The Ice dance cometh PAGE 27
D.A. denies police access to files in Morris case
Family Portrait: Barbara Hammer gets the picture
PAGE 5
PGN launches new youth-generated supplement
PAGE 31
PAGES 19-26
Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2014
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Vol. 38 No. 5
Prison commish defends transgender policy
Philly Bar Association backs marriage equality By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com City prison commissioner Louis R. Giorla says the department’s new transgender policy may not be perfect, but it’s a work in progress and he’s fully committed to the humane treatment of transgender inmates. The policy, which went into effect earlier this month, reflects recent federal regulations that implement the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003. “It’s our intention to be fully compliant with the federal regulations,” Giorla told PGN. “Anybody who becomes incarcerated in one of our facilities — and their family members — can be assured that we’re committed to their safety, which includes their physical health and well-being.” The new policy was lambasted by some transgender activists because it doesn’t specify that, in some circumstances, it’s appropriate to house a pre-operative female in a female prison or a pre-operative male in a male prison. But Giorla said that omission doesn’t mean housing decisions are made solely on the basis of an inmate’s genital status. PAGE 13 “Potentially, we can
Antigay activist seeks to get involved in marriage cases By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com A local antigay activist is continuing his quest to become involved in several legal challenges against the state’s ban on samesex marriage. James D. Schneller, president of the Philadelphia Metro Task Force, filed a brief Jan. 25 in the Whitewood v. Wolf case, again calling on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania to permit him to become an intervener. The case was filed last summer by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a group of same-sex couples, two children and a widow, and was the first PAGE 18
SWIMMING WITH A PURPOSE: The Philadelphia Fins Aquatic Club hosted its annual Postal Swim Jan. 25 at Friends Select School. Approximately 30 swimmers turned out for the meet and although fundraising runs until Feb. 9, Fins president Bob Breitel said the club typically raises $2,000. This year, funds raised with go towards the club and also to the American Heart Association. Breitel said the event had an excellent turnout with many new swimmers and a new digital clock in tow. “There was a lot of energy and I think everybody had a great time. We had some terrific swims.” Photo: Scott A. Drake
For the first time ever, the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association this week voted to endorse marriage equality — and called on the state to take action on pending legislation to grant same-sex couples equal marriage rights in Pennsylvania. On Jan. 27, the approximately three-dozen board members voted unanimously in favor of a resolution that calls for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the Keystone State. With the resolution’s approval, support for marriage equality is now the official position of the Philadelphia Bar Association. According to association director of communications and marketing Meredith Z. AvakianHardaway, although subsets of the organization have backed marriage-equality measures in the past, this is the first time the issue
was brought to the full board of governors. “There have been a variety of different resolutions over the years but some of the resolutions in the past may have been from a section of the association,” AvakianHardaway said. “This is the first time it was at this level before the entire board, who represent our 13,000 members. It is a big deal for us.” The resolution was developed by the association’s LGBT Rights Committee. Committee co-chair Mike Viola said drafters contacted each section or committee chair throughout the association, about half of whom endorsed the effort; while some didn’t respond, no one rejected the resolution, Viola noted. The resolution was then submitted to the cabinet of the board of governors, which then passed it on to the full board. Viola said the collective voice PAGE 15 of the associa-
Senior center readies for ribbon-cutting By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
The John C. Anderson Apartments will officially open its doors with a ribboncutting ceremony next month, with local, state and national guests on hand. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the LGBT-friendly senior complex, 249-257 S. 13th St., is slated for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 24 in front of the building. Seating will be reserved for invited guests only, but there will be a roped area for spectators. Residents of the building, who have been moving in since the beginning of the month, will be in attendance. Joining the festivities will be former Gov. Ed Rendell, Mayor
Michael Nutter, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and the Philadelphia Congressional delegation, state Treasurer Rob McCord, a state House delegation led by Rep. Mike O’Brien, a state Senate delegation led by Sen. Anthony Williams and a host of City Councilmembers led by Councilman Mark Squilla. Also on hand will be a group of early LGBT-rights activists. “We’ll be making announcements of other speakers in the next couple of weeks, but we’re very excited that we’re going to have a lot of pioneers of the gay-rights struggle in attendance,” said PGN publisher Mark Segal, president of the Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund, which spearheaded the PAGE 17 project with
HAPPY HOMECOMING: New residents of the John C. Anderson Apartments were the guests of honor at a welcoming reception Jan. 26 in the building’s Community Room. The event allowed the residents to mix and mingle with one another and with the board of the Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund, which spearheaded the project with Pennrose Properties. Residents began moving in earlier this month, and organizers will celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 24 at the site. Photo: Scott A. Drake