. paradigmarts.org.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

‘The Nance’ goes offstage to screen By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor A filmed presentation of Lincoln Center Theater’s production of “The Nance,” Douglas Carter Beane’s comic melodrama, will be screened locally. It plays at 1 p.m. July 13 and 7 p.m. July 17 at Bryn Mawr Film Institute, and 7 p.m. July 16 and 11 a.m. July 20 at Ritz Five Theatre. The Tony Award-winning show concerns the fictional Chauncey Miles (Nathan Lane), a queer burlesque performer in the 1930s who picks up a penniless young man, Ned (Johnny Orsini), takes him home and perhaps falls in love with him. Meanwhile, at the theater, the flamboyant Chauncey is under pressure to tone down his act because of raids for indecent behavior. This is an era where doing drag is acceptable because it is “masquerade” — but being openly gay is taboo. Lane excels in the tailor-made title role, displaying great comic timing in the vaudeville skits that alternate with the more serious dramatic scenes, in which Chauncey makes political and romantic statements in an effort to live honestly in an age where such behavior is frowned upon. Author Douglas Carter Beane does a fine job walking the tightrope between comedy and pathos as Chauncey’s story is told. He spoke by phone with PGN about “The Nance.” PGN: Before we discuss your play, can you offer your thoughts on this trend to film theater? DCB: There are pluses and minuses. When I first started watching theater in a movie theater, they were so rudimentary and basic. And you can never have a live experience. But with “The Nance,” they did a spectacular job — you saw the sweat on Nathan’s brow and the use of closeups, for me, was thrilling and exciting. They did cut-away shots of people reacting, which you could never have at the theater. It’s as close as you can get. PGN: The show really captures the social, political and cultural attitudes of the era. Can you talk about what prompted you/ why you wanted to write “The Nance”? DCB: I see where we are now and I see us already forgetting where we’ve been. It’s important for us to know — straight, gay and bi-curious — where we were all coming from, what we are wired to react to and why we behave the way we

do. It has been a constant conversation since 1977 and Anita Bryant. Look how we’ve evolved! I wanted everyone to take a moment to think about how we talked about ourselves and acted. PGN: What research did you do on the burlesque acts and period? DCB: I started writing this as a project doing a burlesque night. I saw the word “nance” and phrase “nance action in the balcony.” A nance was a campy act to be liked and, like commedia dell’arte, there was a structure to every sketch and a swirl of jokes. I would ask older men who knew burlesque and they would have the routines memorized. One third I read, one third I heard and one third I made up in the style. I made up the Hortense monologue, but that’s a standard guy-indrag routine that’s been around since the 1920s. The name of the “Niagara Falls” sketch is called “The Stranger with the Kind Face” with the gay pickup line, “I’ll meet you around the corner in a half-anhour.” The line comments on the action.

tration who were closeted. That’s a lot of people voting against their own interests. Ken Mehlman constructed the anti-homo strategy. I’m fascinated, even now, with the shift for gay marriage. Everyone is for it, except born-again Christians who kick their dogs. But closeted gay men, or gay men who are Republicans, change the conversation or are taught to hate themselves, and that manifests itself politically. PGN: Yes, Chauncey is self-loathing, but Ned, his lover, is full of self-worth. DCB: I think Ned is a good guy, he’s a sponge, but Chauncey is a deep, dark, fascinating person. A lot of “bachelors of the theater” cannot and do not choose to have relationships. Reality is that you don’t love yourself enough to love other people. PGN: Did you write the show with Nathan Lane in mind, and how did you work with him on the role? DCB: I did write it with Nathan in mind. I’ve known him for 10 years now. I sent it to him and he really clicked with it and was a real force in getting this made. In terms of working with him, it was a conversation. He’d want to cut something or I’d argue for him not to do some things. He’d just done “The Iceman Cometh” and then did “Modern Family,” so his life was that — shifting from, Did this man murder his wife? into Pepper.

PGN: The audience acts as an interactive element in the show; the performers are playing to them in the burlesque scenes, THE CAST OF “THE NANCE” but also at them at the same time. This PGN: What can you say about the fabuworks equally well on film. Can you dislous music in the show? cuss incorporating the audience into the DCB: The actual music was done by Glen play? DCB: I knew that I wanted a show that Kelly, and it was spectacular. He just did could be as personal, as vulnerable, as “Bullets Over Broadway.” This is what he truthful and as showy as I could make it. does. He knows this world inside-out. I One that would allow the audience to be would write a draft of the lyric, trying to in the room hearing and getting jokes. imitate Lorenz Hart or Buddy DeSylva. Jack [O’Brien, the director] would bring We ended up getting more pointed — the the lights up during certain scenes, so I song “Everybody’s Looking for Love.” wrote lines where Chauncey could comHe would write a melody and I would put ment on the rococo of the theater, or a words to it. woman in a box seat, and then go into PGN: Like your show “The Little Dog some personal and very conversational Laughed” about a closeted gay actor, “The scenes. I love the juxtaposing of that, Nance” is told to keep his private life and how they both inform each other. secret. Why does this topic interest you so He’ll say a line in a joke, then the line is much that you return to investigating it? repeated in the next scene. Every sketch DCB: It’s not the same story. There were corresponds with what happens in another 70 people in the George W. Bush adminis- scene. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

PORTRAIT from page 25

are running Etsy shops out of their homes, but if they want to scale up there are no resources to let them know there’s a factory in the Northeast that makes leather goods or one where you can get textiles made. So we created a segment called “Hands On” that documents the people, the process and the machines in different factories in the region. It’s in-depth because as a designer when you know all the steps of the process, you understand where you can cut out the fat, because each step costs money. Just carrying a piece of wood from one machine to another can add to the costs. So when you understand that, you can design accordingly to minimize your costs and efforts. We were doing the research on our own and decided we might as well share it in the hopes of promoting and encouraging people to stay local. If you’re making soap and want to have custom boxes made, no need to go overseas — you can go on our site and find a place in Kensington that will do small runs for companies like mine or yours. PGN: It’s important that you’re getting people to think more about the products they use. I look at a pencil and marvel at how many hands touched it along the way. LB: True. Ninety-five percent of everything you own has been physically touched by another human being, whether it be here in the United States or halfway across the world. With the series, we can illuminate that fact, even something as simple as printing our boxes: One person has to load up the machine with ink specific to our boxes, print onto the cardboard and then another person has to physically take the paper to the next spot where it’s cut and folded, etc. There isn’t just a giant machine spewing out a completed project, there are humans involved. PGN: Tell me about the things Analog does to be eco-friendly. LB: It’s something I struggle with because the world is already full of stuff and junk and ours is a luxury product. But we do our best to make it earth-friendly. Being made out of wood, our watches are about 80-percent biodegradable. The wood that’s used comes from a secondary industry so it’s byproduct, not fresh timber. We also work with a nonprofit called “Trees for the Future,” so for every item we sell, we plant a new tree and we use locally manufactured and recyclable packaging. PGN: You wrote on your site that the number-three reason to wear a watch was, “It’s time to grow up

and stop being rude. It’s distracting to be constantly taking out your smart phone to check the time.” What are reasons one and two? LB: Number two: Watches are a great accessory piece, they make a statement, and now because they’re not necessary, they really straddle the area between form and function. Earrings are predominantly worn by women — the same for necklaces — but watches are one of the few accessories that are acceptable for both genders. You’ll have to check the site later for number one! PGN: Your watches are being sold at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. How exciting is that? LB: It’s a total dream for a designer. As a businessperson, getting into Nordstrom is the dream — large volume, lots of outlets. But as a designer I can’t think of anything that has more stature or puts me where I want to be than MOMA. I don’t even know where to go next. It’s the pinnacle. When we were chosen, I got to go to a ceremony at the museum and it was inspiring. PGN: I once said being gay helps you become a successful businessman. LB: Yes, I think my experiences and struggles growing up as a queer individual in a small town made me stronger. It gave me the confidence and strength to know that if I could make it through that, I could tackle whatever I wanted to. I remember being 14 and saying when I’m 18 I’m going to get out of this town, and having the patience to wait for it to happen. A lot of business involves delayed gratification. But I’ve always felt a little separated from the gay community because I don’t really identify as gay; I prefer using queer because it encompasses a larger umbrella. I find too many white gay men who have issues with race or are sexist or transphobic. I identify more with people who are queer or two-spirited or intersexed. PGN: Do you have a partner? LB: Yes, Adam. He’s my rock. He’s a very talented artist and gallery curator. PGN: Random questions: Any story behind your name? LB: Well, it was an afterthought. My parents were told they were having a girl so they picked out the name Rose, which was my grandmother’s name —Rosa — and everything they had was pink. The boy’s name they’d picked out was Fabrizio, which I’m so glad they didn’t go with. As a queer boy I’m

PGN PROFILE

sure I would’ve been called Fab the Fag or something. Fortunately, at the last minute they chose Lorenzo. PGN: My chores growing up were ... LB: We had a house rabbit my brother gave me for Easter. My mother didn’t want pets so close to the pizza shop but since it was a present, she let me keep it. PGN: What act would you perform in a circus? LB: Something related to dance. A couple of years ago, I was in a guerrilla dance troupe here in Philadelphia. It was called Club Lyfestyle and we got written up in Philadelphia Weekly once because we had a dance battle at Key West. Remember that club? It was basically a bunch of wacky artists getting together to synchronize dance wearing crazy costumes. We actually got sponsored by Vitamin Water and did some weddings and two U.S. tours. We were non-professionally trained adults doing something in unison, which seems to be impressive to people. We would just show up at places and people would wonder, Why are all these adults here in neon spandex? And then we would all start dancing in unison. PGN: If you were on “Survivor,” what would be the one item you would take with you? LB: My ukulele. I’ve been playing tenor ukulele for about five years and I love it. [Grabs his instrument and plays a few bars.] PGN: A man of many talents! LB: I try. I never considered myself a musician, but this is really accessible: four strings and it’s really portable, so you can take it and practice anywhere. PGN: Pet peeves? LB: Tardiness. I don’t have time for that. [Laughing] I could come up with puns all day. PGN: First kiss? LB: I was about 15 and I met this kid on planetout.com. He drove to my town in his yellow Camaro and picked me up and we kissed in the car. PGN: I am a ... LB: Queerdo with a beardo. ■ For more information about Analog Watch Company, visit analogwatchco.com. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol.com.

Q Puzzle Wellrounded films Across

1. Puccini opera 6. Like many a Mapplethorpe model 10. Cry before getting off 14. Where the elated walk 15. “If ___ I Would Leave You” 16. Butch Janet 17. One with a big bag of money 18. Basketball analyst Rebecca 19. Bring down 20. Not in the pink 21. Alberta’s anthem 24. Point between “gay” and “com” 25. Without a doubt 27. Lanchester of “Bride of Frankenstein” 29. Franklin and Jefferson, religiously 32. Gillette razor product 34. B. D. Wong, for one 36. Western treaty grp. 38. Meat source Down Under 39. Category

of the words spelled out in the circles 42. Lacto-___ vegetarian 43. Vote of support 44. Are able to, to Shakespeare 45. Kiss from Kahlo 47. Broadway star Stritch 49. Enjoy Forster 51. Gator relatives 55. Pee-___ Herman 57. Boy toy? 60. “Ben Hur” novelist Wallace 61. “Understood” to Ginsberg 63. One with a foamy head 64. Free, in France 66. Buster Brown’s bulldog 67. “Now and ___” 68. Prop for “I have a headache tonight” 69. Big top, e.g. 70. Drinks slowly 71. What you shoot off at in the air

Down

1. Gin diluter 2. ___ fours (doggy-style)

3. Liberace’s choice of fur 4. AFL counterpart 5. Like a family tree? 6. Ignores, as an order 7. Bard’s river 8. “Queen of Country” McEntire 9. Eat away at 10. Broadway bio 11. Cops in gay Paree 12. Prefix with China 13. 12-incher 22. Like insecure people 23. Home st. of Harper Lee 26. Fatty 28. Ms. magazine cofounder 30. The bottom line 31. Pop star Harris 33. Czech Rep. neighbor 34. “She ran the gamut of emotions from ___” (Dorothy Parker) 35. Queen, for

one 37. Like Jane Addams’ activism 40. One who goes after your honey 41. Some pudding flavorings 46. Symbol of sturdiness 48. Nuts of a tall one 50 .You have them when you’re in the hole 52. “Three Tall Women” writer 53. Balls 54. Like Neil Diamond’s Caroline 55. Ice queen Katarina 56. “Nurse Jackie” star Falco 58. Old fruit drink 59. Bottomless 62. Porter’s “I ___ a Kick Out of You” 65. Variety

SPORTS PGN

Get Out and Play

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

Scott A. Drake

Help wanted down under The first rugby match featuring a gay team versus a professional team, on July 6, came out as we had hoped and cheered for, with the Sydney Convicts beating the Macquarie University Warriors 30-12. This historic curtain match between the NSW Waratahs (AUS) and Highlanders (NZ) at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium was part of a series of anti-homophobia initiatives led by Australian sporting organizations in partnership with organizers of next month’s Bingham Cup, the world cup of gay rugby, being held in Sydney. This includes the first international study on homophobia in sports, which is collecting experiences of people in other countries. International rugby superstar and former Wales captain Gareth Thomas is one of only two professional rugby players to have come out of the closet. He said, “I congratulate the Sydney Convicts for winning this historic game. It certainly says a lot about the caliber of gay rugby teams around the world. Thankfully, we are moving incredibly quickly toward attitudes changing about gay people and whether they can play tough sports like rugby. This may be the first gay team invited to play a curtain raiser but I hope it’s not the last.” The gay-straight rugby match intent is to battle homophobia and raise money and awareness for next month’s Bingham Cup tournament. The bi-annual event is a sanctioned tournament named in honor of Mark Bingham, a 9/11 hero who lost his life on Flight 93 and who was a rugger playing on the San Francisco Fog RFC. Philadelphia Gryphons RFC is ready for the cup challenge. So far, 15 ruggers have signed on to go and there’s still some time for a few others to get into the fray. Bingham Cup Week is Aug. 24-31, so if you would like to hang with these guys before they depart, the next rugby boot camp and Saturday social is Aug. 2. Boot camp starts at noon at George Pepper Middle School and the social part is in the afternoon and evening at Westbury. Bring an extra dollar to donate to the cause. Fundraising continues up until departure because a trip to Sydney for a week is no inexpensive proposition. If you can part with $5, $10 or more, go to philadelphiagryphons.org/donate and help send a rugger down under. More help wanted As mentioned in the first paragraph, the organizers of Bingham Cup Sydney 2014, in consultation with the Sydney Convicts Rugby Club and the International Gay Rugby Association and board and in partnership with the You Can Play Project, are

working on the most extensive research on sports homophobia through the survey project “Out on the Fields.” So far, there have been more than 5,000 responses worldwide with a 10,000-person goal. But, curiously, they are far short on responses from the United States. The survey, analysis and final report are being overseen by internationally respected and leading experts on homophobia in sports at six universities and include Sue Rankin of Pennsylvania State University and Pat Griffin from the University of Massachusetts. The study is at outonthefields.com and takes only a couple of minutes of your time, and provides invaluable information. Pass it on and then get out and play! Short stops • Time is running out to get your Phillies tickets to the Gay Community Night Aug. 5. To sit with your buds or gals, go to phillygaydays.com. And screw the fact the Phillies are losing three out of every four games. Their record for Gay Night is even more dismal at 1-10. Just come have fun! ■ Countdown to Gay Games 9: 28 days. Summer home and summer not, what is your group doing this summer? Email scott@epgn.com.

WITH LIBERTY AND TENNIS FOR ALL: Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association members partook of a tennis tradition and had “Breakfast at Wimbledon” July 6 at Westbury. The event was part finals-watching party and part-fundraiser, raising $400 for the organization’s upcoming Philadelphia Open tournament. Tournament director Dave Killian said he anticipated the third annual event to draw more players than last year. The tournament runs July 18-20 at the Legacy Youth Tennis Center in East Falls. Visit plta2014.ning.com for more information. Photo: Scott A. Drake

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

OUT & ABOUT The week ahead

epgn.com

Check Us Out Online

Scene in Philly Cartoons Columns & Back Archives Entertainment Listings in

Out and About Meetings, Team Sports and Support Groups on our

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

Fri. 07/11

Sat. 07/12

Vans Warped Tour Punk bands and skateboarders perform starting at noon at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 856-365-1300.

The Blob and Mothra The classic horror films are screened 11 a.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223.

The Bacon Bros. The country-rock duo performs at 6 and 9 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215-257-5808. Huey Lewis and the News The band performs 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J., 609-3434000. Natalie Merchant The alt-rock singer performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-572-7650. The Original Wailers The reggae group performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Sublime with Rome The rock group performs 8 p.m. at Revel’s Ovation Hall, 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J., 855-3480500. Dennis Miller The comedian performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.

Crosby, Stills & Nash The rock band performs 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. TLC The R&B group performs 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J., 609-343-4000. Howie Mandel The comedian performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3171000.

Sun. 07/13 The Blob and The Giant Spider The 1968 film starring The Monkees is screened 2 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223. Jeff Dunham The comedian performs 4 and 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-3171000.

SHE‘S HERE TO PLAY: Out and witty comedian and singer Sandra Bernhard brings her new show “Sandyland” to the area 8 p.m. July 13 at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del. For more information or tickets, call 302-9941400.

Sandra Bernhard The out comedian and singer performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 302-994-1400.

Mon. 07/14 First Person StorySlam Spoken-word artists perform 7:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Berlin featuring Terri Nunn The R&B singersongwriter performs 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Judgment Night The crime/ action film is screened 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-9226888. 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; 215862-2081.

Tue. 07/15 American Idol Live! Singers from the hit TV show perform 7:30 p.m. at the Mann Center for Performing Arts, West Fairmount Park, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 800-7453000. Video Games The documentary film is screened 8 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215922-6888.

Wed. 07/16 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. Queen with Adam Lambert The iconic rock group taps the out pop/rock singer to front the band 7:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-3899543. Steve Forbes The author of “Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy —

and What We Can Do About It” hosts a reading 8 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215686-5322. The Last Laugh Standup comedians perform 10 p.m. at Tabu 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

Thu. 07/17 Keith Urban The country singer performs 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Bruno Mars The pop singer performs 8 p.m. at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 856-365-1300. Dennis DeYoung The Styx singer performs 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215572-7650. 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.; 609-317-1000.

Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215-545-4511.

Fri. 07/18 Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bad Company The classic rock bands perform 7 p.m. at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 856-365-1300. Toni Braxton and Babyface The R&B stars perform 8 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Jay Brannan The out singersongwriter performs 9 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Night of the Comet The 1984 horror film is screened 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-0223. ■

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN

Making a Classic Modern: Frank Gehry’s Master Plan for the Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of the comprehensive design for the renewal and expansion of the museum by the internationally celebrated architect through Sept. 1, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Opening Blobfest The festival celebrating the classic monster film features events and screening of films from the series July 11-13 at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223. Pam Ann “Full Throttle” The comedian performs July 17-18 at the Rrazz Room, in The Ramada New Hope, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 888-596-1027.

STILL CRAZY, SEXY, COOL: Legendary hit R&B group TLC is back in action, performing 8 p.m. July 12 at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk. For more information or tickets, call 609-343-4000. FREDDIE TO GO: Queen, with out rock singer Adam Lambert fronting the band and ﬁlling the shoes of legendary singer Freddie Mercury, performs 7:30 p.m. July 16 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, call 215-389-9543.

In Dialogue: Wolfgang Tillmans Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of images by the European photographer through Oct. 26, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215763-8100.

Picasso Prints: Myths, Minotaurs and Muses Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of Pablo Picasso’s 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; 215-763-8100. 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.

Closing Deathtrap Bucks Country Playhouse presents the comedy thriller through July 13, 70 S. Main St., New Hope; 215-8622121. Don DC Curry The comedian seen on Comedy Central performs through July 12 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. 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. Linda Lavin The Broadway and screen actor and singer performs through July 12 at the Rrazz Room, in The Ramada New Hope, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 888-596-1027. ■

Jonathan Cohn Glass: Window Aquarium Installation Graver’s Lane Gallery presents an exhibition of one-of-a-kind handblown glass pieces of high quality and creative design through Aug. 18, 8405 Germantown Road; 215-2471603. The Main Dish Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring how modern and contemporary kitchenware reflects attributes of the model homemaker through Sept. 28, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.

Getting married?

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.

Continuing Artificial Light: Flash Photography in the 20th 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.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

SMOOTH OPERATORS: The R&B superstars Toni Braxton and Babyface team up for a tour stopping in Atlantic City 8 p.m. July 18 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way. For more information or tickets, call 609-317-1000.

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.

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.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

PGN

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

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

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

Classifieds Real Estate Sale

Real Estate Sale

Help Wanted

140 E Franklin Ave, Collingswood, NJ 08108 3 beds, 4 baths, 1,838 sqft • For Sale $329,900 Location, Location, Location! This Relaxing Rancher set at the end of a quaint tree-lined street, on a most spacious property, has the Charm, Convenience and Location that you have been waiting for in a Collingswood home. The slate floor foyer welcomes you to the large living room with a Brick Fireplace, glistening Hardwood floors just refinished and Magnificent views of Cooper River Park! Freshly painted rooms throughout, New plush Bedroom carpeting, updated Kitchen flooring, and an abundance of sunlit windows, all add to the fabulous features of this home. Begin your day in the breakfast room off the kitchen where you are provided access to the enclosed porch and the delightful deck to end your day by enjoying the tranquil scenery of the park and the Philadelphia skyline. Three good size bedrooms, one with its own balcony, features a Master bedroom suite offering its own private bathroom and extra closets. The oversized 2car garage and driveway handles all of your off street parking. Wait until you see the enormous basement! Huge rooms divided for play, laundry and an office with its own river view too! You too can Enjoy the Park and all it has to offer you for jogging along the trails, picnicking among the cherry blossoms, relaxing in a sail boat or cheering on your favorite team in a rowing regatta! Collingswood restaurants and shopping, bridges and highways all nearby for your convenience. Come and see for yourself!

Contact: Candace Lowden, CENTURY 21 Alliance phone: 856.429.7700, mobile: 609.410.1338

Chester Springs, PA

ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE WANTED

Walk through the iron gates on this brand new (started building in 2006 and just finished) unique Spanish Mediterranean style Manor with contemporary first floor living. It has 5 bedrooms and 4 full baths – one with a built in Sauna and cast iron soaking tub. This home has Top of the Line EVERYTHING! Geothermal Electric, Heat/Air, Brazilian Cherry Floors throughout, 3 fireplaces made out of marble and travertine (2 gas inserts and 1 heatilator), Top of the Line Hardware, Appliances (Meile food steamer, Viking refrigerator, Meile coffee/cappuccino/grinder, 6 burner gas stove, double ovens), 1 prep island with an additional center island. Beautiful sunroom with three separate seating areas. Full, walk up, basement is ready to be finished and has already been plumbed for a bathroom. Subdivision possible.

PRICED TO SELL

LYNISE CARUSO

Ofﬁce: (610) 688-4310 Mobile Phone: (610) 564-2102 Home Fax: (610) 482-9388 • Direct: (610) 293-4155

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.

PGN currently has an advertising sales position avaiable for an energetic, self-motivated individual with outstanding communication skills. Our ideal candidate must have polished sales skills with experience in lead generation and cold calling, combined with a track record of closing the sale. QUALIFICATIONS: • Two years of successful sales experience, preferably in print and/or online sales • Strong verbal and writing skills • Excellent at relationship building • Ability to work independently and part of a team • Knowledge of local media market and/or LGBT community a plus • Computer literacy a must Salary/Benefits: Salary plus commission. Our benefits package includes medical and dental insurance, paid holidays, vacation and a casual work environment. Qualified individuals interested in applying are encouraged to send their resume to greg@epgn.com.

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.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

Real Estate Sale

Help Wanted

Friends Men

VENTNOR, NJ House for sale in Ventnor NJ. 2 story 5 bedroom house, needs some repairs. Priced right. Call 215 468 9166. ________________________________________38-25 215 COUNTRY LN, PHOENIXVILLE PA 19460 5 beds, 5 baths, 5,252 sq ft. $699,000. PRICED TO SELL BELOW THE Zestimate®: $719,539. Serenity Tranquility and Privacy are yours in this spectacular secluded wooded setting perfect for the nature lover and bird watcher (and located in the lovely, gay-friendly, Sunwood Farm). Easy commute to Center City! This spectacular B J Drueding built (best builder) spacious cape features over $100,000 in upgrades (marble/granite/hardwood ﬂrs) & improvements by current owner (a high end custom home builder). Hurry at this price! Call Sam at 954-683-5418. ________________________________________38-29 OPEN HOUSE 427 DICKINSON ST. PHILA, PA. 19147 Sunday 7/13, 12-3pm. Gorgeous fully renovated Dickinson Square Townhouse, 4BR/2.5BA , private master bedroom suite, high end kitchen, granite counters, custom cabinets, wood ﬂoors throughout, porcelain tile baths, nice backyard. 389,900. 215-317-9697. ________________________________________38-28 C H E LT E N H A M 3 B R S T O N E R A N C H Exceptional 3br 2.5bth, easy commute to Center City. Professionally designed kitchen, subzero fridge, dacor oven, custom exhaust. French limestone luxury bathrooms. 3rd br designed as study w/cherry built-ins. High-end everything!! $285,000. Photos, www.weichert.com/52533114. Showings, CindyGRosenfeld@gmail.com. ________________________________________38-28 WATERFRONT LOTS Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Was $325k, Now From $65,000 -Community Center/Pool, 1 acre+ Lots, Bay & Ocean Access, Great Fishing, Crabbing, Kayaking. Custom Homes. www.oldemillpointe.com 757-824-0808. ________________________________________38-28

HIV/AIDS PREVENTION EDUCATION HIV/AIDS Prevention Health Education services to at risk population in Atlantic City. This professional will provide one on one education, community outreach and small group sessions to at risk individuals. College degree required. Bilingual and experience working with the GLBT community preferred. Must be able to travel to different locations in Southern New Jersey and attend training sessions statewide. Salary range $28,000 to $32,000 depending upon education and experience. Employer paid medical, dental and prescription benefits included. Please respond with cover letter and resume to info@sjaids.org ________________________________________38-28 Restaurant staff, live in available. Northeast PA. Call Tim. 917-992-5262. ________________________________________38-28 FURNITURE, ROOM DESIGN & SALES We have an opening for a fashion forward sales associate with a passion for design. Ability to coordinate and sell great interior presentations. Formal training is not necessary but helpful. We are Philadelphia’s unique lifestyle retailer that offers a variety of cool and chic merchandise for the home including furniture, artwork, lighting and decorative accessories from around the world. Qualifications: Previous sales experience required. Must be friendly, outgoing with an upbeat personality and a winning attitude. A strong understanding of room planning and visual merchandising. Maturity and proven accountability. The ability to work flexible hours including weekends. We offer a guaranteed draw against commission, health insurance program and benefits. Jackie Bendana, Dwelling. Fax resume to 215487-1434 or info@dwellinghome.com ________________________________________38-28 Want A Career Operating Heavy Equipment? Bulldozers, Backhoes, Excavators. “Hands On Training” & Certifications Offered. National Average 18-22 Hourly! Lifetime Job Placement Assistance. VA Benefits Eligible! 1-866-362-6497. ________________________________________38-28 Want A Career As A HVAC Technician? Accelerated ‘Hands On Training” & Certifications Offered. National Average 1822 Hourly! Lifetime Job Placement Assistance. VA Benefits Eligible! 1-877-994-9904. ________________________________________38-28

PT Experienced Truck Drivers. With Swift, you can run miles, make money, and spend quality home time with your family. Immediate openings for part-time drivers at our Harrisburg terminal. Drive with Swift, call us now! *Dedicated Opportunities *Competitive Pay *Late-Model Equipment Available. Call: (717)861-7045. ________________________________________38-28 Driver/Class A DEDICATED. $1,500 SIGN ON BONUS. Jacobson Transportation is currently seeking full-time Class A drivers for our dedicated customer account on the East Coast. $1000-$1200/wk. Home weekly. Additional Incentive Based Bonus Pay. No touch freight. Great Family Beneﬁts (BCBS). Jacobson Companies. Call Today! 866-511-1134 Or apply online at www.DriveJTC.com ________________________________________38-28

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. ________________________________________38-30 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. ________________________________________38-29 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 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. ________________________________________38-29 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________38-28

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals 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 ________________________________________38-28 Rooms for men. oceanhouseatlanticcity.com ________________________________________38-34

For Sale Need immediate access to PA Newspapers and their key personnel? The 2014 PA NEWS MEDIA Directory is available online: annual fee of $100 plus tax - or hard copy: $50 plus tax & shipping. Contact: KristinB@pa-news.org or call 717-703-3069. ________________________________________38-28

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. ________________________________________38-28 AIRLINE CAREERS begin here - Get FAA approved Aviation Technician training. Financial Aid for qualiﬁed students. Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 1888-834-9715. ________________________________________38-27

Adoption Adopt: Devoted loving couple wishes to adopt newborn into secure home ﬁlled with care, love & happiness. Expenses Paid. Anthony/Tim, call 855.975.4792, text 917.991.0612, www.anthonyandtim.com ________________________________________38-28 ADOPTION We promise your baby a Lifetime of LOVE, laughs and security. Expenses paid. Gloria & Walter, 1-800-523-7192 Email: gloriawalteradopt@gmail.com ________________________________________38-28

Massage

Proud to serve our community for over 38 years.

Placing Classiﬁeds Liner Ads In Person: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, By Phone or on the Web: 24 Hours, 7 Days

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

GENERAL INFORMATION

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.

David, 64, 6’, 200 lbs., attentive. 215-569-4949. (24/7) ________________________________________38-28

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

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(located 3 doors up from Sansom St Gym)

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

LAPT LAPTOP LAPTO PTO P TO T OP P OR O R MOB OBI O BILE MOBILE

HOURS OF OPERATION:

WE’RE W WERE E’R RE VERSATILE V ERSA AT TILE

Monday - Thursday

7am-6am

(closed an hour for cleaning)

Friday- Sunday:

Open 24hrs

ADMISSION: $12.00

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

RED, WHITE & BLUE Saturday, July 12th Time: 11pm-3:30am WHAT TO EXPECT:

• DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys To Choose From & So Much More

WET & WILD

Sunday, July 26th, 2014 Time: 11pm-3:30am

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

WHAT TO EXPECT: WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE •* DJ David Dutch $12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight) * Complimentary Food & Beverages * A Full House of Guys to Choose From & Soo Much More... Check out our website for our WEEKLY SPECIALS &

- ROOMS GO QUICKLY SO CHECK IN EARLY -

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; 215-568-6250. Bethlehem-Judah Ministries Open and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays at 5091 N. Dupont Hwy., Suite D, Dover, Del.; 302-750-4045. BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church Services 10:15 a.m. at 2040 Street Road, Warrington; 215-343-0406. 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; 610-6880664. 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.; 215563-3853. 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.lansdownepresbyterian-church. 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.; 215-248-2950, 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; 610-358-1716, 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.; 215-7646364, 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.; 215-922-4566, 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; 215-598-7601. Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral Progressive and affirming congregation holds services 10 a.m. Sundays with Holy Eucharist at 3723 Chestnut St.; 215-386-0234, 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.; 215-241-7000, cpmm@afsc.org. Resurrection Lutheran Church Services 10 a.m. Sundays at 620 Welsh Road, Horsham; 215-646-2597. 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.; 215-732-1918, 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; 215-386-3916; 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. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Welcoming and diverse congregation with numerous outreach and fellowship groups holds services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday at Third and Pine streets; 215-925-5968; www.stpetersphila.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; 610-566-4853. 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.; 856-6673618, 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; 609-965-9400, 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 July 11-17, 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 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday-Friday. ■ 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. MondayThursday; 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, 215-6869980, helen.fitzpatrick@phila.gov

■ Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. Activities held 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays.

■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Peer counseling: 6-9 p.m. Monday-Friday Library: noon-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Volunteers: New Orientation, first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

Key numbers

of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833

■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org

■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670

■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378

■ Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-686-3318

■ GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization: 215-8511822 ■ LGBT Elder Initiative: 267-5463448; info@LGBTEI.org ■ LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK ■ Mayor’s Director of LGBT Affairs: Gloria Casarez, 215-6862194; Gloria.Casarez@phila.gov; ■ Mazzoni Center: 215-563-0652; Legal Services: 215-563-0657, 866-LGBT-LAW; Family & Community Medicine: 215-563-0658

■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-760-3686 (Rick Lombardo); ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: 215875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-9209537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

■ Parents, Families and Friends

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.; 215-763-8870. ActionAIDS Provides a range of programs for people affected by HIV/AIDS, including case management, prevention, testing and education services at 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, www.actionaids.org. GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-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 appointment) at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; 215-685-1821.

■ Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia Board meetings at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at 100 S. Broad St., Suite 1810; free referral service at 215-627-9090, www. galloplaw.org. ■ Independence Business Alliance Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, providing networking, business development, marketing, educational and advocacy opportunities for LGBT and

HIV health insurance help Access to free medications and confidential HIV testing 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 LGBTQ counseling and behavioral health services, HIV/AIDS care and services, case management and support groups; 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-5630652, www.mazzonicenter.org. Mazzoni Center Family & Community Medicine Comprehensive primary health care, preventive health services, gynecology, sexual-health services and chronic-disease management, including comprehensive HIV care, as well as youth drop-in (ages 14-24) 5-7p.m. Wednesdays; 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.9 pm. Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206.

Professional groups LGBT-friendly businesses and professionals; 215-557-0190, www.IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com. ■ National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA, open to professionals and students, meets for social and networking events; www.nlgja. org/philly; philly@nlgja.org.

■ Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Regional organization dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism to the Greater Philadelphia region, meetings every other month on the fourth Thursday (January, March, May, July, September and the third Thursday in November), open to the public; 215-840-2039, www. philadelphiagaytourism.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com July 11-17, 2014

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