PGN Oct 3-9, 2014 by The Philadelphia Gay News

LGBT Sports Issue: Focus on flag football PAGE 22

National National LGBT LGBT History History Month Month Project Project

Activist John James

Playright Robert Patrick

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Oct. 3-9, 2014

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PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

Vol. 38 No. 40

Prosecutor: This was an antigay crime By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

LOVE AT LOVE PARK: Despite off and on rain, about 300 people rallied in support of expanded hate-crimes legislation at Love Park Sept. 25. The demonstration was prompted by last month’s attack in Center City on a gay couple. Pennsylvania’s hate-crimes statute does not include protections for sexual orientation or gender identity, and many of the speakers called on legislators to remedy the law. For more coverage of the rally, see page 5. Photo: Jen Colletta

The prosecutor who will bring the case against three people accused of attacking a gay couple in Center City last month told PGN this week that he believes the incident was spurred by antigay animus. “This was a crime motivated against these guys because of their sexual orientation. I have no doubt about that,” said assistant district attorney Michael Barry. Barry is the prosecutor assigned to the cases against Kathryn Knott, Philip Williams and Kevin Harrigan. Attorneys for the three suspects were in court Tuesday for a status hearing, at which Common Pleas Judge Roger Gordon set a

State police will track anti-trans bias incidents in 2015 By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epn.com Beginning next year, Pennsylvania state police will track bias incidents directed specifically against transgender individuals, an agency spokesperson said last week. “The FBI has positioned themselves, and we have positioned ourselves as well, to begin collecting data in gender bias specifically for anti-transgender, beginning Jan. 1, 2015,” said Pennsylvania State Trooper Adam Reed in an email. New federal guidelines encourage the tracking of bias incidents on the basis of race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, gender, gen-

der identity, sexual orientation and disability. About 1,700 law-enforcement and educational agencies across the state, including the Philadelphia Police Department, are expected to track bias incidents against transgender individuals. The agencies provide bias-incident data to state police on a monthly basis, and state police convey the information to the FBI, OF publishes an annual hatewhich crimes statistics report. About a year ago, state police created a bias category called “anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender.” But that category is for incidents directed against LGBTs in general, such PAGE 26

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preliminary hearing date of Dec. 16. None of the suspects, who were released last week on bail, was present. Barry said he supported the hearing being scheduled later than is normal, to ensure that the schedules of all attorneys, witnesses and other parties involved are clear. At a preliminary hearing, a judge hears arguments from both sides to determine if there is enough evidence against the defendants to proceed to trial. At the hearing, Barry said, he will be tasked with presenting a “barebones, minimum” case of the events that took place Sept. 11, when Knott, Williams and Harrigan are accused of punching, kicking and hurling antigay slurs at a gay couple at PAGE 26

City Council moves to add LGBT hatecrimes law By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com

SATURDAY SPLASH: William Way LGBT Community Center executive director Chris Bartlett donned his finest dunking attire for Philly AIDS Thrift’s ninth-anniversary block party Sept. 27 outside the Fifth Street store. Bartlett, pictured with PAT co-founder Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou, was among the guests who took the dunk-tank plunge to raise money for PAT, which donates its proceeds to local HIV/ AIDS causes. The party featured crafts, a magic show, kids’ activities, music, dancing and an array of offerings from local food trucks. Photo: Liz DeMartino

City Councilmembers Blondell Reynolds Brown and James Kenney last week introduced legislation that would extend punishment for hate crimes in Philadelphia to LGBT people. The bill would add a new chapter to the Philadelphia Code to provide additional penalties for hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity and disabilities as defined in the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance. The measure was introduced in direct response to the gay-bashing incident that took place in Philly Sept. 11. Pennsylvania’s hate-crimes law was amended in 2002 to include sexual orientation, gender identity and disability, but those provisions were later PAGE 26

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

News Briefing Out judge suspended Openly gay Municipal Court Judge Dawn Segal, elected in 2010, was suspended from the bench last week amid an investigation of corruption charges of a fellow judge. The state Supreme Court last Wednesday suspended Segal and Joseph O’Neill. The action came after former Municipal Judge Joseph Waters, Jr., pleaded guilty to mail and honest-services wire fraud. During the course of the investigation, Waters admitted to placing phone calls to two judges, asking them to fix cases for friends. Those judges were later identified as Segal and O’Neill. Neither Segal nor O’Neill has formally been accused of wrongdoing, but will be prevented from presiding over cases as the Judicial Conduct Board examines their alleged interaction with Waters.

Possible MontCo deal Under a potential settlement agreement, Pennsylvania will recognize as valid about a quarter of the marriages performed in Montgomery County last summer.

The potential deal comes in Ballen v. Wolf, in which dozens of same-sex couples sued the state for recognition of their marriage certificates issued by Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes, who last summer spent several weeks issuing licenses before being halted by a judge. About 200 couples were issued licenses, but the settlement would only affect 27 couples included as plaintiffs in the suit; the rest would remain unmarried, unless they have since obtained a new license. As part of the agreement, the couples’ marriage dates would be moved to May 20, 2014, the day Pennsylvania legalized same-sex marriage. In a separate case, Hanes is continuing his appeal of the judge’s order that found he did not have authority to issue licenses based on his finding that the now-defunct ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. — Jen Colletta

Rebuttal brief filed in Milano case Attorneys for Frank R. Chester filed a rebuttal brief Sept. 12, claiming their client had minimal involvement in the murder of gay artist Anthony Milano. In December 1987, Milano’s body was found in a wooded area of Bristol Township, with most of his throat gone. Shortly before his death, Milano was seen leaving a nearby tavern with Chester and Richard R. Laird. Bucks County prosecutors called

Milano’s murder an antigay hate crime, and Chester and Laird were sentenced to death in 1988. But Chester claims he received ineffective assistance from his trial attorney, and he wants his convictions overturned. The Sept. 12 brief filed on Chester’s behalf claims his trial attorney had an “avalanche of personal and professional woes,” which rendered him ineffective. The brief also claims that Laird, not Chester, stabbed Milano to death. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit must decide whether to void all of Chester’s convictions, including second-degree murder and kidnapping. Meanwhile, Chester, 45, and Laird, 51, remain on death row in Pennsylvania state prisons. Laird’s appeal for a new trial remains pending in the state Supreme Court.

Elinor Sidi, executive director of the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, will be a featured guest. “We ask that people register by Oct. 7, so we can plan accordingly,” said Jay Steinberg, an event organizer. “But we welcome walk-ins that evening as well.” Attendees can eat inside a sukkah, a make-shift dwelling symbolizing the huts that Israelites lived in while wandering in the Sinai desert for 40 years before reaching Israel. For more information, contact Steinberg at 215-832-0888 or email jsteinberg@jfgp. org.

Jewish event at JCAA

The 11th annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day celebration will take place 12:30-5 p.m. Oct. 11 at Fairhill Square Park, Fourth Street and Lehigh Avenue. The event is free and will include a number of medical services such as HIV and Hep. C testing and health screenings. There will also be raffles, music, food, face painting and live performances. The event is presented by GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization. For more information, contact Zahira Soto at 215-763-8870 ext. 7125. n

Jewish Pride, an LGBT initiative of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, is sponsoring “SukkOUT,” in celebration of the annual Jewish holiday Sukkot. The event will be held 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the courtyard of the John C. Anderson Apartments, 251 S. 13th St. An $18 cover charge is requested, but the event is free to Anderson residents. Wine and vegetarian food will be served. Guests are asked to bring non-perishable food items for Federation’s Mitvah Food Project and Mazzoni Center’s Food Bank.

— Timothy Cwiek

Event promotes Latino AIDS awareness

— Ryan Kasley

free library and honor box locations FREE LIBRARY LOCATIONS

Andorra Branch, 705 E. Cathedral Road • Blanch A. Nixon Branch, 5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway • Bustleton Branch, 10199 Bustleton Ave. • Falls of Schuylkill Branch, 3501 Midvale Ave. • Fishtown Branch, 1217 E. Montgomery Ave. • Frankford Branch, 4634 Frankford Ave. • Independence Branch, 18 S. Seventh St. • Joseph E. Coleman Branch, 68 W. Chelten Ave. • Kingsessing Branch, 1201 S. 51st St. • Lehigh Branch, 601 W. Lehigh Ave. • Logan Branch, 1333 Wagner Ave. • Lovett Branch, 6945 Germantown Ave. • Main Branch, 1901 Vine St. • McPherson Square Branch, 601 E. Indiana Ave. • Northeast Regional, 2228 Cottman Ave. • Oak Lane Branch, 6614 N. 12th St. • Ogontz Branch, 6017 Ogontz Ave. • Olney Branch, 5501 N. Fifth St. • Thomas F. Donatucci Branch, 1935 Shunk St. • Richmond Branch, 2987 Almond St. • Rodriguez Branch, 600 W. Girard Ave. • Roxborough Branch, 6245 Ridge Ave. • Southwark Branch, 932 S. Seventh St. • Welsh Road Branch, 9233 Roosevelt Blvd. • West Phila. Branch, 125 S. 52nd St. • Wynnefield Branch, 5325 Overbrook Ave.

HONOR BOXES

2nd & Chestnut sts. • 2nd & Market sts. • 2nd & Walnut sts. • 2nd & South sts. • 2nd & Wildey sts. • 3rd & Arch sts. • 3rd & Market sts. • 3rd & Race sts. • 3rd & Spruce sts. • 4th & Bainbridge sts. • 4th & Chestnut sts. • 4th St. bet. Arch & Market sts., by Holiday Inn • 5th & Chestnut sts. • 5th & Spring Garden sts. • 5th & Spruce sts. • 6th & Chestnut sts. • 6th & South sts. • 6th St. & Washington Square West • 7th & Pine sts. • 8th & Market sts. • 8th & South sts. • 8th & Walnut sts. • 9th & Market sts. • 9th & Pine sts. • 10th & Pine sts. • 10th & South sts. • 10th & Spruce sts.• 10th & Reed sts. • 11th & Arch sts. • 11th & Locust sts. • 11th & Pine sts. • 11th & Walnut sts. • 12th & Filbert sts. • 12th & Locust sts. • 12th & Manning sts. •12th & Spruce sts. • 12th & Walnut sts. • 13th & Arch sts. • 13th & Chestnut sts. • 13th & Locust sts. • 13th & Pine sts. • 13th & Sansom sts. • 13th & Spruce sts. • 13th & Walnut sts. •15th & Spruce sts. • 16th St. & JFK Boulevard • 16th & Market sts. • 17th & Lombard sts. • 17th & Pine sts. • 17th & Spruce sts. • 18th St. & JFK Boulevard • 18th & Locust sts. • 18th & Market sts. • 19th & South sts. • 20th & Fitzwater sts. • 20th & Locust sts. • 20th & Pine sts. • 20th & Sansom sts. • 20th & Vine sts. • 21st & Walnut sts. • 22nd & Chestnut sts. • 22nd & Market sts. • 22nd & South sts. • 22nd & Walnut sts. • 23rd St. & Fairmount Avenue • 27th & Poplar sts. • 28th & Girard sts.• 29th & Girard sts. • 30th & Market sts. • 34th & Spruce sts. • 34th & Walnut sts. • 36th & Walnut sts. • 37th & Spruce sts. • 38th & Chestnut sts. • 38th & Spruce sts. • 38th & Walnut sts. • 40th & Walnut sts. • 40th & Spruce sts. • 63rd St. & City Ave. • 69th St. SEPTA station • 505 S. Fourth St. • Broad & Chestnut sts. • Broad & Ellsworth sts. • Broad & Race sts. • Broad & Spruce sts. • Broad & Walnut sts. • Front & Girard sts. • Germantown & Girard sts. • Juniper & Market sts. • Main & Cotton sts. • Main & Levering sts. • Passyunk Ave & 10th & Reed sts. • Passyunk & Mifﬂin sts. • University City SEPTA Station • Walnut & Dock sts., by Ritz Movies • Welsh Road & Roosevelt Boulevard • Wyndmoor SEPTA Station •

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

http://www.epgn.com/pages/where_to_find

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

Weekly features

News&Opinion 2 — News Briefing 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Transmissions Mark My Words Street Talk

AC &

30 31 34 36 40

— — — — —

Scene in Philly Family Portrait Q Puzzle Out & About Comics

A new queen has been crowned.

14/19 PUERTO-RICAN PRIDE: For the second year in a row, GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social-Justice Organization marched in Philadelphia’s Puerto-Rican Day Parade. About 15 GALAEI staffers, board members and volunteers marched as an organized contingent in the parade, held Sept. 28 in Center City. “The weather couldn’t have been nicer,” said GALAEI executive director Elicia Gonzales. “It was just a really beautiful day. People were very welcoming. They were engaging and happy to see us there.” Gonzales praised the warm reception for GALAEI. “It’s just another reminder that Latin@ communities are very affirming of LGBT Latin@s. We feel really honored and proud to be able to continue to show visibility of our pride and who we are.”

This week in PGN

C o l u m n s

12 — OutLaw: Where PA’s hatecrimes law stands

Classifieds 37 — Real Estate 41 — Personals 43 — Bulletin Board

6 — Attorney in gay-related murder wants out 7 — ACLU honors leaders and volunteers 8 — Lehigh Valley readies for first LGBT wedding expo 9 — Old Pine Church marks historic wedding 14, 19 — National LGBT History Month Project 22-26 — Welcome, footballers!

PGN kicks off LGBT History Month with its National LGBT History Month Project, focusing this week on the Annual Reminders and Robert Patrick.

27 — Arts & Culture cover story: PAWSitively excited for Aiden James

“All I keep thinking is what gay people all over the Midwest, the South, in small towns and in rural areas are thinking, if something so reprehensible could happen in the most LGBT-friendly city in the United States.”

Check out who will represent Philadelphia in the Gay Bowl: Revolution and Lightning.

~ Angela Giampolo, on the recent gay bashing, page 12

Next week OutMoney Thinking Queerly Before the Bells

Two weeks Paw Prints Gettin’ On

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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.

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Hundreds rally to support hate-crimes expansion By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com More than 300 people gathered at Love Park last Thursday to demand hatecrimes protections for LGBT people in Pennsylvania. The rally, organized by state Rep. Brian Sims (D-182nd Dist.), was well-attended by elected officials and community leaders. The rally was held after police arrested three suspects in the attack of a gay couple in Center City last month. Caryn Kunkle, friend of and spokesperson for the victims, was also in attendance. “I am thankful that many legislators are

working to restore Pennsylvania’s inclusive hate-crime law,” she said. “This is important to me not only because of my gay friends who were brutally attacked, but also because I have struggled my entire life to protect my autistic younger brother. It is never OK to hurt someone because of who they are,” Kunkle said. A law was passed in 2002 to add sexual orientation, gender identity and several other classes to the hate-crimes law, but that was later overturned on a technical-

city and state. We can no longer excuse nor ignore the behavior of violence in our communities or discriminatory targeting of any Pennsylvanian. Crimes against our friends, family and neighbors of the LGBT community solely committed because of a hatred for a natural difference must be deemed what they truly are — a hate crime. Our General Assembly must set an example and take the necessary actions to properly protect each and every one of our constituents.”

Street Talk What's your message for lawmakers about anti-LGBT hate crimes? "It’s ridiculous we can't pass what many other states already have to be in line with basic human rights." "Hate crimes for any reason, including for sexual orientation and gender identity, will not be tolerated."

Jill Speer Philadelphia

Neil Bardhan Philadelphia

"This bill really needs to be passed. I think we are really behind a lot of other states." Liz Weissert Rittenhouse Square

"There are no excuses for not having this legislation in the state. It is beyond time that they pass this." Matt Vitorla Center City

ity. Efforts to reintroduce those protections have been stalled since. Sims called out his colleagues who oppose passing the legislation. “There are some in Harrisburg who object to restoring sexual orientation and gender-identity protections to the hatecrime law. But they haven’t been calling for repeal of the law’s remaining protections, for victims targeted because of their race, color, religion or national origin — they know they would take a political hit for that,” he said. “Unfortunately, they think there’s no political penalty or constituent outrage to face for leaving out women, LGBT people or people targeted because of their ancestry or mental or physical disability. Pennsylvanians who don’t like this injustice need to let their state representative and senator know now.” State Rep. Cherelle Parker (D-200th Dist.) said the impact of last month’s attack went far beyond just the victims. “It was Dr. King who stated, ‘Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly,’ and all acts of violence in Philadelphia directly and indirectly impact our city’s 1.5-million residents and the more-than 12-million residents of our commonwealth,” she said. “Every citizen, regardless of their ethnic background, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity has the right to feel safe in this

City Councilwoman Philadelphia Blondell Reynolds Brown announced plans to introduce local legislation to maximize

the penalties for hate-crime offenders within the city. The proposed bill is co-sponsored by Councilman Jim Kenney, who was also in attendance at the rally. Other elected officials and representatives at the rally included Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, state Sen. Larry Farnese (D-First Dist.), Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin, community activist Sharron Cooks, William Way LGBT Community Center executive director Chris Bartlett and GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization executive director Elicia Gonzales. n

STATE REP. BRIAN SIMS (CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT), BROOKE LUTZ, MATT FISCHETTI AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER LGBTS AND ALLIES CALLED ON STATE LAWMAKERS TO ADOPT AN LGBT-INCLUSIVE HATE-CRIMES LAW AT A SEPT. 25 RALLY AT LOVE PARK Photos: Jen Colletta

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

Attorney seeks withdrawal in murder case By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

CROWNING MOMENT: Honey Davenport (in red) reacts after being named winner of the 2014 Miss’d America contest. Held Sept. 28 at Harrah’s Resort, the 23rd annual fundraising parody of the mainstream contest was hosted by Carson Kressley (center) and featured performances by The Village People and the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement award to former host Robert “Sandy Beach” Hitchens. Greater Atlantic City GLBT Alliance president Rich Helfant said organizers were “thrilled” with the judges’ selection of Davenport — Philly native James Heath-Clark — who bested seven other contestants. “We know she is going to be an excellent spokesperson for gay Atlantic City,” Helfant said. Photo: Jen Colletta

Henry D. Forrest, a court-appointed attorney for a gay man who’s appealing a first-degree murder conviction, has requested permission to withdraw from the case. In 2008, William F. Smithson was convicted of strangling to death his coworker, Jason Shephard, while trying to rape him. But Smithson maintains his innocence. He claims his trial attorney, G. Guy Smith, didn’t adequately investigate F. Bruce Covington — who also was inside Smithson’s home when Shephard died. Delaware County prosecutors charged Covington with drug-related offenses stemming from the incident, but say Smithson is Shephard’s killer. Smithson’s appeal for a new trial is pending before state Superior Court. On Aug. 26, Forrest filed a 20-page document asking to withdraw from the case, on the basis that Smithson’s appeal is allegedly meritless. For his part, Smith says he did a thorough job of investigating Covington. “I chased Covington harder than anybody I’ve chased in my

life,” Smith testified during a 2013 court proceeding. But, Smith also acknowledged he surveilled Covington in an obvious manner. Advocates for Smithson say that approach rendered Smith’s surveillance ineffective. “I wanted [Covington] to know he was being pursued by me,” Smith testified. “I spent more nights than I want to count, sitting outside his residence.” Smith also acknowledged telling Covington’s attorneys that he was surveilling Covington. “I wanted [Covington] to feel my hot breath, so to speak,” Smith explained. In his Aug. 26 filing, Forrest asserted that Smith investigated Covington in a reasonable manner, and that he couldn’t argue otherwise. Forrest also took issue with Smithson’s contention that Smith was remiss in failing to challenge the veracity of Dan Hall, a former lover of Smithson. Hall allegedly gave a statement to police that incriminated Smithson in Shephard’s murder. But Smithson claims that Hall had a crystal-meth addiction, impairing his ability to testify credibly about the incident. During a 2013 court proceeding,

Forrest called Hall “the star witness for the commonwealth. And I would submit that, without Dan Hall’s testimony in the trial, the commonwealth would have no case [against Smithson].” But Forrest has apparently changed his mind about the importance of challenging Hall’s credibility. In his Aug. 8 filing, he said Smith “had a reasonable basis for limiting his cross-examination, and/or not otherwise impeaching Hall concerning his drug usage.” Forrest noted that Smith was concerned that Hall would “completely come apart” on the witness stand, if questioned about his drug usage. Hall died April 2, 2013. But before his death, he signed an affidavit acknowledging his crystal-meth addiction and his inability to clearly recall events relating to the Shephard incident. Forrest couldn’t be reached for comment. On Sept. 3, Smithson filed a document in Superior Court, objecting to Forrest’s characterization of his appeal as meritless. By presstime, the court hadn’t ruled on Forrest’s request to withdraw as Smithson’s attorney. n

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ACLU celebrates LGBT legal victories By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com

worked on the case. Other winners are the Neshaminy High School newspaper editors and Arnold & Porter, LLP. The American Civil Liberties Union of This year’s theme is “transforming lives.” Pennsylvania will honor exemplary liber- Bruce Makous, development director for tarians and volunteers throughout the state, ACLU-PA, said the event takes on the charincluding a number of LGBT commu- acter of the achievements and accomplishnity members, at its annual Bill of Rights ments of the people it is recognizing. “There have been so many successes this Dinner next week. The dress-as-you’re-most-comfortable year. It’s unbelievable. Some large cases at event will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at the U.S. Supreme Court level, and others at the National Museum of American Jewish the highest court in the state,” Makous said. “Whitewood v. Wolf was a huge accomHistory, Fifth and Market streets. Among the winners of the 2014 Civil plishment for us. When we say transformLibertarian Award are the clients in the ing lives, we think we have helped so many Whitewood v. Wolf case, which in effect same-sex couples in Pennsylvania or those brought marriage equality to Pennsylvania, who have desired to be married. And this and Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & dinner celebrates these advancements in the Schiller, the firm with which ACLU-PA protection of our civil liberties.” An awards committee comprised of previous winners from over the past five years chose the Civil Libertarian award winners. ACLU will also recognize outstanding volunteers Edward Posner and Lawrence Felzer, who is openly gay. Makous said both are being recognized for their “generous contributions of time and energy to the ALCU. Posner has been a cooperating attorney for decades and has always given us much of his free time to us. Felzer has been a strong supporter for years, and has been very active in making the PLAINTIFFS IN THE PENNSYLVANIA MARRIAGEEQUALITY CASE, INCLUDING THE WHITEWOOD LGBT community aware of FAMILY (FOREFRONT) PGN file photo our accomplishments. We have

WALK BACK IN TIME: AIDS Fund executive director Robb Reichard (right) and BEBASHI executive director Gary Bell were among the guests on hand Sept. 26 to celebrate the countdown to this month’s AIDS Walk. The annual kickoff event was held in Rittenhouse Square, where passersby were able to trace the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the “1981-Until It’s Over” timeline exhibit. The 28th annual walk, set for Oct. 19 and organized by AIDS Fund, will this year have a shortened route, from a 12K to a 5K. The run portion will remain a 5K. To register, visit www. aidswalkphilly.org. Photo: Cari Feiler Bender

also received many contributions and grants through his personal efforts.” Master of ceremonies Michael Coard, radio host and community activist, will be joined by guest Ben Wizner, attorney for Edward Snowden and director of the ACLU speech, privacy and technology project. Makous sees privacy as a huge issue for Pennsylvanians and all Americans. “We wanted to address the Fourth Amendment right to privacy, and the Snowden issue epitomizes that concern. So we brought in Wizner,” Makous said.

“Pennsylvania itself has its own problems with state law. We don’t have strong protection for privacy. There’s a bill being considered called the prescription surveillance bill — SB 1180 — which we feel severely compromises patient privacy.” The dinner will include a silent auction, with items such as leisure packages, sculptures by Helen Beling, dinner with ACLU-PA executive director Reggie Shuford and more. For more information, call 215-592-1513 ext. 124. n

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Q’ED UP: About 100 people turned out for the inaugural Q Spot Gala, Sept. 24 at William Way LGBT Community Center. The event sought to celebrate the LGBT youth organization and the young people it works with, such as Ms. Q Spot Alice Wills (from left), Mr. Q Spot Stevetta Vinowski and runners-up Leyani Adore Monroe and Joell Dunn, pictured with Q Spot founder Quincy Greene and volunteer Dan Mangini (speaking). Q Spot is a monthly event that offers a safe space for LGBT youth to socialize and access community services and resources. Photo: Scott A. Drake

SHARING STORIES: About 100 people gathered at Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas Sept. 27 for the screening of “The Gran Varònes.” The independent documentary explores the intersectionality of being gay and Latino, centered on interviews with dozens of Philadelphia men. The initiative is the brainchild of Louis Ortiz, who took part in a Q&A session after the film. For more information on “The Gran Varònes,” visit www. thegranvarones.com. Photo: Elicia Gonzales

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Inaugural expo set for Lehigh Valley By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The first-ever Lehigh Valley LGBT wedding expo will showcase more than 40 of the area’s LGBT-friendly wedding-services businesses. The free event will take place from noon-4 p.m. Oct. 5 in the blast furnace room at the ArtsQuest building in Bethlehem. Mary Lisicky, chair of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s LGBT business council, emphasized the importance of putting on such an event. “My wife and I got married last summer. We were very fortunate to have a venue and work with businesses that were supportive of us. But not every couple is so lucky,” she

said. “That’s why this expo is so important. It’s not only a celebration of the passing of marriage equality in Pennsylvania, but the vendors who are attending all share in the belief that all love is equal.” A variety of wedding services will be in attendance including photographers, restaurants, venues, florists, bakeries, officiants, travel agents and jewelers. There will also be a grand-prize raffle giveaway of two round-trip airline tickets sponsored by Equality Travel. The expo is presented by the LGBT business council, American Hairlines and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. To register or for more information, visit www.lehighvalleychamber.org or call 610739-3385. n

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

Historic Philly church celebrates historic wedding By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Old Pine Presbyterian Church is steeped in history. Sitting at the corner of Fourth and Pine streets for nearly 250 years, it has witnessed the Revolutionary War, Civil War, myriad neighborhood and cultural evolutions — and last month celebrated another milestone: its first same-sex wedding. The Society Hill church was founded as Third Presbyterian Church in 1768 and is the only Presbyterian church in the city dating to that time period. The current façade is from 1857 but, underneath, the original brick building still stands, although everything but the shell — windowsills, pews, the pulpit — was burned by the British when their forces occupied the area. More than 800 men in the congregation served in the Revolution Army, and 235 of them are buried in the church’s graveyard, their plots marked with 13-star flags. “The church had an enormous footprint in Revolutionary War history,” said church historian Ronn Shaffer. The church later merged with Scotts Church and Mariners Church but has gone by the Old Pine moniker since the early 19th century. Shaffer said that Old Pine has survived for 246 years largely because it has stayed committed to its community — yet willing to change with it. “The neighborhood changed over a period of years; it went from colonial to federal and, as the city and area started to build up, a lot of families moved out of the area. But the church has great staying power. Looking at the minutes of the church meetings, there was never a serious discussion on its moving, even when Society Hill was at its lowest ebb,” he said. “This community became home for hundreds and hundreds of Slavic people pouring in from Russia and Ukraine and the church saw this moment and hired interpreters, teachers who spoke those languages and conducted Sunday School to mission to those people, even though they weren’t members of the

church. The church has always had a sticking power that’s based in being bold, determined and looking forward.” That’s what makes last month’s wedding so fitting, said Pastor Jason Ferris. Kristen Shirley and Caitlyn Shaw were married Sept. 20 at Old Pine. The South Philly couple has been together for three years. At the beginning of their relationship, they visited a number of churches to find the right one for them, deciding on Old Pine after meeting with Ferris and learning about the church’s LGBT inclusion and acceptance. Ferris said the congregation is as diverse as the surrounding area. “I think we reflect pretty well the neighborhood that we’re in,” he said. “We have a very diverse church, across a lot of lines — ethnicity, age and certainly sexual orientation, which has been for quite a long time.” The governance of the Presbyterian Church, however, has not always been as affirming. Until recently, Presbyterian pastors were not permitted to marry same-sex couples. “Frustrating is probably a good word for it,” Ferris said. “There was a time for many years where our church didn’t allow us to conduct these weddings. I had to treat members of my congregation differently; there were some I could marry and others I couldn’t. That to me was inconsistent with what we are trying to do as a church: to convey a message of authenticity, honesty and that God loves people as they were created to be.” But, in June, just a few weeks after Pennsylvania began allowing same-sex marriage, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church voted to allow pastors in states that sanction marriage equality to perform same-sex weddings. “The timing was very fortunate,” Ferris said. While Shirley and Shaw were elated by both the state and church policy changes, Shirley said, it did complicate their wedding plans. “Our plans changed totally,” she said. “We got engaged in January and were planning on a ceremony in New Jersey,

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because it was the closest legal place at the time, and then we’d come back to Philadelphia for a reception. But then it became legal in Pennsylvania so we tried to find a new place here but weren’t able to do it in our church because the Presbyterian Church didn’t allow it, so we came up with another plan and then, right before we finalized it, Jason told us everything passed at the church level. So it ended up working out really well, but a lot changed along the way.” Ferris worked with the couple to craft the ceremony in the same way he does with other weddings he officiates, he said, although they did have to give some thought to language changes. “Their marriage is the same as a straight couple’s marriage. It’s the same in the eyes of God — a commitment to live together, to be faithful to one another — CAITLYN SHAW (FROM LEFT), PASTOR JASON so I wanted to make sure they FERRIS AND KRISTEN SHIRLEY saw that their marriage is just really into civil rights and all types of as significant and valued as anybody else’s, so we approached it the movements — race, religion, sexuality same way,” he said. “But the language cre- — and we often talk about being more ated some interesting conversations about involved but not necessarily knowing how if they wanted to use traditional language to be more active since we don’t have very of the ceremony, which is very heteronor- loud or outspoken personalities,” she said. mative and reflects a long tradition of both “So this was a good way to do this, to make positive and negative traditions around sex- history. We were able to make a statement, uality and gender. I wanted them to have but it wasn’t anything over the top because whatever language felt authentic to them that wouldn’t suit us. It made the day really and I think we managed to honor both tra- that much more important that we were dition but also who they are and how they able to be part of this first step.” Ferris said he shared their appreciation feel about their relationship.” Ferris announced during the wedding for the momentous nature of the day. that it was the church’s first-ever same-sex “It means that, going forward, we can celebration, which elicited strong applause. better reflect the love that God has for all Shirley said the event — attended by people,” he said. “ It also means that we about 70 people, who joined the couple for can begin to heal the wounds caused by the a reception at The Twisted Tail afterwards mistaken view that same-gender relation— was a fitting way for her and Shaw to be ships are inherently sinful.” For more information on Old Pine, visit a part of both church and LGBT history. “We’re quiet people but both of us are www.oldpine.org. n

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EDITORIAL PGN

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Sean Hannity

Editorial

Moving forward with allies As LGBT History Month kicks off, we’re reminded how much our community has evolved, especially in the last few years. And what seems to be most apparent about those changes is that the boundaries of the community have softened tremendously — allowing for heightened inclusion, and involvement, of allies. Last weekend, PGN was at the “Miss’d America” pageant in Atlantic City. In addition to the tremendous talent on display, there was also an abundance of allies on hand. From young, straight couples singing along to older folks dancing in the aisles to the venue’s employees poking their heads in to catch the show, it was clear that not everyone enjoying the show was LGBT. And they weren’t just there to marvel at the camp — when outgoing Miss’d America Victoria “Porkchop” Parker summoned the audience to donate to a cause that delivers meals to the ill, including many with HIV/AIDS, throngs of allies, young and old, made their way to the donation boxes. The night was an impressive show of support that demonstrated the cooperation and collaboration that can and should exist among LGBT and allied communities. Likewise, the role of allies in LGBT activism was highlighted in the last few weeks, following the Sept. 11 gay bashing in Center City. The incident seems, rightfully so, to have touched a nerve in the LGBT community, many of whom may have spent years dealing with the homophobia and ignorance hurled at the victims. But, many allies also appeared to have been effected by the incident. While the comments sections on LGBT-related mainstream news sites are often steeped in anti-LGBT sentiments, condemnation for the assailants’ alleged actions is nearly universal. It should be a no-brainer that anyone who punches, kicks and verbally assaults another person should be vilified, but not that many years ago, the trio’s actions would likely have been hailed by a significant portion of the population. As understanding and acceptance have trumped homophobia in our society, however, the capacity of non-LGBT people to both empathize and sympathize across boundaries of sexual orientation and gender identity has blossomed. And it is that spirit that will help propel us forward. A number of elected officials, many of whom have been longtime allies of the LGBT community, took to the microphone at last week’s rally to call for expanded hate-crimes laws. It is their voices that can be integral in bringing our issues to wider audiences, showing their relatability and engendering constituents to become invested in the right for LGBT equality. As we reflect on the changes in the LGBT community this History Month, we should also recognize the growth and progress from our community allies — who can help us look forward, while not forgetting about our past. n

By now you’ve heard of Adrian Peterson, the professional footballer charged with child abuse. The case has ignited a national debate about spanking and what “counts” as abuse. The takeaway: Americans love to hit children. The most common defense is: “My mom and/or dad beat my ass, and I turned out fine.” To which I say, “Uh, you turned into a full-grown adult who hits children. But, hey, we all have our own definitions of ‘fine,’ I guess.” I find it hard to excuse a man who’s over 6-feet tall and almost 220 pounds whipping a 4-year-old boy with a tree branch until said boy has cuts all over his body, including his testicles. But a lot of people are coming to Peterson’s defense, saying he has the right to discipline his child and that it isn’t anybody else’s business. One of those people is Sean Hannity of Fox News shame. Kind of. During Hannity’s Sept. 16 radio show, he said, “I do believe Adrian Peterson went too far.” That said, Hannity is awfully worried that enforcing laws against child abuse will lead to banning the teaching of conservative so-called values. “This is my problem with liberals,” he says. “Because here’s where my fear goes with all of this. You guys want to tell parents what they can and cannot do. For example, is it going to become illegal if a parent teaches the politically correct view that being gay is not normal?” Unless you’re a paranoid conservative who believes big guv’ment is coming to get your guns and your god and your freedom, this might seem like an illogical argument. But Hannity has no need for logic. Which is how Hannity manages to simultaneously argue that Peterson “went too far” and that parents have the right to discipline their children as they see fit. And also to tell them terrible things about the gays. I’d also like to point out that I don’t think Hannity knows what “politically correct” means. Because it is not the “politically correct view” that gays are abnormal. At this point in time, that would probably be the politically incorrect view. He goes on to say, “I think we’ve gotten to the point where, if we don’t politically correct our kids, we might as well just hand our kids over to the government the day they’re born and let them raise them.” In this instance, he is using “politically correct” as a euphemism for discipline, maybe? But one thing is for sure, if Americans can’t slap their kids around,

then the terrorists have won. Hannity’s co-host, Noelle Nikpour, keeps intoning that Peterson has the right to discipline his child. And then she calls busting him for child abuse “a gateway offense.” “Meaning, how far do you want government in your life?” she asks. “There’s a difference in discipline and abuse.” Well, no shit. But if it’s already been established that Peterson “went too far,” isn’t Nikpour then defending child abuse? This woman is an idiot. But Hannity really isn’t interested in talking about the whole abuse thing. “My problem here is, do parents have the right to instill their values in their children? The problem is we send these kids off to school and maybe they’re taught … values that contradict whatever the parents are teaching, whatever it happens to be. You know, ‘Heather Has Two Mommies,’ ‘daddy’s roommates,’ that’s the government circumventing parental values.” It’s a ridiculous, and homophobic, argument. In Hannity’s world, abusers aren’t the enemy, gays are. Parents have the right to teach their children whatever stupid shit they want under the guise of “values.” But adults don’t have the right to beat the shit out of kids. And it’s unconscionable that we are debating this in what we claim is a civilized society. Then again, Hannity has never been wild about people who need help from the government. And that extends to children. n

Hannity is awfully worried that enforcing laws against child abuse will lead to banning the teaching of conservative so-called values.

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.

Op-Ed PGN

To publish or not to publish The Pennsylvania News Media me to the realization that the polls that dicAssociation is an organization of most of tate that the population supports marriage the professional daily and weekly newspaequality are on target. pers in the commonwealth. It is also one of First, it has to be stated that my fellow the oldest press organizations in the nation. publishers are a brave group, since the first After a lengthy battle, PGN became the publishers to be heard from were ones in first LGBT publication to gain similar conservative areas of admittance to the group more the state. They had all taken than a decade ago, and I now the plunge and encouraged the sit on its board of directors. questioner to do so as well, But this is not a story about and some made the point that PNA, or PGN — it’s about the it’s an issue of fairness, since change taking place in America marriage equality is now law in towards equality through the Pennsylvania. eyes of those who serve local But the most surprising comcommunities: newspapers. ments came from the publishers We have a private email chain of those conservative publithat consists of Pennsylvania cations who noted that, when they had considered this very publishers. Therefore, this colquestion in the past, they worumn won’t mention particular ried about reader and advertiser names or publications. Every once in a while, someone will backlash. But, each of them ask his or her fellow publishers Mark Segal wrote that, if there was a backwhat they would do in a certain lash, it was small and was in the incident. This past week, a small newspapast. per in a very conservative area of the state So our friend finally published, and was asked to post a marriage announceguess what happened? Very little. My faith in how we in newsprint cover ment for a same-sex couple. They had never done so before and requested sugges- and work with our communities is higher than ever. My faith in professionalism, tions from fellow publishers. modernity in media and the sensitivity There comes a time with each of the of my fellow PNA publishers makes me activities with which you’re involved when you feel proud of the people you are proud to be a member of an organization associated with, and for me this was that that at one time didn’t want us. n moment, as the member newspapers of PNA stood tall. Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the When that first question hit my inbox, nation’s most-award-winning commenmy anticipation to read the responses tator in LGBT media. You can follow was intense. My input was a short note of him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ encouragement, and then the responses MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter. from publishers around the state brought com/PhilaGayNews.

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Gwendolyn Ann Smith

Apologies and arguments Former Congressman Barney Frank recently spoke out about a speech the current president of the Human Rights Campaign, Chad Griffin, gave at the annual transgender-focused Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta. In doing so, Frank has put me in an odd position: I find myself having to defend HRC while, at the same time, continuing to be more than wary of HRC. To say that the transgender community and HRC have a long, acrimonious history is to say that Superman is not a big fan of Lex Luthor. This is a feud that dates back more than two decades, when the HRC — then the Human Rights Campaign Fund — pushed for the removal of transgender people from

the Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1994. That bill, which died in committee that year, has come back through Congress 10 additional times. It was not until 2007 that it included transgender-inclusive language. It died in a subcommittee that year, with none other than Frank reintroducing a non-transgender-inclusive version that did pass the house before dying in the United States Senate. Over many of those years, it has been HRC that has spoken of its support of transgender rights, yet at the same time backtracked on support of a transgender-inclusive ENDA.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

Street Talk Can Kathryn Knott get a fair trial? "No. But so be it. That's life; things aren't always fair. Her father's a police chief, so that might help her get off. She chose Lanie Brunner to participate student in social Overbrook Farms media. It's unfortunate that she's in this situation. But she contributed to it by her actions."

"No, and it's her fault that she won't. Have you seen her Twitter feed? That's all I have to say. It wouldn't help to move Erin Gallagher hair stylist the trial Manayunk outside of Philly. The whole nation knows about it. Perez Hilton tweeted about it!"

"No. I feel they should move it to a different venue. I think it's unfortunate and unnecessary to have Patrick McCosker so much restaurant host pre-trial Queen Village publicity. I almost feel bad for the young woman. But if she's guilty, it's reprehensible."

"Yes. It depends on her defense team. But if she has good defense attorneys, she'll get a fair trial. Alicia Winning They'll student definitely Fishtown be able to lessen the effects of all this bad publicity."

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.

Griffin is not the first president of HRC to go to the Southern Comfort Conference; in the same year Frank introduced a non-inclusive ENDA after the failure of an inclusive version, then-HRC president Joe Solmonese spoke. He again was contrite and apologetic, and promised those present that HRC would from then on only support transgender-inclusive legislation. It was two weeks later that HRC stated they would “neither support nor oppose” Frank’s non-inclusive version. Most other organizations had gone on record in opposition, supporting the full LGBT community in the face of a bill that would not include us all.

This is just scratching the surface on years of issues between the transgender community and HRC. I am also not by any means an innocent bystander, having stood with a small gathering of transgender protesters out in front of HRC’s Washington, D.C., offices, and chairing a particularly tense meeting in that office later that day. Now I am glad that Griffin went to the Southern Comfort Conference this year, and apologized for the actions of the organization he fronts. “HRC has done wrong by the transgender community in the past, and I am here to formally apologize,” Griffin said. “I am sorry for the times when we PAGE 18

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

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State of hate-crimes laws in Pennsylvania Philadelphia is still reeling from the Seeing as legislation passing during this Sept. 11 gay bashing in which two gay session is unlikely and therefore statemen were brutally beaten by a group of wide protections will have to wait several young people. Both men went to the hosmonths to a year, leaders in Philadelphia pital, one with a broken jaw that needed have taken the matter into their own to be wired shut. The police said the incihands. Kenney and Reynolds Brown last dent was preceded by disparaging remarks week introduced a bill in City Council about their sexual orientation. After a that would provide hate-crime protections nearly two-week investigation, three of for the LGBTQ community within our the alleged 15 assailants were charged city limits. with simple assault, aggravated assault, Despite all of the positive momentum recklessly endangering another person and that has come from this incident, there are conspiracy. But, shockingly, hate crimes two aspects I find entirely unacceptable: are missing among the charges listed. That so few people were charged and that Nationally in 2012, sexual orientation they weren’t, and never will be, charged was the second-most prevalent hate crime with committing a hate crime. behind race — yet, once again, we have There was also a question of whether no protections for the LGBTQ community the alleged assailants could have been in Pennsylvania. A hate crime is an act charged with a federal hate crime. In motivated by prejudice or bias. 2009, President Obama signed The criminality lies in the motithe Matthew Shepard and vation behind the act and not James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes the act itself. In Pennsylvania, Prevention Act, expanding the the laws only protect people existing United States federal from crimes committed because hate-crime law to apply to of one’s real or perceived race, crimes motivated by a victim’s color, religion, national origin actual or perceived gender, sexor ancestry. Thirty-one states ual orientation, gender identity have hate-crime protections for or disability, and dropped the sexual orientation, while 28 prerequisite that the victim be cover gender and only 16 cover engaging in a federally protransgender/gender-identity. tected activity, although there What a lot of people do not remain a number of caveats realize is that Pennsylvania Angela that anti-LGBT hate crimes at one point had an LGBTmeet. Giampolo must Within days of the inciinclusive hate-crime law. The dent, Kenney wrote to the U.S. state statute was amended in 2002 to include sexual orientation, gender Attorney urging the Department of Justice to partner with our District Attorney and identity and physical or mental disability, police to investigate and charge the assailbut a state court in 2007 struck down the ants under the federal law. But, as of yet, expansion on procedural grounds, a ruling upheld by the state Supreme Court the the U.S. Attorney’s Office has apparently not done so. following year. All I keep thinking is what gay people After the beating, our elected and all over the Midwest, the South, in small appointed officials refused to stand by and do nothing. State Sen. Jim Ferlo, state towns and in rural areas are thinking, if something so reprehensible could hapReps. Brian Sims and Brendan Boyle pen in the most LGBT-friendly city in the and Philadelphia Councilmembers Jim United States. Kenney and Blondell Reynolds Brown That these three individuals will never are a few of several politicians who have be charged with a hate crime is inconceivled the charge to change the state of hateable, but the nationwide awareness and crime laws in Pennsylvania. Boyle, who the community support by individuals and reintroduced a hate-crime bill over a politicians generated from this hateful year ago, said his legislation would pass occurrence outweigh that fact. Love will if leadership in the Republican majority trump prejudice any day, and that has been would allow it to come up for a vote, but proven time and again over the last few that’s unlikely as the clock ticks down on weeks. n this year’s session. Moreover, Ferlo, from Pittsburgh, publicly came out during a Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo press conference where he urged his colLaw Group, maintains offices in Pennsylvania leagues to get behind LGBT statewide and New Jersey and specializes in LGBT law, hate-crime protections. He said he hasn’t kept his sexual orientation a secret but has business law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com and she never made a public declaration about it maintains two blogs, www.phillygaylawyer.com either. At one point during the press conference he said, “I’m gay, get over it. It’s a and www.lifeinhouse.com. Send Angela your legal questions at angela@giampololaw.com. great life.”

Out Law

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

HISTORY PGN

LGBT History Month

Revisiting Reminder Day, nearly 50 years later By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

James said he began coming to terms with his sexuality in his early 20s and, upon returning to D.C., joined the fledgling Mattachine Society, a “homophile” group whose Washington chapter was the brainchild of Kameny and Jack Nichols. At group meetings, James said he was more of an observer, while Kameny and Nichols ran the show. “Jack went on to be a well-known gay writer but, at the time, he used a pseudonym, Warren. His father was an FBI agent, and Hoover had a real thing about homosexuals. His father told him he’d kill him if the FBI found out about [his being gay], so we used the name Warren,” James said. “So he and Kameny and some others came up with the idea for the demonstration.” As plans began circulating for the Independence Hall picket, James said he decided to join up despite not being a strong

On July 4, 1965, John James traveled to Philadelphia to march among a group of gay and lesbian demonstrators calling for liberty for LGBT people. Nearly 50 years later, James is again surrounded by LGBT people in the City of Brotherly Love — this time in a very changed world. Earlier this year, James, 73, moved into the John C. Anderson Apartments, an LGBT-friendly senior-living facility in the heart of Philadelphia — more specifically in the “Gayborhood” section. The building, just one of a few affordable LGBT senior-living complexes, is the largest publicly funded LGBT building project in the nation’s history. The complex is home to a vast cross-section of the LGBT elder community — businesspeople, artists, activists, researchers, social workers and everyone in between — who lived through, and at times led, the birth and growth of the modern LGBT-rights movement. That movement is largely thought to have begun at the Stonewall Inn in New York City in 1969. But, four years earlier, a different sort of protest calling for LGBT freedom germinated on the steps of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall — fittingly, the birthplace of American freedom. The 1965 Reminder Day march, which evolved into the Annual Reminders, was conceived of by Craig Rodwell and organized by such pioneering activists as Frank Kameny, based in D.C., as well as the Phillybased Barbara Gittings and Kay JOHN JAMES IN THE JOHN C. ANDERSON Lahusen. The demonstration was set APARTMENTS COURTYARD Photo: Scott A. Drake for Independence Day to call attention to the notion that gays and lesbians backer of demonstrations. were being deprived the basic rights guaran- “It was kind of the thing to do; I went teed to them in our nation’s founding docu- along and did it because that was the thing to do right then,” James said, noting it was ments. At the time of the march, James was a his first public demonstration. 24-year-old working as a computer pro- At the time, James was only out to a small grammer at the National Institutes for circle of family and friends and said that, Health. He moved back to D.C., where he since the demonstration was in a different grew up, in 1963, after earning his under- city, his fears over being outed were lessened. But, he declined to have his photo graduate degree from Harvard University. James’ father was a federal anti-trust taken. attorney, and he followed in his footsteps in “It was more of a commitment for the seeking federal employment after abandon- local people, because they could be recognized, whereas those of us from Washington ing his plan to pursue medicine. “I was always interested in science and wouldn’t. But we were asked by photograwent to college intending to do pre-med but phers working with the demonstration if we I decided it wasn’t for me,” he said. “I had wanted to be photographed, and I said no a summer job at Sloan Kettering and just because I liked my job.” wasn’t impressed with what I saw there, At the time, the federal government with all the bureaucracy. So I figured I largely operated under a policy of terminatneeded to make a living and got into coming “known homosexuals.” puters; in those early days, there was no “They would fire anyone who was known possibility of home computers but over the to be gay. I didn’t want to lose my job,” James said. years things changed totally.”

The federal policy also prevented James, who worked at NIH until 1967, from pursuing other federal positions — which he said ended up being fortunate. “I never considered applying for a security clearance because they would’ve found out and that would have complicated things. But, I didn’t want to do military work anyway,” he laughed, “so not having a security clearance was one way to make sure I stayed away from that.” In advance of the demonstration, organizers ensured that participants would both dress and act professionally. “We all wore suits and ties. That was Kameny, that was his philosophy,” James said. About 40 people participated in the inaugural picket and marched for about an hour-and-a-half behind a police barricade, holding such signs as “Homosexuals should BARBARA GITTINGS LEADING THE be judged as individuals” and “Homosexual PICKETERS AT THE ANNUAL REMINDER civil rights.” DEMONSTRATION PGN file photo James said there was “some degree of fear” about the public reaction, but they AIDS Treatment News. In the beginning of the epidemic, the pubwere met with no real pushback. “People took it in stride. I didn’t notice lication explored alternative medicine and any expressions of either hostility or sup- experimental treatments and went on to port,” he said. “It turned out peaceful. publish more than 400 editions. “When treatments were becoming availThings could have happened, but didn’t.” While James stayed out of photos, it able, no one wanted to cover it. So we were turned out he may have been captured — in talking to patients, doctors, scientists. That part — in a photo that ran on the front page was my main project,” he said, noting that he found his true passion laid in that type of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I suspect my leg is showing in the pic- of behind-the-scenes activism, rather that the public nature of actions like the Annual ture. But I’m not sure,” James said. James only participated in that first event, Reminders. “I was never much into demonbut picketers returned each year for the strations so I think that, by far, my most next four years; the final Annual Reminder important activism was AIDS Treatment demonstration took place just days after the News. I like to work on long-term projects that don’t have a particular day where they Stonewall Inn riots of 1969. While the 1965 demonstration is now culminate. I realize with demonstrations credited as being one of the first public that they work to build up relationships, LGBT-rights demonstrations, the weight which is really important. And get publicof the event wasn’t as apparent at that time, ity. Demonstrations help to get issues talked especially since his activism focus was a bit about that should be talked about, but that way just wasn’t my thing.” different than that of the organizers. “It was kind of just matter of fact, I did After years of operating on the West Coast, this thing. I knew there was a symbolic living in San Francisco became unaffordimportance at the time, but it wasn’t neces- able, and James packed up ATN and headed sarily the kind of movement I would have back east, deciding to settle in Philadelphia, done myself if I hadn’t been asked, but yet where he had a number of colleagues and again I wasn’t an organization person any- friends. ATN now operates as an indepenway. So I went along with how Frank and dent project housed at Philadelphia FIGHT. Warren wanted to do it,” James said. “My James returned to a city that, like most of philosophy was a little different; Kameny’s society, views LGBT people in a wholly difwas to pick one issue and do just that issue, ferent light than in 1965. Illustrative of that where my idea was to mix all the issues — is the city’s plans for a large-scale celebraantiwar, gay rights, civil rights, whatever tion next year to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1965 picket. you had the opportunity to do.” James had the opportunity to put that phi- “We never would have thought of any official recognition like that. That would losophy into practice years later. After leaving federal employment, James have been inconceivable,” James said. “We said he went out to the West Coast to have were just happy to be more tolerated. We the customary “Haight-Ashbury experi- weren’t looking for anything out of the govence” and, as the HIV/AIDS epidemic ernment besides just letting us live how we flourished in the 1980s, went on to found wanted to live and leaving us alone.” n

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stood apart when we should have been standing together.” It’s heartening to hear that. At the same time, I again feel a bit like Charlie Brown from the old Peanuts comics, looking at Lucy Van Pelt and her football, knowing that we’ll yet again find the ball pulled out of the way at the last second before we kick it. It’s not that I don’t trust Griffin — it’s just that we’ve been burned so many times before that it’s near impossible to trust HRC as a whole. In the days following Griffin’s apology, though, Frank weighed in. To him, Griffin has nothing at all to apologize for. “Chad Griffin’s one of those people whose political judgment seems a bit off,” said Frank in an interview with the GA Voice. Indeed, Frank’s view is that transgender people don’t have rights for a simple reason: because we would not help lobby. It’s baffling to me, this. I mentioned above protesting in front of HRC’s offices — but I did not go to our nation’s capital simply to protest. I was there as part of the annual Transgender Lobby Days. You know, when transgender people go to Washington, D.C., to help lobby on bills such as the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. To me, it seems that Frank is the one whose political judgment is askew. As I said before, the difficult history between the transgender community and HRC is not simply over transgender inclusion in the ENDA of 2007. This is about trust. This is an organization with a history of saying one thing to transgender people, but doing quite another. It would be nice to boil everything down to a single legislative session and a single bill, but the history is far deeper and longer. This is like reducing World War II down to D-Day, ignoring anything that happened before and after June 6, 1944. Unlike Frank, I think HRC has plenty to apologize for. I’m glad that he has again reaffirmed the importance of “a broad, inclusive ENDA.” I’m happy to hear HRC going further, pushing for a far more comprehensive LGBT civil-rights bill. But as a friend of mine once told me during a different debate, “acta non verba.” Griffin’s words are nice, but it will be HRC’s deeds that will make the difference. Much like HRC’s shenanigans in 2007 helped cement distrust between the organization and transgender people, HRC’s actions to come will make all the difference here. I want to see a time when I, as a transgender person, can feel that familiar yellow equal sign on a blue background — or even its red pro-marriage counterpart — truly includes me. I’ll also admit that I’m not sure I’ll ever truly feel that. Maybe my trust has been abused one too many times for it. I’d like to think I’m wrong, though. I want to see Griffin’s era with HRC make good on his apology, while moving the organization away from the attitudes of the Franks of the world. n Gwen Smith’s earliest activism involved the 1994 ENDA fight. You’ll find her on the web at www.gwensmith.com.

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LGBT History Month Robert Patrick: One of nation’s oldest gay playwrights on his role in history By Henrik Eger, Ph.D. PGN Contributor Robert Patrick is the author of “Kennedy’s Children” and “The Haunted Host,” one of America’s oldest gay plays, now celebrating its 50th anniversary. He was one of the leading lights of the OffOff Broadway, fringe and gay-theater movements in the United States. When he was younger, he made the mistake of selling his copyrights and now, at age 76, he survives in Los Angeles by writing porn reviews, even though he is still very creative and supportive of gay-theater arts.

HE: As a young man, you joined the Air Force, but got kicked out after two weeks because a love poem was found in the wallet of another airman. RP: Roswell, N.M.’s resident homosexuals often had affairs with lonely airmen from the local Air Force base. Me and my best friend, George, each had a “flyboy”

Henrik Eger: Because your parents were migrant workers in Texas, and moved around so often in search of new jobs, you never finished a year of school until your senior year. Robert Patrick: I fidGAY PLAYWRIGHTS HARVEY FIERSTEIN (FROM LEFT), ROBERT PATRICK AND DORIC WILSON UNDER dled around as a child, THEIR POSTERS IN NEW YORK CITY’S PHEBE’S, drawing comics in school 1980 tablets and making up little songs, but with the onset of puberty, I suddenly began writing comlover. Our lovers discovered each other pleted songs and poetry in great numbers. and dropped us. I was such a romantic My childhood loneliness certainly made that I joined the Air Force in San Antonio, me appreciate the Caffe Cino and OffTexas, just to be in the same branch of the Off Broadway, not only for their artisservice with mine, Bobby. After about two tic opportunities, but for the gregarious weeks, I was called into a tiny, file-filled friendliness of the artists and patrons, who shack and told that I was being discharged were my first “family of friends.” dishonorably because they had found my poem in Bobby’s wallet. HE: How supportive was your father of you when you grew up? HE: After the Air Force affair, you chose RP: My biological father turned into an to commit yourself to a mental institution. ugly drunk after a telephone pole he was RP: I simply couldn’t get along anywhere. working on fell and crushed his legs. He My family’s constant moving had left me beat us until someone asked my mother without social skills at friendship, school why she didn’t call the police. She replied, and work situations. My obsessive absorp“Can I?” She didn’t know women had any tion in the arts left me without means retaliation against such things. She had to relate to people whose interests were him arrested and he disappeared from our family, work and religion. The enforced secrecy of my sex and love lives mitigated lives until Mother once decided to return against stability and lasting relationships. to him, taking me with her. He got drunk, I alternated between trying to bully or beat me and left me for dead. I saw him charm people into sharing my arts interjust twice after that and was scared to ests and clumsily attempting to ingratiate death to be near him. myself by imitating their behavior. HE: Did anyone with fundamentalist religious beliefs ever attack you for your athe- HE: What did you experience at that institution? ism? RP: There was a padded cell in one corner RP: The only religious attack I can recall was when my stepfather, for what he occupied by a muscular young man who called “blasphemy,” broke my nose with a spent all his time screaming and cursing cast-iron crucifix. I was in my early 20s. and banging the padded walls. An orderly I fled but had nowhere to go, so I sneaked confided to me that this patient was the back in and slept in my closet for a few son of a rich politician who had arranged days. that the youth, his son, be institutional-

ized, rather than jailed for some ghastly drunken auto accident he had caused. The orderly also hinted that the guy was gay. This is reflected in one speech in my play “Nice Girl,” when a character explains why he fled his small New Mexico town: “Rich people in this state with queer kids can get them thrown into an asylum for life, do you know that? We were, like Jews in Nazi Germany, we lived in terror.” [My stay] was extremely interesting, but at two weeks to the minute, they discharged me, saying, “There’s nothing wrong with you. Just move to a bigger town.” HE: On a visit to New York, you followed a young man into Caffe Cino, unaware that you had entered what was to become the birthing place of both OffOff Broadway and gay theater. Playwright Lanford Wilson, your roommate, wrote “The Madness of Lady Bright,” which was to become the first gay play in America. Seven months later, you wrote your first gay play, “The Haunted Host” (1964) — contributing to a whole new movement. RP: We were not consciously or programmatically creating gay theater. The freedom Joe Cino gave to playwrights just happened to give us the courage to write what was on our minds, and we both had gay stories we wanted to tell. So, it turned out, did several other writers at the Cino.

not being harassed. After Joe’s death, we received summonses daily. HE: In the early days of American theater and film, most black and gay characters were stereotyped. Your plays, including “Kennedy’s Children,” were performed not only in the gay and pro-gay environment of the Village, but also on Broadway, in London, and Amsterdam, which seemed to exist almost in a vacuum at that time. How do you explain the movement toward a much wider portrayal of gay people and other minority members in our own time, 50 years later? RP: The spread of education, with many more people going to college, and reading history, and through radio and TV and newsreels — knowing more about the world than our parents did. HE: Given the many remarkable things that you’ve done in your life, is there anything you have not done, but would like to experience? RP: True love. And I would like to have the money to build or buy a theater in L.A. with enough ground space that I could call it “Robert Patrick’s Free

HE: When WILLIAM MOSES HOFFMAN (LEFT) AND ROBERT PATRICK IN “THE homoHAUNTED HOST” WORLD PREMIERE AT CAFFE CINO, 1964 sexuality was still a de-facto crime in New York, owners of Parking Theatre,” because in L.A., the gay establishments like Caffe Cino, who theater would fill up for every perforwanted to keep their theaters running, mance no matter what show was on, were forced to do so through illegal activ- just because of the magic words “Free ities. Some corrupt police officers apparParking.” Then I could do whatever plays ently demanded bribes and sexual favors I liked. n for protection of the establishment. Could you tell us more about some of those clan- Henrik Eger is editor of “Drama Around destine activities that you observed? the Globe” and author of “Metronome RP: I once saw a cop come out of the Ticking” and four textbooks. Born and back room of the Cino zipping his pants raised in Germany, he earned a Ph.D. in and tucking $10 into his pocket. That’s English from the University of Illinois and my only acquaintance with such things. went on to teach English and communicaWe always suspected Joe’s Sicilian relations on three continents. Contact him at tions had something to do with the Cino HenrikEger@gmail.com.

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Gay football tourney brings Tracing the history, growth of Gay Bowl record number to Philly By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com Philadelphia is set to host Gay Bowl 2014, the annual flag-football championship tournament of the National Gay Flag Football League. The event will bring together a record 42 teams that will compete in three divisions over Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 9-12 at Edgley Fields in Fairmount Park. Thirteen fields have been specially designed to accommodate the largest Gay Bowl to date. There will also be a picnic area, food trucks, VIP tent, sponsor’s area and, new this year, an athlete’s village. Philadelphia is the first East Coast city to host the event since 2009. The tournament features an open A and open B division, as well as a 10-team women’s division. Gary Isaacs, Gay Bowl XIV host committee co-chair and tournament facilities manager, works as a human-resources consultant during the day and plays for the Philadelphia Revolution at night. He has volunteered much of his time to plan the Gay Bowl this year. He explained some of the work that went into making the tournament possible. “There are six of us on the host committee, preparing for and organizing various logistics and elements in putting on the event,” Isaacs said. “Two of us that are co chairs of the organizing committee ensure that the fields and the various things at the fields are secure and prepped for the event — permits, field setup, concessions availability, EMS services, the various tents in the athlete village area, swag bags — as well as the logistical elements. We are shuttling athletes to and from the Sheraton downtown hotel, which is going to be great for the participants.” A fee of $25 in advance or $30 the day

of gets you unlimited access to all of the nine Gay Bowl XIV social events happening around town that weekend, including the American Airlines opening party at Field House, after parties at the Westbury, Fire & Ice and Tabu, the Gayborhood bar crawl and more. Isaacs emphasized how the tournament, while exciting to watch and play in, is only half the fun — the social events are also a big tradition, he said. “The social events planned in the evening will give people a chance to reconnect. A lot of the guys haven’t seen each other since last year. There have been so many friendships formed over the years, though. It’s like a family reunion,” he said. Most games begin at 9 a.m. every day. The tournament ends with the championship games for the A and B division at 3 and 4 p.m. Sunday. n

Gay Bowl XIV, the annual flag-football championship tournament of the National Gay Flag Football League, is coming to Philadelphia Oct. 9-12 for what promises to be the largest Gay Bowl ever. Philadelphia is the first East Coast city to host the Bowl since 2009 and this year will have 42 teams participating in three divisions. Not bad for an event that started out 12 years ago with just three teams competing at Hollywood High School. NGFFL commissioner Jared Garduno said the annual event continues to grow in size and popularity. “It’s been slowly gaining,” Garduno said. “Every Gay Bowl has been a record-breaker the last three years.” Garduno said the growth of the event has allowed Gay Bowl to expand its scope, which in recent years has included a wom-

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en’s division. “This [year] will be the third women’s tournament,” he said. “In Denver, when they hosted that was one of their [caveats]. Interestingly enough, they had the biggest participation of females in their local league. They had such a huge following there that if they were going to host, that was one of the things they requested of us as a league, to start that division. I’m glad to see that we are going to be able to now have 10 women’s teams three years later.” Garduno added that the growth has allowed multiple teams from the same city to compete. “The luxury is that, since we have found a place that has more fields, we do have the opportunity to bring it to a lot more people,” he said. “D.C. is bringing a third team. Philadelphia will have two extra teams. New York is bringing an extra team. So they are able to bring more people. On the other side, there are a lot of repeat players and teams made up of the same faces year in and year out, which is a pleasure because that brings the camaraderie and friendships that you make throughout the country. It’s always good to meet up once a year and hang out for a big tournament.” With the presence of LGBT athletes competing in professional sports becoming an increasingly talked-about subject in the news, we asked Garduno if that has brought any added attention to an event like Gay Bowl. He said that Gay Bowl has gotten some attention from professional sports figures in recent years. “Last year we had Kevin Grayson, a pretty good athlete who didn’t quite make it to the pros. We have Wade Davis, who is also a big advocate. He played at the professional level. What happens is there’s an awareness and people are becoming more accepting and people are excited to play. So I think it [creates awareness] on every level. It’s bringing more people to our league and our events. We have people wanting to do a reality show. We have people pre-filming for next year’s San Diego tournament.” n

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Philly teams looking to score big in Gay Bowl The Revolution The Lightning By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com

August for only 16 spots on the Revolution A team. Because the Revolution is the host team, they were also allowed to enter B and The Philadelphia Revolution men’s trav- C teams in the Gay Bowl. elling flag football team has been preparing “Tryouts were tough. Each player was for the annual Gay Bowl tournament for the scored in seven different skill sets. They were competing against each other. We had last two months. Gay Bowl XIV is the championship event a great turnout this year because we’re hostfor the National Gay Flag Football League. ing the Gay Bowl,” Gorecki said. Philly is hosting the tournament this year Gorecki primarily coaches the Revolution — the first East Coast city to do so since A team, but also oversees the two assistant coaches — Dave Sullivan and Steve 2009. Coyle — who work with the Revolution Blue and Grey B squads. The Revolution are heading into the Gay Bowl after their highest-placing finish at the Pride Bowl in Chicago last June. “Out of 20 teams, we came in seventh — our highest placement since we joined the NGFFL — and finished with a 3-3 record. We are definitely hoping to build upon that success going into Gay Bowl and looking forward to advancMEMBERS OF THE REVOLUTION AFTER A 2012 GAME ing our ranking,” Gorecki said. A record 42 teams will compete this year, The Revolution A is currently ranked 14th out of the 42 teams competing. including in a 10-team women’s division. Paul Gorecki, Revolution head coach, has Gorecki has been involved with the league been helping his team get ready for the big since spring 2011, serving as rules chair for several seasons — but he’s no newcomer to day. The team practices for two hours twice a the game. week. Players also train off the field at the He played all four years in high school, followed by two years at Washington gym on their own. A typical practice entails a warm-up, Jefferson College. 20-minute offensive and defensive breakout Side note: Current NFL commissioner sessions in which the players can practice Roger Goodell was Gorecki’s resident their skill sets, a short break, and then they assistant at Washington Jefferson. work plays for each side, where timing and The Revolution teams are part of the repetition are key. If there’s extra time, the Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League. They are one of two GPFFL teams that two sides scrimmage each other. Interest this season has spiked, perhaps travel to tournaments around the counin part because of Philly hosting the Gay try, including the Florida Sunshine Cup, Chicago Pride Bowl and the annual NGFFL Bowl. The Revolution had 60 players try out in Gay Bowl. n

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Several years ago, the National Gay Flag Football League launched a women’s division and, fittingly, a women’s team from this year’s host city will be among the competitors at the NGFFL’s annual national tournament. The Lightning, an all women’s tournament team, will be among the 10 teams competing in the women’s division at Gay Bowl 2014, Oct. 9-12 in Philadelphia. The Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League team formed earlier this year. Several players were already on co-ed GPFFL teams, but there was interest in putting forward an all-women’s unit. “My first team was co-captained by a woman named Vicky who was really encouraging towards me, so last summer we started talking with the board about a women’s team,” said Lightning coach and captain Julie Chovanes. Over the last few months, about 15 women joined up. In the beginning, practices were held once a week, then progressed to twice a week and, leading up to

Gay Bowl, Lightning members are practicing three times a week. The team has taken part in scrimmages and this summer competed in its first tournament, held in Asbury Park, playing against teams from such locales as New Jersey, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico. The team will host a happy hour for women’s teams participating in the Gay Bowl at 6 p.m. Oct. 11 at the host hotel, Sheraton Downtown, 201 N. 17th St. Chovanes has high hopes for the Lightning’s showing at Gay Bowl. “Hopefully we’ll be champions,” she said. But, win or lose, Chovanes said, her participation in Lightning has illustrated the true meaning of sportsmanship. “I think we are a team in the true sense of the word, a team works for each other without ego, to move all of us ahead. That’s the neatest thing in the world to see, that we can be a team of so many different people and diversities.” For more information on Lightning, visit http://www.phillyflagfootball. com/#!the-lightning/c1eia or email jchovanes@chovanes.com. n

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Philadelphia

2014

BEST LGBT

THE LIGHTNING AND COACHES AT THIS SUMMER’S TOURNAMENT IN ASBURY PARK

Entertainment, nightlife, people, community and food & drink

Vote for your fave bar, bartender, restaurant and much more.

Ballot on page 30

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

PGN SPORTS

Veteran ref to oversee officials at Gay Bowl XIV By Ryan Kasley ryan@epgn.com Lance Burage, director of officials for Gay Bowl XIV, will be the head referee at this year’s tournament, being held next week in Philly. A record 42 teams are registered to compete at the Edgley Fields in Fairmount Park. Burage has been reffing flag football for the National Gay Flag Football League since 2008 and has officiated in every Gay Bowl since then. Burage said he was too small to play football for his high-school team in Alabama but was always a huge fan of the sport. He first started refereeing while living in Orlando.

“I really wanted to be involved in some way. Twelve years ago now I was in Orlando and I signed up for a certification class and started reffing some high-school football,” he said. “I’ve been doing it ever since.” Burage noted some of the changes he has helped achieve at the NGFFL in regard to refereeing for the Gay Bowl. “My first Gay Bowl was at Salt Lake in ’08,” Burage said. “We used mostly local refs from the YMCA or another flag-football league. One of my goals when I took over was to utilize our NGFFL member cities and recruit a permanent ref crew that goes to the Gay Bowl every year.” The permanent crew is comprised of referees from all over the country, of all walks of life. “This year we will have 37 refs. Everyone

LGBT sports organizations in Philadelphia Brandywine Women’s Rugby Club meets for practice Tuesdays and Thursdays at Greenfield Park, West Chester; www.brandywinerugby.org. City of Brotherly Love Softball League serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area with games on Sundays, beginning in April, at the Dairy and Edgeley Fields in Fairmount Park; www.cblsl.org. Frontrunners running club meets 9:30 a.m. Saturdays for a run and brunch at Lloyd Hall, No. 1 Boathouse Row; www.philadelphiafrontrunners.org. Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club, open to LGBT and allies, practices 8-10 p.m. Mondays and 2-4 p.m. Saturdays; www.falcons-soccer.org. Philadelphia Fins Swim Team, open to male and female swimmers, meets 7 p.m. MondayThursday at Friends Select School and 10:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays; www.philadelphia-fins.org. Philadelphia Gay Bowling League meets 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays September-April at Brunswick Zone, 1328 Delsea Drive, Deptford, N.J.; 856-889-1434, www. philagaybowling.com. Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League plays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at FDR Park; www.phillyflagfootball.com Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club, open to players of all skill levels, meets 7:45 p.m. Thursdays at Columbus Square Park, 1200 Wharton St.; 215-913-7531, philadelphiagryphons.org, becomeagryphon@ gmail.com.

Philadelphia Liberty Belles women’s semipro full-tackle football league holds fall tryouts; phillybelles.com. Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association plays year-round, all skill levels welcome; philadelphialibertytennis.com. Philadelphia Firebirds women’s football team seeks players; www.philadelphiafirebirds.com. Philadelphia Women’s Baseball League seeks players, all skill levels and ages. Practice is 7 p.m. Thursdays at Marian Anderson Recreation Center, 17th and Fitzwater streets, with games at 2:30 p.m. Sundays; 215-991-5995 (day), 301-919-1194 (evening), phillywomensbaseball.com. Philly Gay Hockey Association Philadelphia Phury seeks players; 917-656-1936, phury@ gayhockey.org. Philly QCycle LGBT bicycling club promotes organized recreational riding for all levels in the Greater Philadelphia region; contact the organization via Facebook. Rainbow Riders of the Delaware Valley motorcycle club meets regularly; 215-8360440, www.groups.yahoo.com/group/rainbowridersdv/. Rainbow Rollers gay and lesbian bowling league meets 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays at Boulevard Lanes in Northeast Philadelphia; rainbowrollers.com. Spartan Wrestling Club gay wrestling team meets 6:30-9 p.m. Mondays at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; 215732-4545, www.phillyspartans.com.

is from an NGFFL city. Some are retired, some didn’t make their team’s roster this year — all of them are fully invested in the game and the rules,” Burage said. Over the years, a sense of community has developed among the group of referees off the field. “The kind of camaraderie that’s formed — it’s like another team,” Burage said. “We go to ref dinners. We see each other at all those tournaments around the country. It is a reunion of sorts. We get to see everybody and have a great time. Some of us live close by and hang out. I’ve built some great friendships over the years.” At the Gay Bowl this year, Burage, whose day job is as a radio programmer for 101.7 WBWL, a country radio station in Boston, will be responsible for coordinating the coaching personnel for every game of the tournament — a job with its own unique set of challenges, he said. “I basically take all the refs, and we have two ref meetings before it starts. The first is for beginner refs. Then the second is for everybody and we go over rule changes, mechanics and watch and analyze film,” Burage said. “The big emphasis is on training and consistency. I also assign refs to all the games.” There are three officials for each game: a

LANCE BURAGE Photo: John Cox Photography head referee, a line judge and a back judge. “I have to know which particular ref position my guys will fit best in. We’ll get the best results that way.” For more info on Gay Bowl, visit www. gaybowl2014.com. n

Bowl events Early Bird Night Out 8:30 p.m. Oct. 8 Westbury, 261 S. 13th St. In town early for the tournament? Head out with fellow footballers and fans for a night on the town. American Airlines Opening Party 6-9 p.m. Oct. 9 Field House, 1150 Filbert St. Celebrate the launch of the tournament with the official opening party. After Party 9 p.m. Oct. 9 Westbury, 261 S. 13th St. Keep the party going at the Gayborhood sports bar. Taste of Philly 5-8 p.m. Oct. 10 Garage, 1231 E. Passyunk Ave. BYO food from the landmark Philly cheesesteak corner or beyond to the bar. Gayborhood Bar Crawl 8 p.m. Oct. 10 Tabu, Tavern on Camac, UBar, ICandy, Woody’s Hit one bar or hit ’em all!

Saturday Night Live 8 p.m. Oct. 11 Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. Teams and friends will take over the second floor of the iconic bar, and Gay Bowl participants and guests will wristbands with get $4 drink specials. OutFest Noon-6 p.m. Oct. 12 Gayborhood Join in the festivities of the world’s largest National Coming Out Day celebration. Farewell Closing Party 7 p.m. Oct. 12 Fire & Ice, 312 Market St. Bid adieu to your new and old friends with the sendoff party. Tabu After Party 10 p.m. Oct. 12 Tabu, 200 S. 12th St. Take your last chance to savor the Gay Bowl fun! n

SPORTS PGN

Gayborhood

The Philadelphia Gayborhood is roughly centered at 12th and Camac streets. Look for the rainbow street signs at intersections and remember to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go. Rosewood

1302 Walnut St. 215.336.1335 rosewood-bar.com Cozy, elegantly-appointed bar with high-end specialty cocktails

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Work It Out

200 S. 12th St. 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com Sports bar serving bar food with frequent special events on second floor

The Bike Stop

Four-level leather bar; basement enforces a dress code; second-floor pool table and big-screen sports action Walnut St.

Chancellor St.

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St. James St.

❍ Locust St.

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Manning St.

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11th St.

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Quince St.

Latimer St.

12th St.

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❍ Spruce St.

William Way LGBT Community Center

1315 Spruce St. 215.732.2220 waygay.org

A resource for all things LGBT

Westbury

261 S. 13th St. 215.546.5170 thewestburybar.net The original Philly sports bar/restaurant with 20 craft beers on tap and game-day specials

U Bar 1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660

Relaxing corner bar, easy-going crowd, popular for happy hour and window watching

Tavern on Camac West of Broad Street

The Attic Youth Center

Only in

Tabu

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

202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com Bar complex with American-style bar food and large dance floor

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

There’s always a reason to be in shape

Voyeur

Woody’s

Stir Lounge

Vacation ... single and looking ... wedding ...

Read Work It Out every fourth week of the month.

PGN Guide to the

Camac St.

Plans were announced this summer for the creation of the Out Philadelphia Athletic League, an effort that will be getting into full swing this fall. OPAL is designed to unite the myriad LGBT sports groups in the region. Under the auspices and supervision of the William Way LGBT Community Center, OPAL will dedicate resources to helping leagues grow, offer assistance with fiscal matters and league governance, work to send leagues and teams to tournaments and organize social opportunities across sporting lines. Members of the OPAL board have spent the last few months meeting with representatives from an array of sports leagues and individual athletes. “OPAL’s success will be determined by providing value-added programs, activities and operational support,” said sports chair Kurt Douglass. “There has been a very positive response from the leaders of the various organizations.” Among the organization’s first efforts is the Sunday Funday OUT celebration, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 26 at FDR Park in South Philadelphia. Athletes and allies are encouraged to join in for a day of intramural sports such as kickball, softball and tennis. Teams that attended the Gay Games in Cleveland this summer will be given

special recognition, and officials from each respective league will be on hand with information for recruits. Guests are encouraged to BYOB, but food and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided. Opportunities like this event that encourage networking among sports clubs and athletes will be a primary goal of OPAL, Douglass said. “OPAL’s board is determined to create an organization that focuses on the leagues and athletes that comprise the local sports community,” Douglass said. “The board is looking to connect community resources with the Philadelphia sports community. This networking will be designed to strengthen each league locally as well as their performance at national and international competitions. OPAL hopes to provide these synergies and further facilitate successful fundraising, recruiting, outreach and event planning of LGBT sporting events versus having each league function independently. There is a wealth of energy and good spirit to be shared for the good of the entire community.” Also this fall, OPAL representatives will be on hand at OutFest, Oct. 12 in the Gayborhood. The league will be supporting programming surrounding Kimmel Center’s “It Gets Better” production in November. For more information, like the OPAL page on Facebook. n

Since 1976

13th St.

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

The

Juniper St.

New sports league gears up for launch

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

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

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

Knock 225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com Fine -dining restaurant and bar with outdoor seating (weather permitting)

ICandy

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

Venture Inn 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Bar and restaurant with frequent entertainment

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

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

PGN

ATTACK from page 1

BIAS from page 1

16th and Chancellor streets. Barry could not discuss specific evidence but said he was “absolutely” confident in the state’s case against the three. “There are a lot of witnesses in the case: some independent witnesses and some of the people who were friends with the defendants gave statements too,” Barry said. “I think there will be the two sides debating specifics about what happened but we wouldn’t charge people without being confident we have the right people.” Depending on the judge’s determination, either side can appeal — the prosecution to refile charges, or the defense for a motion to quash. “I would expect in a case like this, whichever side does not get what they want from the preliminary hearing will appeal,” Barry said. That would take another month and, depending on the outcome, a trial would be scheduled anywhere from three months to a year later. Barry said he is anticipating a trial but could not rule out the possibility of a plea deal. “I always keep an open mind about there being agreements, but I am preparing for a trial,” he said. All three defendants are charged with two counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and one count of criminal conspiracy. Although the defendants could not be charged with a hate crime, Barry said that aspect of the incident will figure prominently into his case. “That will play a huge part in motive and a huge part to prove conspiracy — that they had a common reason for doing what they did. At trial, I think it will be limited to those things — motive and that there was a common understanding,” he said. “But when we get to sentencing, hopefully — and I say hopefully because nothing’s ever a guarantee — that’s when it will be really appropriate to talk about the huge impact this has had on the LGBT community. And why this was not just another fight that took place in Center City.” n

as vandalism of an LGBT center. Since January 2003, state police have collected bias-incident data on the basis of sexual orientation. On average, the Philadelphia Police Department reports three bias incidents annually on the basis of sexual orientation. New federal guidelines also encourage law enforcement and educational agencies to collect bias-incident data on the basis of anti-gender non-conformance. Reed didn’t reply to emails asking whether state police will track bias-incidents on the basis of anti-gender non-conformance. FBI spokesperson Stephen G. Fischer Jr. said the FBI cannot force a state police department to collect anti-gender non-conformance data. But he said it’s possible for local agencies to submit such data directly to the FBI. “Individual agencies within a state program can submit their data directly to the FBI, provided the individual agency has received prior authorization from their state program,” Fischer said in an email. He also noted that the new federal guidelines aren’t mandatory. “The FBI relies on the agencies to make a good-faith effort to comply with established guidelines,” he said. Ted Martin, executive director of Equality Pennsylvania, said comprehensive bias-incident tracking is important to the LGBT community. “We’re always looking to making sure that law-enforcement agencies treat the LGBT community fairly, and that they report the challenges we face in an accurate, comprehensive and culturally competent manner,” Martin said. Nancy Baron-Baer, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, also expressed support for comprehensive bias-incident tracking. “The best way to be able to respond to situations is to have statistical evidence that points to issues that a community needs to address,” she said. “The data helps all of us in our learning process of what responses we need to make and where we need to put our energies.” n that reputation,” she said. “It is shameful that this legislation is necessary in 2014, but as Councilman Kenney and I have demonstrated in the past, we are proud to do it.” The bill will be assigned to the Public Safety Committee, which will then schedule a public hearing where members of the community can testify in favor of the bill. A hearing has tentatively been scheduled for later this month. Anyone wanting to testify can call 215-686-3438. Reynolds Brown is confident the bill will move forward quickly. “I expect it will move out of the Public Safety Committee unanimously and then will go back to the Committee of the Whole, where all 17 of us will have the chance to register our opinions. Then we’ll vote again and it will go to the mayor’s desk where — given his track record on LGBT issues — I expect he will sign it into law. I hope to see this become law by Nov. 2.” n

BILL from page 1

removed because of a procedural technicality. When it was reported that the attack could not be prosecuted as a hate crime, Reynolds Brown and Kenney took swift action to address the issue. “My staff got busy right away like Councilman Kenney’s to figure out what we can do as a city to address this issue,” Reynolds Brown told PGN this week. “The yield is the bill Councilman Kenney and I introduced last week.” Under the proposed legislation, offenders could face a maximum 90 days in jail and a fined up to $2,000. The proposed bill is an attempt to close the “hate crimes loophole” in Harrisburg, Reynolds Brown said. “Philadelphia is known all over the world as a city that celebrates and values diversity and we will not allow a few thugs to tarnish

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rts

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly

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WS-itivity

Singer-songwriter to perform benefit show By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com Out Philadelphia-based independent singer-songwriter Aiden James is launching another nationwide tour and a new single, all before the holidays. The trek will take him to cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Palm Springs (we asked … sadly, he doesn’t need a roadie) and includes a home-town benefit show for Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society Oct. 10 at World Café Live. James said he was inspired to do the benefit because of his own experiences

with animals. “I knew of what they were doing in Philly and I actually have a rescue animal, not from PAWS,” he said. “I love critters. I figured they need help and I thought it would be a nice pairing, being an animal lover and having a rescue pet myself.” James said he and his rescue animal met each other by chance on a cold winter evening many moons ago. “Her name is Rosie the Cat,” he said. “She’s a bitch. She’s really old now. She’s 16. It was New Year’s Eve, and I was walking home and it was freezing cold out. I saw this little kitten walking

up to me. I walked to a couple houses and knocked. ‘Is this your kitten?’ Everybody was like, ‘Aw, hell no!’ I was like, ‘Oh well, I guess I have a cat now.’” James said his love for animals has also inspired him to go vegan. “The correlation between being vegan and [my support of] PAWS is unrelated,” he explained. “But the tie-in is being compassionate towards animal welfare and the overall treatment of animals and how society has made them a product. There’s this detachment to the animals we have that live in our houses and the animals that are raised out of sight, out

of mind, for slaughter. There’s a detachment between the animals we eat and the compassion we show to the animals we have as pets. It’s a good step in the right direction. It’s a good step in the right direction as far as shelters and animals and it shows people how to have the capacity for compassion. So that’s why I became vegan, because animal welfare is something that is very important to me and I wanted to wholeheartedly live my beliefs.” James’ commitment to his convictions is laudable, especially for someone who travels as much as he does. PAGE 28

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

feature PGN

We relaunched our website. Responsive and graphic-driven. Check out the new and improved version of

epgn.com AIDEN JAMES PAWS from page 27

Vegans are often faced with the challenge of finding suitable sustenance, especially on the road, often in places where uttering words like “gluten-free” and “vegan” are akin to declaring an undying love for communism or hailing from the planet Jupiter. “They do look at you like you have lobsters crawling out of your ears,” James said about TWV (traveling while vegan). “It’s a little bit of a struggle. I had been vegetarian before that. So the initial shock of it came when I switched to being a vegetarian. And that is easy. So becoming a vegan, it is fun now for me to travel. I’ve sort of made it a game. I go to major cities so it’s a little easier. But I like to try all their vegan restaurants. I end up spending so much money on the road because I’m eating at all these vegan restaurants because Philly doesn’t have that many. I’m ordering for two or three because I want to try everything. Being on the road and being vegan can be hard if you aren’t traveling to major cities. When I fly, airports are the worst. But there are great vegan restaurants in California and Chicago.” James’ last full album, “Trouble With This,” came out in 2012, but since then he’s released a few new songs as singles, the latest of which became available online Oct. 1. “It’s called ‘Last Reminder,’” James said. “I wrote it when I was in Philly. I was waking up at the crack of noon, going to get my coffee on the corner. I saw these signs all over my neighborhood. It said, ‘Lost item. Huge sentimental value.

Reward if found.’ I thought, What is the monetary value that this person placed on a memory that they are not ready to forget and would pay to get it back? So my wheels started turning and I wrote the song.” James added that the new song finds him experimenting with bigger, bolder sounds than he had on “Trouble With This.” “I have Ingrid Michaelson’s drummer playing on the track so it has a very Gavin DeGraw [sound],” he said. “The drums are big. It has a nice big sound akin to One Republic. The vocals are front and center. It’s not as electronic as ‘Trouble With This’ but there are definitely some of those elements in there. There’s definitely more live drums on it and it sounds great.” When asked about the possibility of a new album, James was noncommittal about any plans beyond staying on the road and performing. “I don’t really have a comment about future stuff,” he said. “It’s up in the air. I’m just focusing on getting this track out and getting something new. Because I’m touring, it’s hard to do studio time and write and record. I have seven shows coming up all around the country. It’s hard to juggle these things. I’m just going to put out the single and figure everything out when I get back.” n Aiden James performs a benefit show for PAWS 9 p.m. Oct. 10 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215-222-1400 or visit www.aidenjamesmusic.com or www. phillypaws.org.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

BEST LGBT

2014

Philadelphia

It’s baaaack! Voting is now open for PGN’s annual Best of LGBT Philly, the ultimate readers’-choice contest naming the best of the best in the local LGBT scene. We ﬁll the pages of PGN with our community coverage each week, and now it’s your turn to add your voice to the mix. Best of LGBT Philly gives our readers the chance to tell us who you think are our community standouts. From the people to the places to the parties, if you love it, tell us! There are two ways to vote — online for you ’Net-savvy folks and in a good old-fashioned paper ballot for our print-loyal readers. Vote in every category, or just in the ones you care about. And if you think you, your organization or your business should be among the winners, make sure to tell your friends, family and friends of family to vote. (Use hashtag #lgbtphilly14 to help get the word out!)

Community LGBT Event LGBT Fundraiser LGBT Nonprofit LGBT Sports Organization LGBT-Owned Business

People Do-Gooder

Voting will be open through Oct. 19, and winners will be revealed in the Nov. 7 edition. All voters who supply contact information will be entered into a drawing for several prizes. Winners will be honored at a reception this fall.

Bartender

To vote, visit surveymonkey.com/s/BOLGBT2014, or write in your favorites on this form and mail it or drop it off to 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147, or fax it to 215-925-6437.

Ally

PGN’s Best of LGBT Philadelphia 505 S. Fourth St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 Fax: 215-925-6437

Go to www.epgn.com and click on the link for Best of LGBT Philadelphia to cast your votes online.

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Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

Suzi Nash

Bodunrin O. Banwo: Tackling stereotypes, on field and off Are you ready for some football? I hope so, because next week our city is going to be overrun with tight ends and guys penetrating the middle and going deep. Gay Bowl 2014, the annual flag-football championship tournament of the National Gay Flag Football League, is going to be the largest Gay Bowl ever, with 42 teams including a 10-team women’s division. This week we spoke to center (and sometimes tight end) Bo Banwo, a well-traveled fellow who speaks two-anda-half languages: Spanish, English and a smattering of Guarani. PGN: I’ll try my eighth-grade Spanish on you. De dónde era? BB: Ha. I’m actually from Florida. My dad’s Nigerian and my mom’s American — well, African-American American. So I’m kind of like the president. But yeah, I was born and raised in Tampa and moved around quite a bit. I’ve lived in South America, Arizona, New Jersey and now I’m in Baltimore. PGN: I don’t think I’ve been to Tampa. BB: It was a really great place to grow up, probably one of the most integrated places in America when I was growing up. [Laughs] That was before Florida went crazy! I don’t know what happened, we used to have a good reputation! The last 10 years ... I just don’t know what’s going on, it’s scary. PGN: James Carville once said that Pennsylvania was Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with the Deep South in between. It sounds like Florida has similar dichotomies. BB: It’s true and my family goes back six or seven generations in Florida. They’ve always been activists, doing work organizing people that certainly put us in conflict with certain power structures in the South. So we’ve experienced our share of violence. We’re from the North and I hate to badmouth any states, but it seems like part of the problem comes with people in South and North Carolina moving into Florida and bringing a certain mentality with them. PGN: Confederate flags flying? BB: Exactly. PGN: Tell me about the family. BB: I’m the youngest of three boys. One brother lives in London and the other is still in Tampa. My mother works as a principal secretary and my father passed a few years ago but he was an engineer/cab driver. I think when you’re African and move to America it’s a rule that you have to spend some time as a cab driver! PGN: I just watched an episode of “Cold Case” that was about an immigrant who’d been an engineer in his country but was rel-

egated to doing manual labor once he was here, and the disrespect he was shown just because he had an accent. BB: Yeah, it’s interesting being half first-generation American and seeing the issues that my father faced. He felt hampered by his accent and thought that if he could lose it he might have been much more successful, but on the other hand he was very proud of being Nigerian, so it was tough for him. PGN: Was he proud to see someone of African descent elected president? BB: Well … He had a weird political history. For a long time, he voted Republican, which killed me because I worked in Democratic politics in Florida. In 2000, the year of the recount and all that craziness, my dad voted for George Bush. PGN: Did you want to strangle him? BB: [Laughs] I did, I did! I begged and begged him, “Please don’t vote for that man.” I told him Dick Cheney was evil! When he voted for them anyway I didn’t talk to him for, like, six months. The thing was, he came from a country that was a dictatorship and when he left, he had two choices — to go to Russia, which has a significant African population, or to Europe, which is where he went. So he had a very anti-Communist, anti-socialist (i.e., leftist politics) opinion. But in the end, George Bush and his policies really moved him to the left and in the next election, he leaned towards Kerry and, by the time Barack Obama came along, he was fully in the camp. It was heartwarming to see his transformation. PGN: What were you like as a kid? Were you always into sports? BB: Growing up in the South, you were always expected to play football, which I did, but most of my energy as a young person was involved around politics and activism. We were a family that did apartheid activism. We also did a lot of election work. I was a Ross Perot kid and worked on his campaign. PGN: [Laughs] He’s not a Democrat. BB: I know. [Laughs] For a while I was influenced by my dad. PGN: Oh dear. What’s a good family memory? BB: The Christmas I got my first bicycle. I woke up and my oldest brother was like, “Come outside!” I walked to the side of the house and there was a bicycle and everyone shouted, “It’s for you!” and I was like, “Oh my goodness!” PGN: That’s right … in Florida it would have still been bike-riding weather. I don’t know that I would like a warm Christmas.

BB: I love it. Our coldest weather was about 50 degrees. I went to college in Florida and I remember one year we had a few small flurries at Christmas. I think they canceled school! I’m horrified when winter comes here. PGN: Where did you go to school? BB: I went to Rutgers University for my master’s in public administration and education and a small HBCU, BethuneCookman University in Daytona, for a bachelor of arts in political science. PGN: I’m not familiar with that HBCU (historically black college or university). BB: It was founded by activist and educator Mary McLeod Bethune. It’s the only HBCU founded by a woman and we are very proud of our founder, Ms. Bethune. We try to live her legacy every day. And there’s a surprisingly big gay population at the school! PGN: Which brings me to, when did you come out?

wasn’t really out because I played football and wrestled, you know. I think I knew of one guy somewhere in Indiana who played sports and was out at the time. It’s amazing how far we’ve come in a short period of time. I’m so happy with where we are going and gay men being able to express their masculinity in sports, etc., showing that there are a lot of faces to our community. PGN: Including the whole flag-football community. How did you get involved in that? BB: I went to D.C. for the inauguration and someone took me to a gay sports bar, Nellies. Gay men interested in sports was a new phenomenon for me; I’m attracted to very feminine guys who usually have no interest in sports. Side note: We need to come together as a community and support both feminine and masculine men. Then I moved to Phoenix, Ariz., and I happened to see that TV show on Logo, “Shirts and Skins,” and I thought, Wow, there are whole leagues out there where people play sports! So I Googled “gay flag football in Phoenix” and a team popped up. I played there for a year before moving to New Jersey and joining a Philly team.

PGN: A favorite football moment? BB: I guess being selected All State, or maybe when I went to my new school, which was a performing-arts school. It didn’t have the greatest football team and we lost our first game, like 72-0. The second game we really got murdered: 96-0! But our finest moment came the first time we ever scored. [Laughs] We were really close to the end zone and our coach called a timeout. He said, “Guys, please, please, we have to do this.” We ran a play up the middle and scored and everyone went crazy. [Laughs] The whole school poured out onto the field! We didn’t win, but I’ll never forget Photo: Suzi Nash that moment. In flag footBB: I was pretty out growing up, but offiball, I just love seeing peocially I told my parents when I was about ple start the season at one level and getting 22. It was an unspoken thing all through better as the season progresses. It’s fun to high school where I dated different people. see the confidence they gain, and of course the camaraderie of playing in the league is PGN: Guys or girls? great. BB: Guys. I’ve never dated a girl. PGN: [Laughs] So you’re golden? BB: Oh, my goodness. Yes, I am. I didn’t even go to the prom because I wanted to take a guy and I knew that I couldn’t. I

PGN: Why were you at a performing-arts school? BB: I played the contra-base clarinet for 16 years. The deciPAGE 34

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

Q Puzzle From a ‘Modern Family’ episode Across

1. Stones ballad 6. Where they yell “Cut!” 10. Kunis of “Black Swan” 14. Tease 15. Tori who sang “I am not from your tribe” 16. With mouth wide open 17. Start of a frustrated cry from Cameron to Mitchell 18. More of the cry 20. ___ buco 21. Industrial-

strength air? 22. Out-andout 23. NCAA home of the Bruins 25. Sphere start 27. More of the cry 31. Result of excessive circumcision 34. “West Side Story” girl 35. Mounds ruled by queens 38. Cereal box no. 39. Put out again 42. When repeated, campy 43. Poet Moore 45. Shaft in a straight simile 47. Spank 48. More of the cry

51. “I’ve had better ...” 53. Canadian gas brand 54. Part of a flight 57. Young meat 59. Cherry stones 63. What you wind up with, per Cameron 65. ___ Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell portrayer) 66. Plot unit 67. Pronto on “ER” 68. Tatum of “The Bad News Bears” 69. “___ she blows!” 70. Staying power, on Broadway 71. Former NFL player Tuaolo

PORTRAIT from page 31

sion I made as a seventh-grader to play the clarinet changed my life, probably saved it. As a young gay male, I really wasn’t interested in school but I wanted to play, so I went. It kept me focused through college too. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had music, where I might have ended up. So I’m very passionate about the arts. I’m on the board of the Sister Cities Girlchoir in Philadelphia and Camden and the board president of Yell Gallery. Sister Cities is a wonderful group. The executive director is a woman named Alysia Lee and she’s one of the most inspiring people I know. She works on empowering young women through music. She’s gay too; you should do a profile on her. PGN: Sounds good. Did you play in marching band, orchestra, concert band? BB: All of that except for marching band during football season because I was on the field. In college, I did marching band too. HBCU colleges take it seriously so it was a lot of work. We’d go to games in middle Georgia and when we came on at halftime, people were stunned. [Laughs] They were like, “Woah. We’ve never seen anything like that in our lives. What is that?” I was actually in the movie “Drumline.” PGN: Cool. Changing topics, you have quite a quirky résumé. Tell me about beekeeping in Paraguay. BB: I’ve always wanted to join the Peace Corps. My dad being a foreigner made me want to explore the world and we’ve always had quite a few people in the Peace Corps in our lives — family, friends, etc. — and Chris Matthews was a Peace Corps volunteer. PGN: Wait, what does Chris Matthews have to do with it? BB: Um … I was obsessed with Chris

Down

1. “A one and ___ ...” 2. “Ixnay” and “No way” 3. Dolls’ companions, in a musical 4. Iffy 5. WWII command 6. Male parishioner, to Rev. Perry 7. 1847 Melville novel 8. Adds some muscle to 9. Fast flier, briefly 10. Cocktail for the “Octopussy” star 11. “___ Rhythm” 12. Hilary Swank’s husband Chad 13. It gets a gel hard

19. Run smoothly 21. Patty Hearst’s former org. 24. “Bewitched” aunt 26. Penetrating question? 27. Cordial, as a welcome 28. Finish with 29. Diana’s accessory 30. Deejay Casey 32. Prefix with butch or rightwing 33. Become an open pansy, e.g. 36. Gets wind of 37. Spills one’s seed 40. Mireille of “The Killing” 41. Do pioneer work 44. Top, to a

Matthews for a long time. So I really wanted to go to Africa and managed to get an assignment there. Unfortunately at the last moment they had to switch me and sent me to Paraguay in South America. I was like, What? Why would you send me there? I have no connection to that place. Since they messed up, they let me choose what job I wanted to do. Beekeeping sounded the most interesting to me. I went and fell in love with the place. I’ve actually been back several times. There are more returnees and Peace Corps/host marriages there than anywhere else. PGN: What’s so amazing about it? BB: It’s a landlocked country without many resources but they have such amazing spirit. I lived in a little village and taught farmers about increasing honey production and doing cooperative work. PGN: I volunteered recently at Philabundance with Wonder Women and it was very gratifying. What was a moving moment working with the Food Trust? BB: I was in charge of coordinating our Healthy Corner Store Network. It was always empowering going into a store and seeing that the storeowners had taken techniques I taught them about promoting healthy eating, driving people to healthier options and seeing them implemented and working. It happened a ton of times and I was so proud. I’m doing similar work with my job in Baltimore now, as well as some youth leadership around nutrition and health education. PGN: Scariest moment? BB: There were two while I was in the Peace Corps. I was visiting another volunteer at his site and all day we heard a rumor about a crazy man who had been killing chickens, which are really valuable there. We were baking cookies and suddenly saw

bottom? 46. Gets back in business 49. They help bakers get it up 50. High-speed connection 52. Bruin Bobby 54. Slap a bottom 55. Stage crew worker, briefly 56. Big name in razors 58. Web info source 60. Voyeur’s confession? 61. Peter, for one 62. Ward of “Once and Again” 64. Night school subj. 65. Playwright Orton PAGE 40

a guy outside the window. He was running down the street and 30 seconds later we saw about 30 people chasing him with guns and sticks. It was like a movie. He hid in the swamp area and everybody was looking for him. It was very surreal. They finally found him and hit him with whips so I called the police. The cop showed up on a little Vespa and walked him out of town. The scariest story was with a guy named Vale who I met there and dated for over a year. He invited me to stay at his house one night and we were hanging out watching movies when his cousin showed up at midnight. He looked at me and said, “Who’s that guy?” Vale wasn’t out to the family so he told them I was his Brazilian friend. He looked at me, said, “ I want him out of here” and walked out. It wasn’t even his house. Vale started freaking out and told me I had to go. We were about an hour away from my place and I had no way to get there at that hour, so he said, “OK, I’m going to put you in the living room and put a padlock on the door so you’ll be safe when he comes back.” So that’s what we did. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. The next morning he let me out at 7 a.m. and then walked behind me so we were separated. It was terrible, but it made me realize how privileged I am — that I was able to come home to a country where I’m able to express my sexuality freely. I had a scary experience, but he lives that fear every day. PGN: Worst line tried on you? BB: “I’m really into black guys.” It bothers me because I don’t want to just be someone’s fantasy. I have to be protective of myself. I want someone to like me for me. PGN: Pets? BB: We always had dogs. My first dog was Boomer, named after the quarterback Boomer Esiason. Then we had Toby who was a former show dog, a shih tzu. I don’t

know how that dog managed to get into our family! He was pampered his entire life until he got to us. He was such a prima donna and scandalous! He got the neighbor’s dog pregnant. But he was an awesome dog. Then my mom had a dog, Rufus, who disappeared and then came back and then disappeared and came back again! I think he had another family. PGN: A dog polygamist! BB: Yes! And now she has a dog, Dexter. She keeps sighing, “I guess this is the only grandchild I’m going to have.” PGN: What can people expect at the flag football tournament? BB: A lot of really cute guys from all over the country! No, it’s going to be a really competitive football tournament with toplevel teams. I really want to encourage people to come out to the games. Flag football is fast-paced and exciting and the level of competition is going to be out of this world. It will also be a great chance to socialize with people from all over the country and even a few international teams. There are going to be a lot of events in addition to the games. There’s a huge opening party at the Field House Oct. 9 and we expect 800 or 900 players to be at that event! Tim Adams from Field House has been a huge supporter, same thing for Kim from Fire & Ice, where we will be holding our closing party. The tournament takes place during OutFest so there’s a lot going on. I am the volunteer coordinator and we still need plenty of volunteers. Anyone interested can go to our website. And volunteers will get into some of our events for free! n For more information, visit www.gaybowl2014.com. To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol.com.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

October is LGBT History Month.

Catch the Spirit.

Exclusive LGBT History coverage throughout the month.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

Theater & Arts Always the Bridesmaid The hit romantic comedy returns for an encore 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at L’Etage, 624 S. Bainbridge St.; 215-592-0626. The Events The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the story of a survivor who tries to find the answers to the most difficult question of al, Oct. 7-19 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900. Gender Reel: Premiere of Shirts Vs. Skins The screening is followed by a transmen-of-color discussion panel 6:15 p.m. Oct. 4 at The Rotunda, 4014

Walnut St.; 215573-3234.

Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215898-3900.

In Reverse Muse Art Gallery presents an exhibition of works by Terri Fridkin through Nov. 2, 52 N. Second St.; 215627-5310. The Life 11th Hour Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-winning musical about the day when Times Square wasn’t the squeaky-clean tourist destination it has become, Oct. 4-5 at Mainstage at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; www.11thhourtheatrecompany.org. Mark Bittman The author of “How to Cook Everything Fast: A Better Way to Cook Great Food” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9

Yannick Conducts Rachmaninoff The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Oct. 8-11 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847. HELLBENT FOR LEATHER (AND HAIRSPRAY): Heavy-metal trailblazers Judas Priest, with legendary out vocalist Rob Halford fronting the group, hit the road in support of their new album “Redeemer of Souls” with hilariously inappropriate glam-metal new jacks, Steel Panther, opening the show, 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Harrah’s Casino Hotel, 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Atlantic City. For more information or tickets, call 609-441-5501.

at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341. Nick Swardson The comedian performs 8 p.m. Oct. 7 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. 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; 215-7638100. That’s So Gay: Outing Early America The Library

Triangle Medical

Company of Philadelphia presents the exhibition exploring gay culture through Oct. 17, 1314 Locust St.; 215-546-3181. Tyler Perry’s Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned The Perry-produced drama hits the stage

through Oct. 5 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800. Saint Joan, Betrayed The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents an abstract take on the story of Joan of Arc Oct. 3-4 at Harold Prince

Airborne Toxic Event The rock band performs 8:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800-745-3000.

Christine Havrilla The out singer-songwriter performs 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St.; 215-928-0978. The Bangles The band performs 8 p.m. Oct. 4 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Limp Bizkit The hard-rock band performs 8 p.m. Oct. 7 at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th

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The Afghan Whigs The rock band performs 8:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100.

Bryan Ferry Roxy Music frontman performs 8 p.m. Oct. 4 at Tower Theater, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; 610-352-2887.

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Charlie XCX The U.K. synthpop singer performs 9 p.m. Oct. 3 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215922-1011.

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St., Upper Darby; 610-352-2887. Placebo The rock band with out members performs 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011. Aiden James The out singer-songwriter performs 9 p.m. Oct. 10 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. Nick & Knight Boy-band alums Nick Carter and Jordan Knight perform Oct. 10-11 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Nightlife Cutn Paste: Goth Prom The goth event includes a séance, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 3 at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St.; 215627-1662. Beauty Ball 2014 Philadelphia’s fifth-annual amateur drag party, 7-10 p.m. Oct. 4 at Woody’s Bar, 202 S. 13th St.; 215-545-1893. Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret Philly’s cabaret star performs with a live band 9 p.m. Oct. 7 at L’Etage, 624 S. Bainbridge St.; 215592-0626. Mr. Everything The weekly dragking contest runs 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 8 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

Game of thrones: Burlesque is Coming The fantasy-themed burlesque show starts 9 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.

Bobby Collins The comedian performs 6 and 9 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808. foreigner The classic-rock group performs 9 p.m. Oct. 3-4 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Brian regan The comedian performs 8 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. faith Prince & Jason Graae, “the Prince And the Showboy” The Broadway stars sing their most requested showtunes 8 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Rrazz Room, in The Ramada New Hope, 6426

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.

Oct. 10 at the Rrazz Room, in The Ramada New Hope, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 888-596-1027. the Addams family Media Theatre presents the musical based on the classic morbidly funny TV show through Nov. 2, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-8910100.

Outta Town Last Comic Standing Comedians from the TV show perform 8 p.m. Oct. 3 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

NOW HEAR THIS: Drag superstar Coco Peru comes to town for the Philadelphia premiere of her latest show “Have You Heard?” 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 10-11 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. For more information, call 215-735-5772.

Lower York Road, New Hope; 888596-1027. 10,000 Maniacs The alt-rock band performs 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple

Ave., Sellersville; 215-257-5808. Bears on the Boardwalk The first annual event runs Oct. 10-13 at Rainbow Room, 55 S. Bellevue Ave.,

Atlantic City, N.J.; www.bearsontheboardwalk.com. Mann to Man: frederick Mann White, Michael ferreri The cabaret singer performs 8 p.m.

Exalted Nature: the real and fantastic World of Charles Burchfield The Brandywine River Museum of Art presents an exhibition of visionary landscapes by Burchfield (18931967), featuring more than 50 paintings, through Nov. 16, 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford; www.brandywinemuseum.org. n

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

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PGN PuZZLE from page 34

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

Classifieds Real Estate Sale

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SPRING GARDEN AT 11TH ON BRANDYWINE $1761/mo. 3 or 4 BR, 1 bath. Architectural redesign of 1840’s townhouse. Short walk to Reading Terminal/Chinatown. Ongoing improvements if agreeable.. Must see! Call 215-849-4049. _____________________________________________38-39

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. ________________________________________38-44 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. ________________________________________38-49 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. ________________________________________38-49 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________38-42 OGWM looking for males 25-50 who want oral service. Call RJ at 856-287-6995. ________________________________________38-43

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For Sale VENTNOR, NJ House for sale in Ventnor NJ. 2 story 5 bedroom house, needs some repairs. Priced right. Call 215 468 9166. ________________________________________38-49 115 FOURTH AVENUE, WEST CAPE MAY Beautiful modern design LEED Certified home in desirable West Cape May offered for sale. Sustainable, low maintenance, eco-friendly, cost effective, stylish. Offered by Ellen M. Shaw, GRI, SRES, Chris Clemans Sotheby’s International Realty 609-884-3332 x 105 Cell: 609-4257405. http://www.chrisclemanssir.com/sales/detail/159597/ ________________________________________38-43

LAKE SALE, NY 5 acres 74’ lake $24,900. 20 acres 400’ waterfront $29,900. 2 acres Bass Pond $18,900. 30 new waterfronts, financing. www.LandFirstNY.com Call: 888.683.2626. ________________________________________38-40 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. ________________________________________38-40

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.

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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.

Thinking it’s about time for some professional help with the home repairs? PGN’s Services and Home Improvement Directory is a great place to get started when looking for contractors that know and proudly serve our community.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

ADONIS CINEMA

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

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

HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday - Thursday

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(closed an hour for cleaning)

Friday- Sunday:

Open 24hrs

ADMISSION: $12.00

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

2020 HORROR STORY Saturday, Oct. 11th Time: 11pm-3:30am

WHAT TO EXPECT: • DJ David Dutch • Complimentary Food & Beverages • A Full House of Guys to Choose From & Soo Much More...

FREAK SHOW

WEEKLY SPECIALS: LATE NIGHT CREEP

Half Price Lockers (12 Midnight- 8am/ Monday- Thursday) MEMBERS: $9.00 & NON-MEMBERS: $19.00

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:

Sunday, Oct. 18th Time: 11pm-3:30am

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

WHAT TO EXPECT:

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

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

- ROOMS GO QUICKLY SO CHECK IN EARLY -

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISE $12 Flat Rate for Locker Admission & Clothing Optional (4pm-12 Midnight)

Check out our website for our WEEKLY SPECIALS & JOIN OUR e-mail List to get the latest information on upcoming events....

Don’t forget to visit the Adonis Cinema right next door!! 2026 Sansom St/ PH: 215-557-9319

PGN

Men Delco Dudes A men’s social and support group meets 7-9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road in Media; delco.dudes@uucdc.org. Gay Married Men’s Association Meets 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; www.gammaphilly.com. Men of All Colors Together Meets 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, September through June, at William Way; 610-277-6595, www.MACTPhila.org. Men’s Coming Out Group, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at The Pride Center of New Jersey; njwarrior@aol.com. Men of Color United A discussion/support group for gay and bisexual men of color meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-496-0330.

Parents/Families Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays/Bucks County Meets 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Penns Park United Methodist Church, 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park, and hird Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Warminster UCC, 785 Street Road; 215-348-9976. PFLAG/Chester County Meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. High St.; 484-354-2448. PFLAG/Collingswood, N.J. Meets 6:30-9 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave.; 609202-4622, pflagcollingswood@yahoo.com. PFLAG/Media Meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Unitarian Universal Church, 145 Rose Tree Rd.; 610-368-2021. PFLAG/Philadelphia Meets 2-5 p.m. the third Sunday of the month at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.; 215-572-1833. PFLAG/Princeton, N.J. Meets 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the George Thomas Room at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St.; 609-683-5155. PFLAG/Wilmington, Del. Meets 7-9 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St.; 302-654-2995. Philadelphia Family Pride Advocacy, support and social network for LGBT families offers play groups, monthly kids and teen talk groups, activities and outings. Planning meetings held monthly; 215-600-2864, www.phillyfamilypride.org.

Trans Evolutions A drop-in support group for anyone on the transgender spectrum meets 6 p.m. Thursdays at 21 S. 12th St., eighth floor; 215-563-0652 ext. 235. Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine Primary health care and specialized transgender services in a safe, professional, nonjudgmental environment, 809 Locust St.; 215-563-0658. T-MAN People-of-color support group for transmen, FTMs, butches, studs, aggressives, bois, genderqueer and all female-born individuals with gender questions meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays, 1201 Locust St., second floor; 215-632-3028, tmanphilly.com. Transhealth Information Project Sponsors a weekly drop-in center from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; 215-851-1822. Transgender Health Action Coalition Peer trans health-advocacy organization, 1201 Locust St., fourth floor; 215-732-1207. Young, Trans and Unified Support group for transgender and questioning individuals ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, www. atticyouthcenter.org.

Women

Hanging Out With Lesbians A group in Central Pennsylvania that organizes concerts, camping, golf, picnics, hikes, plays and game

nights in nonsmoking environments; http://groups. yahoo.com/group/howlofpa/. Lesbian Community of Delaware Valley Social group meets monthly for activities for gay women of all ages in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ LCDV/. Lesbian Couples Dining Group of Montgomery County Meets monthly; 215-542-2899. Mt. Airy Lesbian Social Club For lesbians in the Philadelphia area ages 35-plus; www.meetup.com/mtairylesbiansocial/. Queer Connections Social group for women in their 20s meets weekly; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/queerconnections/. Sisters United A social/support group for transwomen of color ages 13-24, with weekly social events, open discusson and monthly movie/discussions meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-4960330. Women Coming-Out Support Group Women, ages 18 and over, who consider themselves gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning and are at any stage of the coming-out process are welcome to meet 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday and third Thursday of the month at the Pride Center of New Jersey; www. pridecenter.org.

Youth

40 Acres of Change Discussion group for teen and young adults meets 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at The COLOURS Organization Inc., 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-851-1975. GLBT Group of Hunterdon County Social and support groups for youth, teens and young adults, as well as parents and family members, meet at North County Branch Library, 65 Halstead St. in Clinton, N.J.; schedule at www. glbtofhunterdoncountyofnj.com, 908-300-1058. HAVEN LGBT, intersex, questioning, queer and allied youth ages 14-20 meet 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem; 610-868-2153. HiTOPS A safe-space support program for LGBT and questioning youth meets 2:30-4:30 p.m. the first and third Saturdays at 21 Wiggins St., Princeton, N.J.; 609683-5155, hitops.org. Main Line Youth Alliance Meets from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-688-1861, info@myaonline.org. Project Keeping it Safe LGBT youth drop-in center offers meetings, HIV and STD prevention and testing, counseling and other services on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 514 Cooper St., Camden, N.J.; 856-9632432, camden-ahec.org/. PRYSM Youth Center Youth ages 14-20 meet 6:30-8:30 p.m Wednesdays at the center, 126 East Baltimore Pike, Media; 610-3579948. Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center Youth ages 14-21 meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ ppbucks.org. Social X Change Social activity group for LGBT youth of color ages 1323 meets 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays at 1207 Chestnut St., third floor; 215-851-1975. Space to be Proud, Open, and Together Open to all LGBTQ queer youth and allies, ages 14-21, the SPOT meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Planned Parenthood of Chester County, 8 S. Wayne St.; 267687-6648. Young, Trans and Unified A support group for transgender and questioning youth ages 13-23 meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at The Attic Youth Center; 215-545-4331, www.atticyouthcenter. org. You’re Not Alone Sponsored by AIDS Delaware, the group for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth meets during the school year at 100 W. 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington, Del; 800-810-6776. Youth Making a Difference A group for LGBTQ African-American and Latino youth ages 14-24 meets 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays at Camden AHEC, 514 Cooper St.; 856-963-2432.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 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 n The COLOURS Organization, Inc.: 215-496-0330 ■ District Attorney LGBT Liaison:Helen “Nellie” Fitzpatrick, 215-686-9980, helen.fitzpatrick@

■ 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 phila.gov ■ Equality Pennsylvania: 215731-1447; www.equalitypa.org ■ Equality Forum: 215-732-3378 ■ 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

■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 ■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: 215-686-4670 ■ Police Department liaison — Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel: 215-686-3318 ■ 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)

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.; 215-981-0088, 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.; 215685-1821. 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

■ 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 215-6279090, 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 LGBT-friendly busi-

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; 215-563-0652, 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. Philadelphia FIGHT Comprehensive AIDS service organization providing primary care, consumer education, advocacy and research on potential treatments and vaccines; 1233 Locust St.; 215985-4448; www.fight.org. 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 nesses and professionals; 215557-0190, 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; 215-8402039, www.philadelphiagaytourism.com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Oct. 3-9, 2014

PGN