Philadelphia Gay News Vol. 33 No. 9
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Feb. 27 - Mar. 5, 2009
Kocis trial underway
Film festival feud over ... for now
By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer TLA Entertainment Group and the Philadelphia Film Society, which co-present the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, announced this week that they have reconciled their differences and will again be working together. The two organizations will collaborate on the Philadelphia Film Festival/CineFest, March 26-April 6, and the newly named LGBT event Philadelphia QFest, July 9-19. The decision to collaborate comes one month after the two groups decided to split and present their own mainstream and LGBT festivals. TLA announced in January that “recent disagreements between PFS board leadership and TLA over the management and artistic vision of the festivals has necessitated a breakup of the business relationship.” Matthew Ray, director of media relations for the festival, said at the time that Raymond Murray, TLA founder and president, and other TLA programmers could not come to a consensus with PFS board members about certain festival decisions, particularly what role the board members should play in the programming of the festivals. TLA launched PIGLFF in 1995 and, in 2002, created PFS to oversee both this and the mainstream film festivals, although TLA representatives maintained creative control over both events. Ray said the organizations decided to join forces again to avoid potentially staging four film festivals — two mainstream and two LGBT. “Even though this was a rather public spat, it was important to both organizations to be able to serve the cinephiles and film fans of Philadelphia,” he said. “We reached an agreement and the film festivals will be continuing as a co-production between both organizations, so we won’t have competing film festivals in 2009.” After 2009, however, the partnership is less clear. Ray said the two groups could branch off in different directions following this year’s festivals. “I think that is a possibility,” he said. “Both groups are growing and becoming different organizations, so we’ll be collaborative but may also have our own individual projects. I can’t stress enough that no one is really considering anything beyond this festival right now. This is requiring a totality of energy from everyone See FEUD, Page 17
DATE WITH AN OSCAR: Even though “Milk” was beat out for Best Film by “Slumdog Millionaire” at the 81st Academy Awards on Feb. 22, the acclaimed biopic won two Oscars. Sean Penn won for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of openly gay politician Harvey Milk and out producer and writer Dustin Lance Black (pictured with Cleve Jones) won his first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Photos: ABC/Adam Larkey and Michael Yada
Local university hit with sexual-harassment suit He also managed the ESU Foundation, the $17-million nonprofit fundraising branch of the university. East Stroudsburg University is facing According to the suit, the alleged abuse a lawsuit over the university’s handling began in 2001. The plaintiffs, who all use their initials of sexual-harassment allegations made against a former top administrator. in the suit, reported varying degrees of One current and five sexual harassment: Plaintiff W.B. alleged that Sanders former ESU students filed a civil suit Feb. 12 against inappropriately touched the school and several his thigh and groin area and tried to persuade him of its officials, claiming the university tried to to share a bed with him cover up allegations that during a trip, and plaintiff its former vice president T.H. charges that Sanders physically forced him to of advancement, Isaac Sanders, sexually harassed perform oral sex on him numerous times in his the students. office. ESU, located about The suit alleges that two hours outside of Sanders targeted students Philadelphia in the Pocono who “lacked a ‘father figure’ Mountains, has a student in the family” and “were body of about 6,800 and is one of 14 state-funded ISAAC SANDERS more vulnerable, socially or physically weaker and universities. The suit alleges that Sanders, 50, forged less likely to be effective witnesses against friendships with the students, who are all him or able to defend themselves against African-American males, and then either his sexual assaults.” Many of the plaintiffs were student pressured or convinced them to perform sex acts with him. Sanders was hired to the position in 2000. See ESU, Page 17 By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
The murder trial of gay-porn producer Bryan Kocis began Feb. 24, and attorneys for accused killer Harlow Cuadra contested during opening arguments that their client is innocent. Cuadra, 27, is accused of stabbing Kocis nearly 30 times and slashing his throat almost to the point of decapitation. Firefighters found Kocis, 44, in his Dallas Township home Jan. 24, 2007, after the house had been set ablaze, which prosecutors allege was an attempt to cover up the crime. Cuadra’s partner Joseph Kerekes, 35, was also arrested for the crime, but pleaded guilty in December and is now serving a life sentence without parole. If convicted, Cuadra could face the death penalty. Prosecutors maintain that Cuadra and Kerekes, who operated their own gay-porn business in Virginia, plotted to kill Kocis so they could obtain the rights to work with Sean Lockhart, a porn star under contract with Kocis. One of Cuadra’s attorneys, Joseph D’Andrea, argued during his opening statement Tuesday that Cuadra had no part in the killing and that Kerekes was the mastermind behind the murder. D’Andrea also alluded to the fact that Lockhart and his lover and business partner Grant Roy could have played a role in the murder. “Joe was the dominant partner. Joe was controlling and he controlled Harlow, both on the personal and professional side,” D’Andrea said. “Joe Kerekes cared about one thing — getting ahead — and that meant money. Our defense is simple: Harlow didn’t do it.” D’Andrea’s opening statement lasted 15 minutes, while assistant district attorney Michael Melnick’s topped out at nearly an hour-and-ahalf. Melnick discussed the numerous pieces of evidence the prosecution is prepared to levy against Cuadra, such as computer and cellphone records that seem to implicate him in the crime, and detailed the timeline of the murder investigation, which he noted stretched from “the waters of the Atlantic to the sands of the Pacific.” During the first day of the trial, the prosecution called eight witnesses to the stand, including Andrew Shunk, a former actor with Cuadra and Kerekes’ porn business. Shunk testified that Cuadra and Kerekes were expecting a big payout from a contract with Lockhart, who is known as Brent Corrigan in the industry, and were willing to pay him $50,000 per scene. “They thought if they brought in Sean See KOCIS, Page 17
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
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Congreso de Latinos Unidos announces new gala chairs
Gay Olympian named health ambassador
Former Philadelphia city solicitor Romulo Diaz (above) and his partner Dennis James will serve as the honorary co-chairs for Congreso’s Gala Latina: Feria de las Flores, A Night in Medellín Page 8
Australian diver and gold medalist Matthew Mitcham will be one of his country’s ambassadors for men’s health.
Publisher
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Detour Comics Dining Guide Diversions Gayborhood Map Hot Spots Meeting Place Portraits Q Puzzle Scene In Philly Worth Watching
26 35 38 40 41 42 26 27 23 33
Editor Sarah Blazucki (ext. 206) sarah@epgn.com Art Director Christopher Potter design@epgn.com
Larry Nichols (ext. 213) larry@epgn.com Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208)
Out personalities Larry Flick (left) and Keith Price thrive on “The Morning Jolt” on OutQ Radio.
Family Portraits: Ashley Phillips
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Film: “Eleven Minutes” (above) is a crash course in fashion and “Cherry Blossoms” is a tender drama about a man unaware that he is dying. Page 24
Columns
Classifieds Directories
mark@epgn.com
Staff Writers Jen Colletta (ext. 215) jen@epgn.com
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CDs Film Mombian Offline Work It Out
Mark Segal (ext. 204)
Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com Photographer/Graphic Artist Scott A. Drake (ext. 216) scott@epgn.com Advertising Manager Nick Forte (ext. 209) nick@epgn.com Assistant Advertising Manager Greg Dennis (ext. 201) greg@epgn.com
25 24 29 31 14
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Advertising Sales Representatives Kelly Root (ext. 207) kelly@epgn.com
Mombian
Offline
Diversions
TV
Work It Out
Time for LGBT families on public television
Breaking out the inner party boy
“The Odd Couple”
“Brothers & Sisters”
Selling fitness on TV
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Would you travel to a popular vacation location if you knew it was less than hospitable to LGBT travelers?
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Poll results from our online survey ending Feb. 25: 0% Yes 44% No 33% Vacation? Who has money for a vacation? 22% I go for the experience, not to get on a soapbox.
Go to www.philagaynews.com to weigh in on this week’s question: CDs: Ladies and starlets
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If you got laid off from your job tomorrow, what would you do?
National Advertising Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Office Manager/Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com Executive Assistant Credit/Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press National Gay Newspaper Guild Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2009 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155
The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.
DEAN RISHEL FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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News Briefing
Regional
Center calls for artists
AND THE WINNER IS: The glitz and glamour of the Academy Awards made its way to Philadelphia during Traverse Arts Project’s Feb. 22 Red Carpet Oscar Party. About 100 LGBT and ally individuals enjoyed the two floors of drinks, hors d’oeuvres and desserts during the event, which raised more than $600 for TAP’s upcoming GLBT Arts Festival. Although T. Desiree Hines, festival director, noted the festival is still struggling financially, she called the Oscar Party an effective “friend raiser,” as it helped the local LGBT community become more acquainted with TAP and the festival. “There were a lot of very important people there, and everyone was really impressed, which was good because we worked very, very hard on it,” Hines said. The GLBT Arts Festival will run May 28-31. Photo: Scott A. Drake
LGBT chorus gets new direction By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer A local LGBT and ally chorus is now under the direction of a local music aficionado who plans to fuse his expertise and vision with the singers’ talent. Conductor and composer Dean Rishel took over the reins at Philadelphia Voices of Pride on the first of the year. Rishel, a native of Whitemarsh Township, has extensive experience in various facets of the music field but, until now, had never taken on a leadership role with an LGBT chorus. “When I saw the position at Philadelphia Voices of Pride, I was really drawn to the idea of conducting an all-gay chorus, never having done that before,” Rishel said. “So I interviewed with them and I really liked the people that I met and liked their ideas, and it seemed like a good match.” Rishel will have a wide range of responsibilities in his new role, which he hopes will strengthen the quality of the PVOP performances. “The artistic director oversees really all the artistic decisions of the group,” Rishel said, noting he will work with other staffers to “plan the programs and then work with the singers at rehearsals, working on technical matters of vocal production, matters of style and matters of interpretation and prepare the pieces for public performance. We want them as polished as we can possibly get them.” PVOP, which was founded in the fall of 2005 and performed its first full concert the following spring, currently has 30 members.
Rishel, who is openly gay, is expected to bring a multifarious m u s i c a l perspective to the chorus. Rishel, who studied music at the Westminster Choir College and The College of DEAN RISHEL New Jersey, premiered his first major composition, “Psalm Cycle,” in 1985 and has gone on to compose a vast collection of works, many of which were created for local organizations. In 1995, Rishel’s “Requiem for Children,” which honored the children who died in the Oklahoma City bombing, drew praise from across the country and was presented in several major performances in such places as Colorado, Florida and New Jersey. He has also conducted numerous performances by the Princeton Opera and sung with the Opera Company of Philadelphia Chorus. Rishel, a teacher with the Florence Township Board of Education for 34 years, has also served as an adjunct professor at Rowan and La Salle universities, directing both colleges’ singing groups. Rishel also offers private vocal lessons and, for the past 10 years, has served as the artistic
director of the Greater South Jersey Chorus, a position he’ll continue to hold even with his new job at PVOP. Despite the long list of responsibilities Rishel accumulates throughout his many musical endeavors, his love of music makes the time and energy invested worth it. “It’s time consuming, but it’s a challenge that I enjoy,” he said. Rishel said he’s looking forward to expanding not only PVOP’s membership but also its potential. “I want to build the group in numbers, but more so want to bring them to the highest level of accomplishment I can. I want to put on concerts I can feel proud of and the group can feel really proud of. I want the audience to realize that what they’re seeing is a polished product from a fine choral group and raise the profile of this group in this city.” Erika Grossman, PVOP president, said the chorus has already benefited from Rishel’s influence over the past two months. “The chorus as a whole — from the membership to the board of directors — is extremely happy to have Dean join us,” Grossman said. “His enthusiasm for the music, both the notes and the reasoning behind them, is infectious. And because of that enthusiasm, people have challenged themselves to move beyond their comfort level, to grow musically as an organization and as individuals. We are looking forward to a wonderful concert this May, and a strong partnership for many years to come.” ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
The William Way LGBT Community Center has issued a call for local LGBT artists to submit original works for consideration in an upcoming exhibition. From noon-2 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 1, artists, who must be 18 or older, can drop off two-dimensional works, drawings, paintings, mixed media and photographs at the center, 1315 Spruce St. The works must be framed and prepared for hook- and wirehanging, with overall measurements not exceeding 40-by-40 inches. One winning artist will have his or her work displayed in a solo exhibition and three or more artists could have their works selected for a group exhibition. All entries must be for sale and, if the works are selected, the center would receive a 35-percent commission on any sales. Each entry is $10. For more information, contact Candice Thompson at (215) 732-2220 or firstrep@waygay.org.
City Year holds open house City Year Greater Philadelphia, a service program for young adults, will host an informational meeting about the group’s upcoming program from noon-7 p.m. March 4 at 2221 Chestnut St., second floor. There are 225 open positions available for City Year’s 2009 program, which will launch in September. City Year allows those age 17-24 to provide a year of full-time service as tutors, mentors and role models to area children. City Year participants receive $4,725 in scholarship money, a weekly stipend, health benefits, a cell phone and more. For information, visit www.cityyear.org.
Philly to take part in Women’s Day Next week, Philadelphia will kick off its celebration of International Women’s Day, a 100-year-old tradition that honors the accomplishments and progress of women. On March 5, City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sanchez and other councilmembers will proclaim March 8 as International Women’s Day in Philadelphia. On March 8, the coalition will sponsor a women’s rally, which will begin at noon at City Hall. Participants will march from City Hall to the Family Planning Council, 260 S. Broad St., at 2 p.m., where they will take part in a conference featuring speakers, workshops and cultural performances. For more information, visit www. myspace.com/iwdphiladelphia or call (267) 997-8160. ■ — Jen Colletta
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FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
William Way board approves new bylaws By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer Board members of the The William Way LGBT Community Center held voted to reivse bylaws and discussed ongiong renovations Feb. 18 at their bimonthly meeting. Those who attended the meeting, held at 1315 Spruce St., were secretary Eric Ashton, treasurer Ann Butchart, Liz Reasey, Stephanie Gross, Christopher Pinto, Moira Mulroney and co-chairs David Michelson and Emilie Carr. Absent were board members Al Besse, Deb Francesco and Ted Greenberg. The board conducted the first of two votes required to approve proposed revisions to its bylaws. The second vote will be held at the next public board meeting April 15. The revisions include changing language to make existing bylaws clearer, as well as changing the frequency of the board meetings. If the revisions are approved, the board will be required to hold four public meetings and four executive sessions per year, reduced from the
current requirement of six public and four executive meetings. Board members are still expected to adhere to the same attendance guidelines, which state their positions will be considered vacant if they miss more than three meetings in a row or more than five meetings in a calendar year. The proposed revisions would also require committees to make quarterly reports to the board instead of at every regular meeting. Executive director ’Dolph Ward Goldenburg reported that the center’s membership is up by 9 percent, from 964 households last year to 1,058 this year, and that Cornerstone memberships increased 10 percent, from 77 last year to 84 this year. Center occupancy is down 14.4 percent, mainly due to Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus and Spirit of the Leopard moving out of the center. Usage is also down by 29.3 percent, which is primarily attributed to the decrease in traffic from the two groups. Candice Thompson, director of
center services, reported the center’s LGBT Bookmobile program, which was started in October to bring books from the center’s library to GSAs in southern New Jersey, is doing well and female students are requesting that it stock more lesbian literature. Thompson also reported that Way Gay U spring classes will begin in late March. New class offerings include Introduction to Philadelphia Architecture and Online Dating 101. It was also announced that the center is hiring for two parttime positions: senior program coordinator and volunteer coordinator. Jon Wexler, director of facilities, reported on the elevator construction. From the ground floor, Wexler showed the board the area in the basement that has been cleared for the elevator’s foundation, and the part of the ceiling that crews will have to remove for the project. Goldenburg also reported that the center has received state grants secured by state Rep. Dwight Evans
Philadelphia Gay News.
PGN
(D-203rd Dist.) and Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione (D-2nd Dist.), in the amounts of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. He also said that state Rep. Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist.) and Sen. Larry Farnese (D1st Dist.) are considering grant commitments for the project. Wexler also noted the expansion of the center’s living room and that room 223 has been divided into two offices. Additionally, Mountain Meadow is relocating to a smaller office due to financial reasons, while AIDS Fund is taking over that office. Goldenburg announced the center has moved its spring dinner, originally scheduled for April 2, because the Mazzoni Center and ActionAIDS are hosting events April 2 and 3, respectively. Instead, the center will host a high-ticket dinner event to coincide with the Building Bash on June 7. Butchart reported on the center’s finances, which included higher income and fewer expenses than expected for the month of January. The center reported a total income of
$30,276.16 for January, $3,405.16 over what it had expected. The additional income came from unanticipated individual giving and program revenue. Expenses for the month totaled $43,742.70, which was $5,202.30 less than anticipated. The majority of the reduction is a result of reduced personnel expenses due to staff vacancies. The center ended the month with a deficit of $13,466.54, well below the planned deficit of $22,074. For the year to date, the center’s income totaled $176,500.52, which was $24,619.48 less than expected. The majority of the shortfall is attributed to auditors requiring $20,000 of Indigo Ball proceeds to be posted to fiscal year 2008. The center’s year-to-date expenses totaled $177,853.64, which is $6,870.36 less than expected. For the year, the center had a shortfall of $1,353.12. For more information, visit www. waygay.org. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
Gay is our middle name.
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
National
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Media Trail Sanctions demanded for antigay rant 365gay.com reports Utah Senate Democrats have called for the ouster of a GOP lawmaker because of his antigay statements. In recent comments to a documentary filmmaker, state Sen. Chris Buttars compared gay activists to radical Muslims and said they are “probably the greatest threat to America going down.” He also said gay people lack morals. In response, Senate President Michael Waddoups removed Buttars from a judiciary committee that Buttars chaired. Democrats called for additional sanctions Feb. 24, including removal of Buttars from the rules committee, of which he is vice chairman. The rules committee is one of the most powerful in the legislature because it decides which bills lawmakers will debate.
NAACP calls for an end to Prop. 8
SMALL VICTORY IN CALIFORNIA: Married couple Anna Barvir (left) and Monique Boone, of Santa Ana, Calif., walk to the state capitol Feb. 17, joining volunteers from throughout California to lobby state legislators in Sacramento to support the invalidation of Proposition 8, which halted gay marriages. The same day, the Assembly Judiciary Committee voted 7-3 in favor of a resolution stating that citizens lacked the authority to put the gay-marriage ban directly to voters. The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments for March 5 on a series of lawsuits seeking to overturn Prop. 8. The suits say the ballot measure was improperly enacted and is itself unconstitutional because it singles out a minority group for discrimination. AP Photo: Robert Durell
‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ opponents rally in D.C. By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer LGBT and ally individuals will return to Washington, D.C., to call for the repeal of the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers. But this year, organizers are optimistic that the end of the ban may be closer than ever. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which provides assistance to servicemembers discharged under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and works to overturn the ban, will host its annual Freedom to Serve Rally and Lobby Day on March 13 in Washington, D.C. The organization’s 17th-annual national dinner will follow the next night. The seventh-annual Lobby Day will bring together opponents of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to meet with lawmakers and discuss the importance of repealing the ban. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was signed into law in 1993 by then-President Clinton. Since its institution, the law has led to the dismissal of about 12,000 servicemembers. Paul DeMiglio, SLDN communications manager, said that on the morning of Lobby Day, supporters will divide into teams and
disperse throughout the Congressional offices, targeting lawmakers from their home states and other areas to discuss why they should support the repeal. The lobbyists and other supporters will gather for a noon rally on Capitol Hill before meeting with more lawmakers in the afternoon. DeMiglio noted that about 200 individuals participated in last year’s Lobby Day. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a bill that was introduced in February 2007 and which would have repealed the ban, died in committee last year. Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN executive director, said similar legislation should be introduced shortly. Sarvis said he expects the climate at this year’s event to be markedly different than at the previous gatherings. “We have a president in the White House who has said that the statute should be repealed. We ended last Congress with 149 cosponsors in the House. We’re hoping to have a Senate bill introduced in the next few weeks with both Republicans and Democrats signing on,” he said. “I think we’re more optimistic than ever. The timing is appropriate right now and
I think we’re going to have more [cosponsors] than ever.” Sarvis said the weekend’s activities illustrate to legislators and citizens that the passage of legislation, especially one concerning such a contentious issue as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” should be a cooperative effort. “I think it motivates people and energizes folks. It’s a reminder to them that it’s not enough just to have elected officials who support our position; we have to help them get the job done,” Sarvis said. “One of the ways we can do that is by showing up and expressing our support. We can’t sit back and wait for President Obama and the majority in the House and Senate to do this. We have to do it along with them and be at their side.” For more information on Lobby Day, contact Jeremy Wilson-Simerman at jwilson@sldn. org. SLDN’s annual dinner and silent auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. March 14 at the National Building Museum. Tickets start at $250. For more information on the dinner, contact David Hall at (202) 621-5419 or dah@sldn.org. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
Advocate.com reports the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People announced support on Feb. 23 for California’s Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8. “The NAACP’s mission is to help create a society where all Americans have equal protection and opportunity under the law,” NAACP CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous wrote in a letter to legislative leaders. “Our mission statement calls for the ‘quality of rights of all persons.’ Prop. 8 strips same-sex couples of a fundamental freedom, as defined by the California state Supreme Court. In so doing, it poses a serious threat to all Americans.” The California state conference of the NAACP has already filed briefs with the California Supreme Court in the legal challenge against the ballot initiative. The court will begin hearing the case on March 5.
Colorado backs samesex benefits The Denver Post reports the Colorado Senate has given final approval to a bill extending health-insurance coverage to the partners of gay and lesbian state workers. The Senate approved S.B. 88 on Feb. 24, sending it to the House for consideration. Partners who have been in a committed partnership with a state employee for at least a year would be eligible for coverage. The bill is sponsored by Democratic Sen. Jennifer Veiga, who is a lesbian. Some Republican senators say the bill violates the will of the voters. In 2006, voters rejected a proposal that would have guaranteed rights for same-sex couples registered as domestic partners. ■ — Larry Nichols
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
Latino leader, partner to chair gala By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
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Congreso de Latinos Unidos, a local nonprofit that seeks to strengthen the Philadelphia-area Latino communities, announced this week that an openly gay Latino attorney and his partner would chair the organization’s upcoming gala. Romulo Diaz, former Philadelphia city solicitor, and his partner Dennis James will serve as the honorary co-chairs for Congreso’s Gala Latina: Feria de las Flores, A Night in Medellín. The event will be held March 14 at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue, 200 S. Broad St. Ken Trujillo, Congreso board chair and the gala event chair, said the black-tie gala, now in its third year, is meant to forge relationships among members of the Latino community and their supporters, as well as honor Latino traditions. “The gala was envisioned to bring together Latinos and those who are supportive of the Latino community who wouldn’t otherwise have an easy connection to one another,” Trujillo said. “We were finding that we have all these amazing Latinos in Philadelphia, in the suburbs and in New Jersey and they’re doing just incredible things, so we started thinking that we needed to find a way to connect them with one another. And the other big part of the gala is just a way to celebrate the best that the Latino community has to offer.” Trujillo noted that Diaz and his partner fit into that category. “We look for people who exemplify excellence, and I think Romy is really extraordinary and is definitely one of the best that the Latino community has to offer,” he
said. The consult of Mexico, Enrique Ruiz Sanchez, and his wife Raquel Tapia served as last year’s honorary chairs, and WPVI-TV anchor Walter Perez and his wife Rita held that distinction at the organization’s inaugural gala in 2007. A gala committee selected Diaz and James for the honor and notified the couple in December. “To be honest, I was absolutely surprised,” Diaz said. “My partner and I were headed to Mexico for the holidays and I got the call and it really surprised me because I think so highly of this organization. And also I kind of think of myself as someone who’s toiled in the vineyards, but this is an opportunity to really not only support this organization but to put a personal face on this community.” Former Mayor John Street selected Diaz as city solicitor, the city’s chief legal adviser, in 2005. Diaz had previously served as the chair of the commercial and regulatory law group in the city’s law department since 2002. After Street’s term ended last year, Diaz joined Exelon as an associate general counsel. Diaz and James, who have been together for more than 25 years, moved to Philadelphia seven years ago. Trujillo said the couple will deliver the opening remarks during the gala and then meet and greet attendees throughout the event, making connections with other Latino leaders. Trujillo noted that the cultural aspect of the event is just as integral as the networking opportunities. This year’s gala is based on the annual flower festival held in Medellín, Colombia, and will feature decorations, music, food and dancing
FORMER CITY SOLICITOR ROMULO DIAZ particular to the area. Diaz noted that his father hails from nearby Venezuela and that he himself spent time in Colombia during college, immersing himself in the country’s vibrant culture, which he said he’s excited to experience again during the gala. “This is a real opportunity to celebrate the vitality of the arts and culture of the Latino community, as well as a tremendous opportunity to grow the resource base of the Latino community in Philadelphia,” Diaz said. The gala will kick off with a dance lesson at 6:30 p.m. and a cocktail reception at 7 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing. General tickets are $250 per person, while young professionals 32 and under can purchase tickets for $150. For more information, visit www. congreso.net or contact Lisa Cordeiro Kricun at (215) 763-8870 ext. 1013 or kricunl@congreso.net. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
Peer recovery program reaches into local gay community By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Three local LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations are seeking to support LGBT individuals battling substance abuse and other issues through an innovative new program. Recovery, Empowerment And Community Health, a collaborative effort of the Mazzoni Center, ActionAIDS and the SafeGuards Project, launched at the beginning of this month. Unlike other recovery programs, REACH does not just provide information via fliers or posters, but rather deploys several people directly into the community to educate high-risk populations
about the services available to them. REACH will specifically target gay and bisexual men of color, whom Judy Morrissey, director of behavioral health at Mazzoni Center, said typically are underrepresented in local recovery programs, such as the counseling and treatment services provided by Mazzoni. “What we saw over a period of time was that our services were underutilized by many MSM [men who have sex with men] of color,” Morrissey said. “So we designed a program that will specifically reach out to this community and serve as a pre-treatment program.” REACH, which will receive $2 million over the next five years from
a grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, began with each partner organization hiring what they call a “peer engagement specialist.” These three employees will venture into community hangouts to educate individuals about the health risks associated with substance abuse and other practices and provide information on area resources. “We’re not calling them outreach workers because we’re taking this traditional model of outreach and giving it additional support because we’ll be able to have some of these conversations actually See RECOVERY, Page 16
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FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
New court procedural rule may help open Morris records By Timothy Cwiek PGN Writer-at-Large A new state Supreme Court procedure that makes search warrants available to the public applies retroactively to the six warrants issued in the Nizah Morris investigation, a local judge said recently. In a Jan. 16 letter to PGN, Municipal Court Judge Louis J. Presenza said state Supreme Court Rule 212 applies to search warrants issued in the Morris case six years ago, even though the new rule didn’t go into effect until last August. Presenza said the rule wasn’t meant to be retroactive, but court officials are applying it retroactively to the Morris case because of a May 2008 Common Pleas Court order to reconstruct the Morris homicide file and make it available to the public. Morris, 47, was a transgender woman found with a head injury shortly after receiving a courtesy ride from Philadelphia police on December 22, 2002. She died two days later. Police say they have lost the entire homicide file related to her death. It remains to be seen whether Presenza’s decision will trigger the release of all six warrants in the Morris case. Copies of search warrants are supposed to be filed with the court clerk’s office for tracking purposes. But in the past, some judges have retained search-warrant information within their own files, especially if a warrant was initially sealed. In the Morris case, the First Judicial Court clerk’s office was able to locate three warrants, which were never sealed by a judge. Those warrants were executed for surveillance tapes along Walnut Street, near Broad, where police say the ride took place. The warrants yielded several hours of tapes, which the police say they’ve subsequently lost. However, to locate the other three Morris warrants, the court clerk’s office needs the name of the judge who issued them. Those three warrants were issued for transmissions on an enhanced 911 tape, AT&T wireless cellphone records and a surveillance tape from a camera at 1632 Walnut St. “We’ve been unable to locate those warrants,” said Dominic J. Rossi, deputy court administrator
PGN
of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. “For those warrants, we really need the name of the judge and the date the warrant was issued to be able to locate them.” Efforts have now shifted to the District Attorney’s Office, which normally retains search-warrant information and could facilitate the release of the missing warrants by providing the name of the judge
“We’ve been unable to locate those warrants. For those warrants, we really need the name of the judge and the date the warrant was issued to be able to locate them.” DOMINIC J. ROSSI, deputy court administrator of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania who issued them and the dates they were issued. Rossi said he wasn’t in a position to directly ask the DA’s office for information to help the clerk’s office locate the missing warrants. Cathie Abookire, a spokesperson for the DA, had no comment on whether her office would facilitate the release of the Morris search warrants. The enhanced 911 tape contained transmissions by paramedics on the scene where Morris was found with a fatal head wound at 16th and Walnut streets. In order to have preserved those transmissions, police must have specifically sought them out via an internal memorandum or search warrant. Search warrants are utilized if there’s a possibility the transmissions will be used as evidence in a court proceeding. Advocates for Morris say locating the search warrant for the enhanced 911 tape would be a key step in determining its chain of possession, whether a copy currently exists and whether a court seal is blocking its release. “We simply must get clarity on the whereabouts of this tape and what was said on the tape,” said
Kathleen R. Padilla, a transgender activist. This week, William M. Johnson, executive director of the Police Advisory Commission, said the PAC remains committed to uncovering information about the enhanced 911 tape, along with information about cell-phone Together We Can, apolice discussion conversations between who group forto Morris. people dealing with responded emotional, mentalhoping and addictive “While we’re to see problems, will meet at 7 p.m.within at The everything that’s relevant the district attorney’s file, the Thewarrants Trans-Health Information search for these records Project will hold ainterest drop-intocenter are of particular the for all trans persons from p.m. commission,” Johnson told7-11 PGN. oor; He said the PAC has been working with the DA since March 2008 to The Humboldt Society, a gay and obtain comprehensive records in lesbian naturalist club, will the case so that it can concludemeet its at 7:30investigation p.m. at the — William Morris which Way has ensued for more than five years. a 12-step SoTiesfar,That theBind DA’sUs,office has resisted all attempts by the PAC to obtain photocopies of key Morris records, but has offered to allow a visual inspection of some additional records, Johnson said. Such an inspection would require the signing of a nondisclosure agreement, which the PAC members have not yet agreed to do, he said. Any nondisclosure agreement signed by PAC members must include a provision retaining the PAC’s right to seek release of the requested documents through a court challenge, Johnson added. He said that even if the PAC members sign a nondisclosure agreement prior to viewing additional Morris records, it wouldn’t prevent them from talking in general terms about the documents. “We could talk publicly about conclusions that we reached after viewing the documents but we couldn’t disclose the specifics of what each document contained,” said Johnson. In lieu of signing the agreement, the commission also could go directly to court to obtain the desired documents, since it already issued a subpoena to the DA for those records back in August. Johnson said there’s no deadline for a decision on signing the nondisclosure agreement, but the issue will be discussed at the PAC’s next meeting, tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. March 11 at 34 S. 11th St., sixth floor. ■ Timothy Cwiek can be reached at (215) 625-8501 ext. 208.
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
Editorial Newspapers, bankruptcy and the economy In trying to halt the country’s financial tailspin last week, President Obama signed the $787-billion stimulus bill. This week, he addressed Congress, vowing that “we will rebuild, we will recover.” Closer to home (literally and figuratively), several newspaper groups have filed for bankruptcy recently, reinforcing that old media business models aren’t turning the profit they used to. Among them are Philadelphia Newspapers LLC — which owns The Inquirer and Daily News; Tribune Co., Journal Registry Co. and Star Tribune Holdings Corp. As part of the bankruptcy proceedings, Inquirer publisher Brian Tierney pledged to return his 2008 pay raise of $232,000. (He now only makes $618,000.) The San Francisco Chronicle announced this week that it may close; if it does, it will make San Francisco the first major metropolitan city without a daily paper. In December, the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News announced they would end daily home delivery, the first major metropolitan newspapers in the United States to do so. In gay media, the news isn’t as grim, but there are still casualties. Recently, The Advocate restructured, going from biweekly to monthly and putting more news content online. Others, such as Gay People’s Chronicle, have gone from weekly to biweekly. The investment company that owns Window Media, which publishes Southern Voice and Washington Blade, is reportedly in receivership with the Small Business Administration. Last year, the New England Blade, previously IN newsweekly, went on indefinite hiatus. And in mainstream, alternative and LGBT media, most print publications have seen reductions in advertising and corresponding page counts. The reasons for the changes are varied and broad. On one hand, most newspapers weren’t started strictly as a profitable endeavor, and the newsgathering portion has always had to be subsidized. Also, how people consume media and news has changed. No longer does a paperboy stand on the corner hawking the day’s news. In addition to TV and cable, the Internet has changed the game. Expecting newspapers to turn an ever-increasing profit isn’t realistic. Too often, old media (read: print) has failed to evolve fast enough to keep up. They have tried to continue old ways of doing business instead of responding to the market and their readers. Despite all this, people still need information. And journalism still serves a necessary purpose. Is the industry changing? Certainly. Is print still a viable medium? Yes. Are we tightening our collective belts? Yes. Is PGN closing? No. ■
Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: (215) 925-6437. Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.
Glenn Lash (glennlash@yahoo.com)
Other Views
Jennifer Vanasco
On moving, relationships and marriage For five months, I’m moving back to Chicago. Which has a nice symmetry about it. I first moved to Chicago in 1994, the year I graduated from college. I had been seeing Kristina for two years and, after our domestic-partnership ceremony on the shores of our college lake, we packed up a Ryder truck and drove across country so that she could go to grad school. Five years later she moved on, but I stayed for another eight. I love Chicago. Love the close gay community engendered by the tiny nation of Andersonville, a lesbian/ Swedish/Middle Eastern and now stroller neighborhood on the North Side. Love how in Chicago, anyone you want to meet is just a few small networking steps away. Chicago is a place that’s large enough to provide anything you want to do, and small enough that anything you want to do or start or be is possible — because you’re competing with fewer people than in my current home of New York City, because it’s easy to get around, because it always feels like there’s enough space for you. So I’m happy to go back for a while. I’m happy to see old friends; I’m happy to take a last class at the Old Town School of Folk Music. I’m happy to race with my old sailing team
and spend Sunday afternoons reading the paper by the lake. I’m thrilled to go back for the summer — I just never thought I’d be doing it for a girl. Again. In high school, I was adamant about this. “I am never going to move for a man,” I said. My mother had lost herself in marriage with my father; when it broke, it took her years to find her own voice again. I didn’t want to be one of those women whose career, dreams or life took a back seat to her husband or spouse. I didn’t know that gay relationships are completely different. One of the most precious aspects of our relationships is that we are not bound by conventional gender roles. There is not the same centuries of baggage — the man drives, the woman does dishes — that are so hard to fight, even for the most progressive of straight couples. Instead, as my girlfriend Jenny says, “we do different tasks not because it is expected of us because of our gender, but because it suits us because of who we are.” That is right, I think. And it makes a difference. I am moving to Chicago not because it is expected, not because I am female and so my career is less important/more likely to be
interrupted anyway if I have children, but because Jenny and I are both tired of loving each other long distance. My job is flexible (thank you, Internet!) — her schooling is not. Therefore, I’m the one who moves. And I can’t wait. One of the benefits of adding gays and lesbians to the institution of marriage is that we model different ways of coupling. We show straight couples that things can be done in a different, sometimes better, way — for example, dividing responsibilities between partners based on preference and ability instead of gender. Sometimes, in all the clamor about rights and the ways in which the lack of marriage victimizes us, we forget that we also bring a different and welcome perspective, one that marriage may need in order to survive the contemporary age. We are just as valuable to marriage as marriage is to us. So, in April, I’m moving back to Chicago. And in August, we will move together back to New York. And, despite my feelings in high school, I couldn’t be happier. ■ Jennifer Vanasco is an award-winning syndicated columnist. Follow her at twitter.com/JenniferVanasco; e-mail her at jennifer.vanasco@gmail.com.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
Other Voices
Gwendolyn Ann Smith
White picket fences It was nearly 15 years ago, when I was still agonizing over the very thought of transitioning from one gender to another, that I thought about what I really wanted. I just wanted a “normal” life. The whole nice suburban house and oh, gosh, let’s throw in a white picket fence while we’re at it. I also felt, then, that there was no such thing in the cards for me. Of course, I also knew at the time that I did not want that “normal” life if it meant remaining who I was then. There was no future in that life if it meant remaining with what passed for a status quo. At that point I made a distinct decision. I knew that I would have to do what I had to do to be happy with myself, even if it meant not having that strange construct of “normal.” I had to take a leap of faith that I would be happier in spite of it all, and that a transition in genders would be worth the sacrifice. When one is transgender — unless one is lucky in the looks department, or can afford a whole lot of extra plastic surgery — we don’t often have the chance to fully avoid our transgender selves. Even if, somewhere down the line, your transgender history is not written on your flesh in some way, it’s quite likely there will be a time in the midst of transition where you will have to face being seen as something not quite man or woman. For that matter, there will always be things in our experiences that will be different from those who have not had to consider the gender they were brought up in, and who have sought to change. There are things in my past that will always be specific to me and other transgender people. It’s the nature of the beast. I bring all this up because, so often, I hear about some transgender people deciding to tear down others within the community based on their “passibility,” how
much they identify with one gender or another, or some other arbitrary rules designed to keep out anyone who is not “normal” enough for someone’s comfort. By the same token, I hear this in the larger LGBT community, as transgender people get pushed to the back of the bus because we’re too different and too “out there” for the otherwise “normal” gay and lesbian majority. People complained when Thomas Beatie got pregnant not just once, but twice. Ire is raised at those who transition, then transition again when they decide that their initial change was not the right answer for them. Some are irked that the Logo program “RuPaul’s Drag Race” shows a version of transgender life different from their own. People get upset with transgender people who opt to inhabit a third gender space rather than “picking a side.” Some got upset at transgender people who did not eschew their birth histories. Others got up in arms with those who opted to opt out of surgical options, instead living with their original equipment. Heck, some get their dander up simply because this or that transgender person is not “trying hard enough” to be a particular gender, whatever that means. Meanwhile, all around were those who decided they weren’t comfortable with the lot of us, because we were deciding to change from one gender expression or identity to some other. To hell with that. You see, I learned not only that I would have to do what I had to do to be happy regardless of the struggles I would face, but also that I was the only person responsible for my own comfort or discomfort about my gender. I could wrinkle my nose about what someone else might do or what have you, but ultimately I knew that what others did could not change who I was.
This isn’t to say there’s no such thing as defamation. Far from it. There is always a need to watch for those people and situations that exist to attack us as a whole. We can’t turn away from rightwing demagogues who will insist that the word of the doctor who proclaimed our gender at birth somehow holds more sway over our bodies than the world of those who inhabit it. Yet just as anyone can call me whatever they want, it is up to me to decide to answer to their terms. More than this, it should be irrelevant for me to worry about what any other transgender person opts to do, and how their actions somehow change who I am. They cannot. I know what I am. I know that I’m a transgender woman, and that I am — by and large — happy with where I am in this world. I’m far from perfect, and I could give you a list as long as my arms of the things I’d love to change. Nevertheless, I am still here, and I am still me, and no one can change that without my permission. That’s the important thing to me. Be whoever — whatever — you wish to be. You need not my permission. At the same time, understand that it cuts both ways. Afford me and everyone the luxury of following their own path, much like I welcome you to find your place. Their decisions are not yours and, while you might learn a thing or two about yourself from what others do, the biggest lesson is that you will always remain you, regardless of what anyone else does with their lives.
PAGE 11
Street Talk Will LGBT-inclusive hate-crimes legislation reduce the violence?
John Paul Beattie musician Rittenhouse Square
Jack Connell fishmonger South Philadelphia
“No. I’m not a gay basher or racist, but hate-crimes laws are a step backward. They just promote more hate because they piss people off. It doesn’t create harmony to give one group of people special treatment, and not the other [group]. We need equal treatment under the law.”
“Yes. Normally I feel the fewer laws, the better. But in this case I think it’s a good thing. But the law should be fully implemented. Hate crimes harm the entire queer community. I also think the court should allow communityimpact statements at sentencing.”
Gilbert Smith medical student Fairmount
Jake Ryan Sullivan student Roxborough
“No. People will be violent no matter what. Actually, I’m for an LGBT-inclusive hate-crimes law in Pennsylvania, because our community needs the recognition. But at this point, it would just be a start. It would be more symbolic than practical.”
“No. It’s too much of a stretch to make that connection. Most people who commit hate crimes wouldn’t care about the legal consequences. LGBT outreach and education programs probably would be more effective, rather than the iron hand of the law.”
■
Gwen Smith lives in a nice suburban house but, oh gosh, it has no white picket fence. You can find her on the Web at www. gwensmith.com. Mark My Words is on vacation and will return next week.
Hot off the presses.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 12
Triangle Medical General Practice Progressive HIV Care MARK T. WATKINS, DO JOHN DEL ROSSI, PA-C
(215) 829-0170 253 S. 10th St. First Floor Philadelphia
PGN
Opinion? pgn@epgn.com
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
Retreat provides haven for LGBT Christian teens By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Although LGBT teens undeniably face hardships uniting their sexual identities with their family and social lives, LGBT young people of faith may be faced with another layer of difficult questions. To help those youth find some answers, a local church organization will host its second annual retreat weekend for LGBT Christian teens. Teens ages 15-18 in grades nine12 are invited to “Wonderfully Made,” April 17-19 at Bear Creek Camp in Wilkes-Barre. The camp, which was first staged last spring as an effort of the Southeastern PA Synod Lutheran Bryson/ Gay & Lesbian Taskforce, will give the teens a chance to explore their faith in a safe and encouraging environment. Fred Wolfe, camp director, said the camp is modeled after an LGBT Christian teen retreat depicted in the documentary “Camp Out.” “When the movie ‘Camp Out’ was released, our bishop and our youth ministry specialist saw it together,” Wolfe said. “Afterward, the bishop just said she felt that what she saw in the movie was something that she thought we needed to be doing here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. So the impetus came from the top of our denominational structure.” The camp takes its name from Psalm 139, a Bible passage that states in part: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Robin Ford, who helped organize the camp last year, said the weekend illustrates the truth of this passage for the participants. “I think one of the main things these teens learn is that no matter who they are, God loves them,” she said. “They’re wonderfully made, no matter how they feel.” Jen McGonigle, one of this year’s organizers, said the camp allows the teens a safe space to be themselves among other likeminded youth. “LGBT youth, especially Christian youth, are not always in a situation where they can come out to their parents or their friends or families,” McGonigle said. “A lot of the drive behind the camp is to provide those teens who fall into that category with a way to have some sort of support structure and make them feel that you can live a
Christian life and still be gay. Not all churches necessarily provide for that sort of environment.” Throughout last year’s retreat, attendees watched such topical films as “Saved” and “For the Bible Tells Me So,” participated in discussions on various aspects of the Bible and their relation to the LGBT community and took part in other community-building activities. The six youth who attended last year made a scrapbook of their weekend experiences and each designed their own quilt square, something McGonigle said they’re looking to have the teens build upon this year.
Photos: Fred Wolfe
Wolfe said that openly gay author Mitchell Gold offered to donate a crate of copies of his new book “Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up Gay in America” for the campers to use. “These stories are about how religion has caused spiritual damage in some people’s lives as they’re growing up, so we’re going to be able to use them and compare them to some of the Bible stories, and the book also has a whole raft of resources for the teens. This was an awesome show of support from Mitchell,” Wolfe said. Bryanne Hornung, an 18-yearold senior at Philadelphia High School for Girls who attended last year and is planning to return to this year’s camp, said one of the most memorable aspects of the trip was getting the chance to work with her fellow youth, some of whom she still keeps in touch with, on a service project for Bear Creek Camp. “We got to do volunteer work, helping build an outdoor chapel at the camp, so I think one of the best parts was that we got to help out the camp together,” she said. Maddie, a 16-year-old sophomore from North
Penn, said the “fellowship” she built with the other youth provided her insight into her own life. “I was going through some questioning,” she said. “I was almost sure that I was gay but I wasn’t entirely sure, so I thought if I went, I could get a handle on what I was feeling inside and talk to other kids like me. And I got to hear other people’s stories on what they were going through and how they handled things, so it gave me the strength to handle it better in my own life and in my own school.” Wolfe noted that the diversity of last year’s camp fueled the ideas that were exchanged among the teens. “The six youth who participated represented a very diverse perspective. We had four from the inner city and two from the suburbs; four women and two men; and it was racially diverse, so we had some great perspectives,” Wolfe said. “We’ve seen some of these young people move on to leadership positions, so I think this camp empowered them to feel like they could step up in their own communities and be a leader and not have to worry so much about their sexual orientation.” McGonigle said she hopes the camp encourages more youth to embrace their identities and strive to reach their full potential. “I think one of the things we’re trying to aim at is, both within a religious context and outside, the idea that you have to care about yourself and be comfortable in your skin. Hopefully that’s part of what they will take away from this weekend.” Registration for the camp is $50 until March 1 and $75 afterward. For more information on the event, visit www.ministrylink.org. To register, contact Molly Beck Dean at mbeck@sepa.org or (610) 2789400 ext. 122, or Fred Wolfe at (215) 387-2885. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
Lutherans propose local solution for gay pastor issues By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer A committee of Lutheran Church leaders recommended last week that the church consider allowing gay and lesbians in committed relationships to be ordained as pastors, but not all LGBT Lutherans are satisfied with the proposal. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Feb. 19 “Report and Recommendations on Ministry Policies” proposes allowing local churches to decide for themselves whether or not to permit coupled gay and lesbian pastors to lead their congregations. Currently, the ELCA allows gay and lesbian individuals to be ordained, but they must remain celibate, while heterosexual Lutheran pastors are allowed to marry. The “Report and Recommendations” proposed to change that stipulation to allow for the ordination of individuals who are also in “lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.” The proposal, drawn up by a 15member ELCA task force, would recommend that the church first consider if it is committed “to finding ways to allow congregations and synods that choose to do so to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable” gay and lesbian pastors in committed relationships. The task force then recommended that the church should consider if it can allow gay and lesbian clergy to serve while still “respect[ing] the bound consciences of all.” The proposal stipulates that if the church can agree on those provisions, it could then put into place a policy of “structured flexibility,” whereby individual churches, regional churches known as synods, candidacy committees or bishops can formulate their own positions “according to their convictions.” Emily Eastwood, executive director of Lutherans Committed/ North America, which works for the inclusion of LGBT individuals into the Lutheran community, said the local stipulation could allow LGBT discrimination to overshadow a church’s selection of a pastor. “In the ELCA, congregations retain the right to call the minister of their choosing from approved
PGN
rosters of the whole church. The recommendations could restrict a congregation’s ability to call a well-suited minister in a samegender relationship,” Eastwood said. “Candidates in locations with unsupportive leadership could be
“The big problem I see with this is that it doesn’t offer any words of hope for those people who feel called to the church but who find themselves in places that are not welcoming in certain areas of the country, Would this mean that these people would have to move somewhere where they’re welcome?” THE REV. JAY WIESNER, University Lutheran Church
denied candidacy. Congregations who don’t wish to call ministers in a committed same-gender relationship could exercise their conscience no matter where they are, but congregations who do wish to call such ministers would not have the same freedom. Whatever divisions there are in the church are widened, not reduced, by this recommendation.” The Rev. Jay Wiesner, the openly gay pastor of University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia, noted that many local churches already permit openly gay pastors in relationships to serve. “When I first read the document, my first thought was, ‘Whether the ELCA likes it or not, this is already happening on a local level,” Wiesner said. “It seems like the local option is already taking place, so if these recommendations pass, it seems like it would just codify what’s already taking place.” Wiesner, a member of the
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries Roster, which supports openly gay ministers who oppose the church’s same-sex celibacy rule, noted that the taskforce’s recommendations would create complications for gay and lesbian individuals seeking to join the church, but who live in areas where church leaders are against the inclusion of those in same-sex relationships. “The big problem I see with this is that it doesn’t offer any words of hope for those people who feel called to the church but who find themselves in places that are not welcoming in certain areas of the country,” Wiesner said. “Would this mean that these people would have to move somewhere where they’re welcome? The local option is one step in the right direction, but it’s a step where the church should have been a long time ago. It’s helpful, but not helpful where all people are concerned.” The taskforce also published a broader report, “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust,” which decries discrimination based on sexual orientation, expresses support for legislation that prohibits LGBT discrimination and invites all members of the LGBT community into the church. It notes, however, that the church is still unsure of how to address same-sex relationships: “Consensus does not exist concerning how to regard same-gender committed relationships, even after many years of thoughtful, respectful and faithful study and conversation. We do not have agreement on whether this church should honor these relationships, uplift, shelter and protect them, or on precisely how it is appropriate to do so.” Eastwood criticized this document for not expressing firmer support for same-sex marriage. “[The document] does not proffer a means of public recognition of same-gender relationships, no rite of blessing or marriage,” Eastwood said, calling this an “unacceptable but correctable inconsistency.” The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the church’s primary governing body, will consider both documents during its August convention in Minneapolis. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
Give us your opinion. (We know you have one.) pgn@epgn.com or www.philagaynews.com
PAGE 13 A Loving Family of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Catholics & our allies invites you to celebrate
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JOIN US TWICE MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services
Sunday, March 1: The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene presents, “Mama’s Loshn Kugel,” a traveling Yiddish revue featuring classic songs and sketches, 3:00 PM; $10/person, payable at the door, Teller Auditorium at Rodeph Shalom. Supertitles will be projected during the performance--no knowledge of Yiddish required. Please reserve by calling Beth Ahavah at 215-923-2003 and leaving your name and phone number on our voicemail. Friday, March 6: BA Shabbat service, 8:00 PM. Join us for a traditional rabbi-led BA service. Oneg following services. Saturday, March 14: The fabulous BA Players present this year’s Purim shpiel, “My Fair Esther,” 7:00 PM. Join us for an evening of fun, noisemaking and hamentashen. Get yourself to the shul on time! It will be loverly. Admission: $10/person, payable at the door. Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom are affiliated in spirit and share a sacred home.. In July 2007 Beth Ahavah affiliated with Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah retains its congregational status within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and proudly offers its congregation dual membership at both synagogues. Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions
615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah@rodephshalom.org
Free secure parking: Cross Spring Garden at 13th St., left at next light, Mt. Vernon St. Parking lot entrance on left.
PAGE 14
PGN is pleased to announce our staff
placed in four award categories for the 2008 Suburban Newspaper Association Editorial Contest, out of more than 2,000 U.S. and Canadian publications. Our congratulations to: Larry Nichols
First Place, Best Arts and Entertainment Writing — Feature “Actor Chronicles Long Walk Along Celebrity Lane”
PGN Staff Second Place, Best Entertainment/Lifestyle Section Detour
Larry Nichols Second Place, Best Arts & Entertainment Criticism/Commentary “They want to keep you movin’ and groovin’”
Larry Nichols Third Place, Best Arts & Entertainment Writing — Feature “Cyndi Lauper launches new album and second True Colors tour”
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
Work It Out
Jared Carter
Selling fitness on TV Over a recent weekend, I watched more television than normal. I could not believe all of the infomercials that I saw pertaining to fitness. At one point, there were four different infomercials on at the same time, and that doesn’t even count the Snuggie infomercial. This may not come as a shock to the average cough potato, but I was surprised. The worst part about all of these infomercials was the boldness of their lies. Most fitness products sold through infomercials do not deliver on the promises they make. This week, I want to address the reasons why these products cannot give you the results that you want so that you won’t waste your money on bad products. The product that sent me over the edge was a chair for Pilates. It is basically a step stool with pedals attached to it. Whether or not it is a quality piece of exercise equipment is beside the point. My biggest complaint is the way they market it. This infomercial is built around the idea of spot reduction and the fallacy that you can work your stomach to get a smaller waist. This idea has been proven wrong in study after study. Spot reduction has been used to sell exercise equipment and fitness programs for years. There have been ab-chairs, bun firmers, thigh trainers and who knows what else. Working only certain areas of your body may make them stronger, but it will not help you lose fat from those parts. The easiest way to understand how we lose fat is to think about peeling an onion. The skin comes off from all parts of the onion at once. This is very similar to fat loss. Fat is reduced all over the body, not just from one area. So if you want to lose fat from your stomach, working the muscles in your thighs is just as important as doing your 1,000 crunches. Another product I saw was for some sort of ab-zapper. This is a belt that essentially shocks your abdominals into a contraction. In the infomercial you see someone strap this belt on, turn it on and then watch the abs ripple and flex without the need for crunches. It looks easy, the model is in great
shape and it takes almost no time. What could be wrong with it? These devices have been around for decades and none of them delivers results. Shocking a muscle will not make it stronger, nor will it make you lose fat. Muscles contract when a tiny electrical signal is sent from the brain to the muscle. This causes a series of events that result in the muscle contracting and using energy. This device causes a contraction by sending a much higher amount of electricity into the muscle. This causes a contraction but doesn’t use up energy. This means you are not burning any fat by wearing the ab belt. The other thing the infomercial leaves out is what it feels like to use the belt. In order to cause a contraction, you need a significant amount of electricity. Simply put, it hurts! Lastly, I want to point out a product that does look worthwhile. I have seen lots of infomercials for a three-month fitness program that appears to be good. It seems to be effective and looks similar to what an authentic personal-training program offers. What sets this apart from the other products is that it addresses nutrition, strength training and aerobic exercise. Any quality fitness program will have all three of these areas. If any of them are ignored, you will not get the results that you want. If you look at the other two products, they completely ignore nutrition and aerobic exercise. Thousands will be fooled into buying those products, not get the results they expected and then blame themselves. These products are set up to fail. It is impossible for them to deliver meaningful results. Infomercials have been used to sell fitness gadgets and exercise programs for years. While most of us do not buy from them, plenty of people do. Unfortunately this usually results in frustration. The next time you are tempted to purchase a fitness solution, remember the three areas that have to be addressed: nutrition, strength training and aerobic exercise. If it does not have all three, then leave it alone. ■ Jared Carter, CSCS, is the owner of Move Forward Fitness Personal Training Studio, 1616 Walnut St. Visit www.moveforwardfitness.com to sign up for his free newsletter, or reach him at (215) 399-3541 or jared@moveforwardfitness.com.
FEB. 27 -21 MAR. 2009 MARCH - 27,5,2008
On Being Well
that the mayor of the Athens suburb of Kessariani has agreed to perform the ceremony. “I have no objection to celebrating this union so long as the law is respected,” Mayor Spyros Tzokas said. It is uncertain whether the government will recognize Next Sunday, March 8, marks the marriage. the beginning of National LGBT The Awareness Greek Week. government is Health This preparing to introduce annual observance is meant, incivilpartnership legislationto later this year, part, as a “shout-out” LGBT granting legal rights unmarried individuals, their alliestoand couples. But, it has not said if samehealthcare professionals to raise sex couples would be included. awareness about the health issues and challenges that specifically impact us. There is a growing body of evidence that LGBT populations face health disparities, directly or indirectly, as a result of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The Moroccan Association for These disparities occur over a Human Rights, along with Human range health topics, Rightsof Watch, has including launched a higher of HIVthe infection petitionrates following imprisonment and AIDS, to homophobia and of six men for homosexuality. victimization, even arrested increased Moroccan police therisk men for certain types2007 of cancer. in November after a video The reasons for Internet this are still open circulated on the showing to mostinhealth planners a debate, private but party Ksar-el-Kbir, agree that that societal pressures playwas Morocco, the press claimed aa key role. Whether through gay-marriage ceremony. inhibiting patients from being code The country’s penal “out” to their doctor or healthcare criminalizes sexual conduct between professional, creating to members of the samebarriers sex. Despite accessing quality the fact that the nonjudgmental video showed no care, receiving inadequate evidence of sexual acts, thehealth six men screenings or certain behavioral were convicted of committing “lewd habits of LGBT all or unnatural actspopulations, with an individual contribute to sex” theseand disparities. of the same sentenced to For example, a 2004 between four and 10 California months in study prison.showed that LGBT individuals are 40-70-percent The Moroccan Associationmore for likely to smoke than their nonLGBT counterparts. Another study suggests that number may be even higher, as much as 200 percent. With tobacco the number-one cause of mortality in this country, it stands to reason that the overall health of LGBT communities will be disproportionately impacted by tobacco-related illness and deaths. A key goal of the upcoming LGBT Health Awareness Week is to empower LGBT communities around our own health and positively impact health outcomes in our communities. Quit-smoking programs geared toward the LGBT community are a prime example of how this “empowerment” can be a catalyst to improving health. Still, as anyone who has ever tried can attest, there is a powerful resistance to quit smoking. This is due chiefly to the highly addictive nature of nicotine. Withdrawal symptoms kick in very quickly, driving people back to more nicotine use (i.e. smoking). So when smokers blame a lack of
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS Human Rights and Human Rights Watch are petitioning the Moroccan government for a fair trial for the men and to protect their right to privacy. The groups are asking supporters to show their opposition to Moroccan authorities by sending an e-mail to petitionmaroc@hrw.org. “willpower” for their difficulty in quitting, they’re really talking about a physical and psychological addiction to nicotine. Willpower is not something you are born with, but rather it’s a learned response that comes from a combination of Protestant groups in Moscow planning are tryingand to persistence. shut down a cartoon Other “reasons” may it channel because smokers they claim cite for not quitting include promotes homosexuality the and following: religious intolerance. — “I’m afraid I’ll be cranky Channel 2x2 broadcasts Western when I quit smoking.” Very which cartoons like “South Park,” possibly. Withdrawal nicotine some believe promotesfrom “homosexual can cause irritability. Various types propaganda.” of Vitaly nicotine-replacement therapy, Vlasenki, a spokesperson such as patches, gum, lozenges for The Consultative Council of or inhalers, can all lessen the the Heads of Protestant Churches effects of withdrawal and take in Russia, said the group had the sent “edge” Quitting smoking a letter off. to Prosecutor GeneralisYury hard enough, but there are proventhe Chaika on March 12 accusing methods the discomfort. network tooflessen promoting “cruelty, — “I’mhomosexual afraid I will gain violence, propaganda, weight.” increased appetite religious An hatred and intolerance.” is another symptom of nicotinehead Yekaterina Doglosheveva, withdrawal. an attempt to of corporate In affairs for Prof-Media, feed the addiction, many people dismissed the criticism from the substitute food for nicotine. religious group. However, need and “The gaining Federal weight Culture not be an effect ofAgency quitting. may Like be Cinematography quitting smoking, maintaining able to control the activities ofa our healthy a regular exercise channel,diet but and the Protestants cannot,” regimen takes practice and support. Doglosheveva said. Many quit-smoking Channel 2x2, programs which also are now putting emphasis on has broadcasts “Thean Simpsons,” handling stress (a huge trigger for smoking) and developing and practicing healthy eating habits. So instead of choosing between being smoke-free or staying at a healthy weight, an individual can now learn how to achieve both. — “I’m afraid I’ll fail, so what’s the point in trying?” This is a common refrain among many who have tried repeatedly to quit but still find themselves smoking. After a while, they may begin to feel defeated and see themselves as unsuccessful. But looked at another way, a person who tries to quit smoking time after time is really revealing his or her commitment to quitting smoking and eventual success. Studies show it takes, on average, five to seven tries before someone actually quits. So stay positive and don’t beat yourself up if you slip up. It’s been proven that each single quit attempt moves you closer to success. — “I want to quit, but now just doesn’t feel like the right time.” If you’ve caught yourself saying this,
PAGE 15
built a cult following in Russia despite gaining just 1.9 percent of the audience share in February. MTV in Russia also shows “South Park,” but has yet to receive any criticism from the Protestant group.
You too can be a quitter!
Gay men jailed in Morocco
PGN
Cartoons draw Russian ire
We love to get picked up.
you’re not alone. Any number Trans of issues canmeeting arise that may push quitting smoking off the top of set for Berlin your priority list. Chipping away
at your debt, starting an exercise It was announced March 14 that routine, losing weight, getting a the second meeting of the European new job, all of these things may Transgender Council will be held be taking this year inprecedence Germany. in your life, and you think to yourself, “As The council, comprised soon as I take care of x, y or of Transgender Europe, z, the I’ll quit smoking.” The Berlin truth is,and Transgender Network there is no magicBerlin, day or moment TransInterQueer will meet to quit. smoking all starts May 2-4Quitting in Berlin. Their last event withheld the desire to quit, and then was in Vienna in 2005. getting the supportfrom youinternational need to Representatives help you achieve your goal to beas activist groups and experts such smoke-free. Things Human Rights Watchwill andalways Amnesty come up in life. if quitting International are But expected to attend smoking is really something you the event and share their experiences want, it. There’s no and eldgoofforhuman rights in thethen time like now. transgender-related work. — “Smoking me feelofless The results ofhelps the Study the stressed out.” Handling Lives of Transgender stress peopleis In often cited by smokers a reason Europe, conducted by asPress for they smoke and, interestingly, Change (U.K.), will be revealed, stressfulpolled situations are one which more thanof2,000 the top reasons people give who transgender people. have relapsed having quit. Berlin has aafter diverse transgender The unfortunate truth is, smoking scene, and Wigstoeckel Transgender cigarettes does relieve United is actually set to organize the city some of the stress you mayparty for council’s ofcial show and be experiencing by releasing the event. � powerful chemicals (epinephrine, dopamine, beta-endorphin, to at Larry Nichols can be reached name a few) that are involved larry@epgn.com. in the reduction of both anxiety and pain. This is the physiologic explanation for why it can feel good to smoke. But the bigger truth is, it was you who solved whatever problems or stressors came your way, not the cigarette. By knowing the causes of stress in your life, identifying your personal “stress signals” (headaches, nervousness or trouble sleeping) and creating new ways to manage that stress, you’ll do just fine. It just takes some planning, support and persistence. The time to quit is now! You can do it! ■ For more information about freshOUT, Mazzoni Center’s free smoking-cessation program geared toward the LGBT community, contact Toni Resnick at (215) 563-0652 ext. 242. This program is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 16
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
30 years ago in PGN Police raid gay bathhouse Police arrested 13 men March 15 at Club Philadelphia, a gay bathhouse at 120 S. 13th St., in a surprise raid, the second since the club opened in 1973. Inspector Thomas Roselli of Police Juvenile Aid Division said the charges against the 13 — 10 patrons and three employees — ranged from indecent assault on an officer to conspiracy and voluntary deviate sexual intercourse. Two undercover officers posed as patrons, wearing only towels, and alleged that they observed men taking part in sexual acts in the open within the establishment. “[Sex acts] took place in full view of the officers; we didn’t go looking in every nook and cranny,” Roselli said. Roselli said the raid was initiated after police received a complaint from a Club Philadelphia patron who had his wallet stolen inside
the club. Roselli alleged that others complained of drug use and underage patrons, but police did not observe either of those violations. Center City lawyer Dick Atkins, who represented all of those arrested, contested the officers were “circulating, trying to provoke advances.” Following the arrests, some of the men were released on their own recognizance while others were ordered to pay $300 bail and weren’t released until 3:30 a.m. Atkins said Club Philadelphia was going to pay for all legal fees and noted that he received a pledge from the district attorney’s office that all charges would be dropped.
Candidates speak on women’s, gay issues Seven bipartisan candidates for mayor participated in a March 8 forum sponsored by the Philadelphia
Women’s Alliance, during which the candidates were questioned collectively on gay rights for the first time. Democrats Charles Bowser, Albert Gaudiosi, William Klenk and William Green; Republican Larry Greene; Consumer Party candidate Arthur Liebersohn; and Socialist Worker’s Party hopeful Nora Danielson all attended the event. All candidates expressed support for abortion rights and for a bill that would prohibit discrimination in housing based on the presence of children, age, source of income and marital status. While all of the participants said they would support expanded rights for LGBT individuals, the candidates differed on how to pursue the issue. Green, who was eventually elected mayor, said there’d be “no active policy of discrimination in [his] administration,” and that he wouldn’t oppose a gay-rights bill, as long as it had exemptions for private housing and religious organizations. Bowser said a gay-rights bill was
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“advisable” but that he’d want to first repeal statewide sodomy laws. Klenk said he’d support a bill as long as it underwent a “thorough hearing by City Council.” Philadelphia City Council did pass a gay-rights bill during Green’s administration, but the mayor elected not to sign the legislation.
Philly backs D.C. march A gathering of LGBT leaders from around the nation met in Philadelphia Feb. 23-25 and approved plans for a large-scale LGBT march on the nation’s capital. Attendees at the conference, which was orchestrated by the New York Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights and ad-hoc committees in Philadelphia and San Francisco, set a date for the march — Oct. 14 — and laid out the purpose of the event. The march would call on lawmakers to end all social, economic and judicial discrimination against gays, repeal antigay laws and approve a national gay-rights bill, and would urge the
RECOVERY From Page 8 out in the community,” said Arti Chhabria, REACH manger. “The key component is that these are peers who have ties to the community.” Chhabria said the peer engagement specialists will network at bars, clubs, LGBT and HIV/AIDS-awareness events, and even will visit such places as public restrooms known to be frequented by men looking for sex with other men. Chhabria noted that while the initiative seeks to enroll more individuals in recovery programs, it also has a broader goal of changing the mindset of this population toward substance abuse. “We’re dealing with a community in which drug and alcohol abuse is very glorified; it’s almost an expectation,” she said. “These peer engagement specialists are a part of this community but are going out and sending a different message: It doesn’t have to be that way. Yes, we’re going out to recruit people for recovery programs, but we also want to send the message to this community that it doesn’t have to be this way.” Brian Green, SafeGuards executive director, said the homophobia LGBT individuals often face throughout their lives has a significant impact on their health.
president to sign an executive order banning discrimination against gays and lesbians in government agencies, companies under government contract and in the military. Some LGBT organizations, such as the National Coalition of Black Gays and the Empire Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf, asserted that organizers of the conference did not provide enough notice about the event and approved a plan that was not inclusive enough of all LGBT people. Others expressed doubt that the march would be able to draw enough supporters. LGBT activist Frank Kameny said he’d only support a national march if he “could be sure there’d be enough people — at least 50,000. What I’m afraid of is that we will show ourselves to be a force not to be reckoned with, and that will take years to recover from that.” The October march ultimately drew about 100,000 LGBT individuals and allies from the United States and 23 other countries. ■
— Jen Colletta
“Unfortunately because of the societal discrimination and stigma that LGBT people face growing up, there’s a higher rate of depression, substance abuse and higher rates of some other mental issues in the community,” Green said. “We know that these people often try to access these services, but many times providers aren’t sensitive to LGBT populations. And there’s a stigma within our own community; it’s often hard for gay people — and gay men especially — to admit that they need help for these issues.” Kevin Burns, executive director of ActionAIDS, noted a correlation between substance-abuse and mentalhealth struggles and HIV/AIDS risk. “People who have an active addiction or who are in the beginning stages of heading down that road are at a higher risk [for HIV/AIDS],” Burns said. “They’re less inhibited and engage in behaviors that they might not otherwise necessarily engage in. With the way infection rates are right now, we need to be doing more outreach in connection with these at-risk populations, so we’re very excited about this program.” For more information on REACH, e-mail REACH@mazzonicenter.org or Achhabria@mazzonicenter.org or call (215) 563-0663 ext. 245. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
ESU From Page 1 workers in Sanders’ office, and the students said he took them out to eat, drove them places, invited them to motels, offered to pay their tuition and promised to secure their place in ESU’s graduate school or in jobs. In many of the instances, the students said, Sanders stressed that he had a close personal friendship with ESU president Robert Dillman — which some of the plaintiffs said intimidated them and prevented them from speaking out against Sanders’ alleged abuse. One of the plaintiffs, F.B., filed a sexual-harassment complaint with the school’s director of diversity and equity, Victoria Sanders (no relation to Isaac), in August 2007, which Dillman instructed her to forward to Arthur Breese, director of diversity and campus mediation. Breese interviewed both F.B. and Sanders, who denied sexually harassing the plaintiff but did admit to supplying him money for food, rent and auto repairs and giving him scholarship money for his tuition. Throughout the course of Breese’s investigation in the fall of 2007, Dillman received four anonymous letters that detailed Sanders’ sexual harassment of students and alleged financial misconduct. Dillman did not share these letters with Breese, but rather passed them along to vice president Sanders. In January 2008, Dillman informed F.B. that Breese had found insufficient evidence to support his claims of sexual harassment. Around the same time, members
FEUD From Page 1 here and everyone at the Film Society. Everyone is focused on this festival and focused on QFest, so we’ll explore partnerships and collaboration after that.” TLA filed a lawsuit against PFS on Jan. 13 to recover money allegedly owed to the organization, but Ray said TLA will no longer pursue the suit. In a statement released Feb. 24, J.
KOCIS From Page 1 Lockhart, they would bring in six figures,” Shunk said. “They thought it would create a youth phenomenon.” Prosecutors also called Luzerne County chief deputy coroner William Lisman, state police Cpl. Thomas Wall, forensic pathologist Dr. Mary Pascucci and forensic dentist Dr. John Hosage, all of whom testified about the state of Kocis’
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS of Sanders’ staff in the advancement office contacted ESU provost Ken Borland, who was serving as interim president while Dillman was on sabbatical, to request another internal investigation regarding potential sexual harassment, but Borland dismissed these claims one month later. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education began its own investigation last summer and ESU terminated Sanders in October. The PASSHE investigation results have not been made public. Steve Glassman, chair of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, said his agency has also been conducting an investigation into the allegations, but that he could not comment on its status. The suit requests $50,000 in compensatory damages, as well as damages for humiliation, emotional distress, loss of self-esteem and loss of life’s pleasures. Al Murray, who is representing the plaintiffs, said the students are not concerned with monetary compensation. “These young men didn’t file this action because of money; it’s about the principle,” Murray said. “This was a horrific situation, and the fact is that people knew about it for a long time.The students were afraid, and people at the university were afraid to make accusations. Now that it’s very public, that’s going to change.” Murray said any potential criminal charges against Sanders would have to come from the district attorney’s office.
In addition to Sanders, the suit also names East Stroudsburg University, Dillman, Borland, Victoria Sanders and the board of trustees as defendants. Douglas Smith, director of university relations, said he was unable to comment on the ongoing litigation. Calls to the defendants’ attorneys were not returned. In response to the suit, Isaac Jamison, chair of the board of directors of the ESU Foundation, announced last week that the foundation was going to hire an outside firm to conduct a forensic audit to evaluate any potential financial mismanagement during Sanders’ tenure. “The board of directors of the East Stroudsburg University Foundation voted to engage an independent certified public-accounting firm to conduct a forensic audit of the foundation’s books and records,” Jamison said during a Feb. 19 press conference. “The board took this action in response to allegations of irregularities in the use of foundation assets made against its former executive director.” The foundation initially commissioned an audit in the fall that found no evidence of misappropriation of funds. The forensic audit, however, is a more in-depth process that looks specifically for financial wrongdoing and can include subpoenas of personal bank accounts and check records. ■
Andrew Greenblatt, PFS executive director, expressed optimism about the collaboration. “We are thrilled that we are able to work together with Ray [Murray] and TLA to produce this year’s Philadelphia Film Festival,” Greenblatt said. “Throughout the negotiation process, it was PFS’ desire to deliver to our members and to Philadelphia the festival it deserves. This agreement enables us to fulfill that promise while also advancing PFS’ mission of providing Philadelphia with year-
round film programming.” Murray concurred that the partnership between the two organizations should contribute to the success of the upcoming festival. “Our only goal during these negotiations with the Film Society was to present a quality festival to the city of Philadelphia,” Murray said. “This combined production guarantees that CineFest is an incredible event unmarred by any other problems.” ■
body after it was discovered. Pascucci said Kocis died as a result of the neck slash and was stabbed 28 times after his death. Following the fire, Kocis had thirddegree burns on 90 percent of his body. The prosecution alone issued more than 150 witness subpoenas for the trial, which presiding Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski predicted could last up to three weeks. Defense and prosecution
attorneys spent last week interviewing 122 possible jurors during the five-day jury-selection process, which wrapped up Feb. 23. The attorneys eventually selected a panel of eight men and four women to serve on the jury, as well as three men and one woman as alternates. At least one potential juror was dismissed because he expressed disapproval of Cuadra’s “lifestyle and gay pornography” during questioning. ■
PAGE 17
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 18
International News Planned antigay protest fizzles
Larry Nichols
spokesperson, Phelps and his daughter are not allowed to enter the country because their “extremist” hate is considered dangerous. “Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behavior by inciting hatred against a number of communities,” the spokesperson said. “The government has made it clear it opposes extremism in all its forms. We will continue to stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country.” Play supporter Blake West was among about 50 students who protested against Westboro church outside the college.
A protest in the United Kingdom by an antigay church on Feb. 20 failed to materialize when only one demonstrator turned up. Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper, from the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, were banned from entering the U.K. to protest at Queen Mary’s College in Basingstoke over the staging of “The Laramie Project,” a play about the murder of Matthew Shepard. According to a border agency
“They are doing something completely ridiculous, which has very flawed and inaccurate foundations,” he said. “I am just standing up for my own sexual orientation. Their views will not be tolerated and all of us have proved that here tonight.” Only one protester arrived and was heckled away by counterdemonstrators. Phelps-Roper had said the decision to ban her and her father from entering the U.K. would “bring great wrath upon your heads.” She also warned that other members of the church, who are not as wellknown to the authorities, would be trying to get into the U.K. to protest,
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but that failed to happen.
Dubai censorship questioned Novelist Margaret Atwood is questioning her decision to pull out of a Dubai literary festival for its supposed banning of a novel with a gay character, saying she may have acted without knowing all the facts. The author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” said she had announced in the week leading up to the Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature in Dubai, scheduled for Feb. 26-March 1, that British author Geraldine Bedell claimed her novel “The Gulf Between Us” had been “banned” and “censored” for containing a gay character. Atwood said she got the impression from media reports that Bedell’s book had been scheduled to launch at the Dubai festival and the launch had then been cancelled, and the book had been banned throughout the Gulf States. She said she also understood Bedell had been prohibited from attending the festival and traveling in Dubai. “This was a case for AntiCensorship Woman!” Atwood wrote in a column for The Guardian Feb. 21. “I nipped into the nearest phone booth, hopped into my cape and coiled my magic lasso and swiftly cancelled my own appearance.” Now it seems as though the controversy may have been a publicity stunt. Atwood said when she spoke with the festival’s director, Isobel Abulhoul, she was told Bedell’s book was not scheduled to launch at the festival and thus no launch had been cancelled. Abulhoul said Bedell’s publisher, Penguin, had asked for the launch and she had commented that this was a littleknown writer who would not ordinarily be accorded that kind of slot. But she asked to see the manuscript and on the basis of that, she passed. “This happens every day at every festival in the world. Publishers always want to launch or feature their authors and all festivals pick and choose,” Atwood wrote. “Usually, however ... they don’t give the real reasons for their rejections.” Atwood is now hoping to take
part in the festival via video linkup. A spokesperson for the festival said Feb. 23 that, “technology permitting,” Atwood would be taking part in a debate on censorship on Feb. 28, which will explore cultural preconceptions about the acceptable limits of freedom of expression.
MARGARET ATWOOD AP Photo: Daniel Ochoa de Olza
Burundi stops antigay measure Legislation that would have made homosexuality a criminal offense in Burundi has been overwhelmingly defeated in the central African nation’s Senate. Burundi’s lower house adopted the proposed antigay measure in November, prompting sharp criticism from international human-
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rights groups and the UN program on HIV/AIDS. The Senate stripped out the criminalization of homosexuality, maintaining other provisions to the sweeping reform of the country’s legal system. The Senate left intact the abolition of the death penalty and new legislation on genocide. The bill also protects women and children from all forms of violence, especially sexual violence. The revised legislation now returns to the lower house for final approval. Burundi is struggling to emerge from a civil war that has resulted in more than 300,000 deaths since 1993. The provisions on genocide and the abolition of the death penalty are considered part of the healing process but, increasingly, hardliners have blamed many of the country’s problems on gays. The antigay provision in the original bill had the backing of President Pierre Nkurunziza. Prior to the Senate vote, Human Rights Watch wrote to Nkurunziza and members of the Senate, statng that outlawing homosexuality “violates basic human rights.” Michel Sidibe, executive director of the Joint UN Program on HIV/ AIDS, praised the Senate exclusion of the provision on homosexuality. “By rejecting this amendment, senators in Burundi have protected the human rights of their people,” he said, adding the provision would have blocked access to treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS rates up in Asian gays International health officials announced Feb. 20 that the AIDS virus is spreading rapidly among gay and bisexual men in Asia as younger people shun condoms and authorities fail to increase awareness of the disease. Massimo Ghidinelli, the World Health Organization’s regional adviser on HIV/AIDS, warned that the epidemic will worsen dramatically in coming years unless there is better education and stronger political efforts to combat the disease. His comments came at a news conference after a seminar in Hong Kong at which regional AIDS experts discussed the growing trend. Asia is believed to have the
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
is just 37 years as a result. The report said the increase in 2008 was partly because more women were taking life-prolonging antiretroviral medication. An estimated 185,000 of Swaziland’s 1 million people are HIV positive, and about 30,000 are currently receiving antiretroviral medications. AIDS activists blame King Mswati III for doing too little to spread prevention messages and promote condom usage and HIV testing, and they say he sets a bad example by having 13 wives. “The nation, especially polygamous men, look up to the monarch,” said Sphiwe Hlophe, who runs a GOLD MEDALIST MATTHEW MITCHAM support group called Positive AP Photo: Sergey Ponomarev Swaziland Living. world’s largest number of men who The king, Africa’s last absolute have sex with other men, with a monarch, is widely revered. But he preliminary estimate of 10 million, attracted widespread criticism last according to the WHO. year for lavish celebrations to mark While describing the figure his 40th birthday and Swaziland’s as “extraordinarily high,” 40th anniversary of independence Ghidinelli said it still appeared from Britain at a time when the to be conservative because of the health sector was crumbling under stigmatization of male-to-male sex. the burden of AIDS. The WHO said fragmentary information from the region indicated a rapid spread of HIV among gay and bisexual men, but that full data wasn’t available. Ghidinelli said low condom use among younger men in male-toGay Olympic gold medalist male relationships was fueling the Matthew Mitcham was named on transmission of HIV. Feb. 19 to be one of his country’s “Younger men engaging in sex ambassadors for men’s health. with men are entering into a sexual The Australian diver, who won arena without the same level of the 10-meter platform competition awareness and without taking the at the 2008 Summer Olympics in same level of protection that the Beijing, will be an advocate for older generation was taking,” he the country’s policy on men’s said. health. Ghidinelli said the AIDS experts Mitcham replaces one of the agreed at the conference to set first men’s health ambassadors, up a regional task force to collect Fatherhood Foundation president information on male-to-male Warwick Marsh, who was ousted transmission and to strengthen for writing that homosexuality is a measures to fight the disease. “gender disorientation pathology” stemming from sexual abuse and personality disorders. Health Minister Nicola Roxon described Mitcham as a “courageous man,” citing his struggle with depression and An estimated 42 percent of anxiety, after which he claimed pregnant women in Swaziland are Olympic gold. Australia’s health ambassadors infected with the virus that causes AIDS, a jump of 3 percent over last focus on topics such as preventable year, according to a government cancers, sexual health and illicit drug abuse. ■ report released Feb. 20. The small southern African nation has the highest AIDS rate in the Larry Nichols can be reached at world, and average life expectancy larry@epgn.com.
Olympian named health ambassador
HIV rates up in Swazi women
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Detour A departure from the ordinary
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PAGE 21
Out personalities thrive on satellite radio
LARRY FLICK
By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer Listening to “The Morning Jolt” on OutQ Radio, the Sirius LGBT satellite channel, you wouldn’t suspect that hosts Larry Flick and Keith Price had never planned to be radio personalities. But the two are obviously naturals as they play the latest and greatest of music hits and dish on pop culture five days a week. For Flick, who has been with the program and its various incarnations for five-and-a-half years, it took a while for all the right elements to fall into place to make the show what it is today. “I always wanted to do a show that combined all the things that I love, which is talking about the news of the day, pop culture and music,” he said. “I’d been pitching the idea of bringing music onto the morning show in a more substantial way than we had been. Right now it’s about 50/50 talk and music. We’re in the second week of this new format. We’re test-driving a lot of new segments and playing with
music, finding a balance between playing songs people recognize and taking advantage of the fact that I have a long history in music. Gay audiences tend to be tastemakerdriven. They like to be first. It’s a lot of music, but it’s also news and lifestyle topics — whatever is happening in the moment.” Flick’s long history in music began in the ’80s as a travel assistant to bands like KISS and Power Station. He eventually landed a job as a writer and senior editor for Billboard Magazine, where he spent 14 years developing a reputation as a strong music journalist and contributing to magazines such as The Advocate, Vibe and Out. Fairly impressive for someone who didn’t study any of these subjects in school. “I’m not trained in radio,” Flick said. “I’m not a trained journalist. My degree is in theater and, before that, I was an artist.” According to Flick, his unlikely transition to radio came just as his career in journalism seemed to be at a crossroads: He’d recently been laid off from Billboard.
“My mentor died and, a year after that, they hired a new editorin-chief that decided to take the magazine in a new direction,” he said. “When they did that, I became redundant. I became a very expensive commodity. I had an enormous severance package to live off of for a while and I was planning a really nice summer off. But the opportunity to audition for the morning show on OutQ was presented to me about three weeks after I was laid off. I begrudgingly got up at 4 a.m., showed up and tried out not thinking I was going to get it. And I never stopped doing the show. A lot of the things that I have done in my work life have been pure coincidence.” It was also coincidence that saw Price join the show on a full-time basis. The openly gay comedian was booked as a guest and things just clicked between him and Flick. “When I walked into the room, it was an instantaneous connection,” Price said. “Larry and I became two big giant schoolgirls, going, ‘Oh my God. Did you see that? I love ‘All My Children.’ Truly it was kismet. People have likened the show, because it’s so irreverent, to Howard Stern. Howard and Robin get along just the same way that Larry and I do.” Like Flick, Price never set out to be a radio personality, or a comedian for that matter. The idea of a career in comedy, and his relocating to New York, came about when he figured out that living in Texas and working in healthcare didn’t seem all that exciting. “I left Texas at the age of 28, but believe me, for a good four or five years prior to that, it was my mindset,” Price said. “There was no way in 1994, even in Austin, Texas, as progressive as Austin was, I could be big, black, gay and fabulous. I just didn’t know where I wanted to go and I didn’t know what I wanted to do because I was [a] biology premed [student] and the plan was I was going to go to medical school. I was like, ‘You know, this medicine thing ... I don’t know. I could do this but, eeww, this doesn’t seem like the kind of life that I’d want to spend the rest of my time doing.’” Now Price splits his time between the radio and his comedy performances, which can be a balancing act considering standup comics usually keep vampire hours and morning DJs have to be up before sunrise. But Price said his name recognition gives him some flexibility in the competitive world of comedy clubs. “Because of the show, it’s allowed me a lot more leeway to balance my
time,” Price said. “It certainly had made my career far more interesting than it was three years ago, when nobody knew who the hell I was. I think the fact that I’m on the radio as an out gay person has allowed me a lot more notoriety and visibility both inside and outside of New York. I have my weekends to do things and, because of the status of being ‘headliner material,’ I tend to get to pick my days during the week if I want to do shows. Generally they are earlier shows. Most of the people that listen to the show are getting up at the same time as we are, so they are more inclined to see me at an earlier hour.” Price’s experiences on and off stage can be seen in the documentary “Ebony Chunky Love: Bitch Can’t Get a Date,” which chronicles his one-man show and his struggles in the entertainment industry. The funny and candid look at Price’s career made the rounds at film festivals last year and debuted on Logo this month. Price added that after 20 years of doing comedy and his recent success
with the film and the radio show, he is no longer trying to be one of the biggest names in the business. “My goals are not as broad because things have changed,” he said. “If you’d have talked to me three years ago, before I took the job [at Sirius], I would have said my goal is to be a headliner like Lisa Lampanelli or Dane Cook. I wanted to have that notoriety. But as you do things like this job, you start to temper that whole idea of what that kind of notoriety can bring to you, because even in this small sphere, there’s been a lot of strange things that I wouldn’t have to deal with if I was the comic I was three years ago. It’s not a fear of success. I just want to have as much of my life as I can because I’m too old now to be selling out for stupid stuff.” Flick said he was also ready for a change when the opportunity at Sirius fell into his lap. “I had written every single day of my life for 14 years and I didn’t feel like typing anymore,” he said. See GAY DJs, Page 22
KEITH PRICE
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GAY DJs From Page 21 “I felt like talking.” For the time being, Flick and Price are content to focus their energies on “The Morning Jolt,” where they cover not only the latest in gay culture, but also the hottest topics in mainstream entertainment. “We have all kinds of celebrities, rocks stars, film directors and actors,” Flick said. “You name it. It’s really been amazing how supporting the entertainment industry has been for the show. What’s great is it’s not the stereotypes. For example, I just recorded an interview with Duff McKagan from Velvet Revolver and he was just as excited to do this show as he was to do any of our rock-music-channel shows. It ranges from Lilly Allen and Kelly Clarkson to politicians and actors. It’s a pretty wide range, and they understand the clout of the LGBT population.” In keeping with the scope of the show, Price said his dream guests are as eclectic and A-list as they come. “In my crazy fantasy world, at least before he dies, I would love to see Mel Brooks in the room with us,” he said. “I’m a big Mel Brooks fan. And because I’m still 16 inside, I want to meet Beyoncé before she gets too old and uninteresting.” (He’d better hurry on both fronts, then.) Flick is optimistic about the new direction of the show and its future,
PRICE IN “EBONY CHUNKY LOVE: BITCH CAN’T GET A DATE” which is admirable considering many publications are forecasting the demise of Sirius, citing the
company’s debts, extremely low stock prices and the amount of money it is shelling out for stars like
PRICE ON “HOT GAY COMICS”
PGN
Howard Stern and Martha Stewart. Flick said that from where he sits, Sirius isn’t about to take a dive any time soon. “We’ve been doing our thing and thriving,” he said. “When I was at Billboard, I was very antiInternet because I worked for a print publication. I didn’t like the idea of new technology supplanting how I was expressing myself and earning my living. And again, that’s old-fashioned thinking. I think that any new medium needs time to work out their kinks. As far as I see, satellite radio is doing well. We’re in a downward economic time but we’re racking up subscribers. We have what people want. We gauge it anecdotally. We get a lot of phone calls. When the phones are lighting up, we assume that it’s going well.” Flick added that any of Sirius’ supposed business problems are a symptom of the perceived declining music industry, which he has been keeping a watchful eye on since his days at Billboard and claims that it’s all hype.
“If you talk to people who understand the digital age of music and the unique ways of bringing music to people who want it, music is thriving,” he said. “There is more great music out there than ever. The problem isn’t the decline of the music business as much as it is the decline of the old way of doing business. People have to let go of things. People are afraid of change, by and large. I watched the beginning of the digital age when I was an editor at Billboard and I remember interviewing a lot of executives that said, ‘This is never going to take off because the way we do things is the right way.’ And a lot of those guys are unemployed now. So the decline of music is vastly overestimated.” For more information on “The Morning Jolt” or OutQ Radio, visit www.sirius.com/outq. For more information on Price, visit www. comedydaddy.com. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
What’s going on? Check out Diversions.
COLOR FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Beauty and fame — more fleeting in film By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor There are two worthwhile films for queer moviegoers to catch in theaters in the next two weeks. “Cherry Blossoms,” a German family drama about parents and their estranged children, including a lesbian daughter, opens for a one-week run on Feb. 27 at the Ritz at the Bourse. On March 6, “Eleven Minutes,” the documentary chronicling Philadelphian Jay McCarroll’s experiences designing a line for Fashion Week, opens for
a limited engagement. Writer/director Doris Dörrie’s “Cherry Blossoms” is a tender, life-affirming and, at times, magical drama about Rudi (Elmar Wepper), a man unaware that he is dying. His wife, Trudi (Hannelore Elsner), wrestles with her knowledge of her husband’s short life expectancy. She was hoping to visit Mt. Fuji and see the cherry blossoms with him, and now can’t imagine traveling to Japan alone. Instead of going overseas, however, Trudi and Rudi head to
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Berlin to see their married son Klaus (Felix Eitner) and lesbian daughter Karolin (Birgit Minichmayr). They have many awkward moments with their children, and Trudi spends more time with Karolin’s lover Franzi (Nadja Uhl) — touring the city and attending a Butoh dance performance with her — than she does with her own ungrateful daughter. Yet after Trudi dies in her sleep, Rudi takes it upon himself to fulfill his wife’s dream and visit Japan, where the couple’s third son, Karl (Maximilian Brückner), lives alone. Once there, Rudi’s grief prompts him to dress in Trudi’s clothes to “show her Japan.” These are warm, tender moments, but they can’t mask his loneliness and despair. Rudi quickly gets on Karl’s nerves, but when he meets the bewitching Yu (Aya Irizuki), a Butoh dancer, he finds a new friend — one his wife would adore. As Yu teaches him about dancing and shadows, and the impermanence of the cherry blossoms, he remembers Trudi fondly, finding a measure of happiness his selfish children cannot provide. Dörrie mixes realism and sentiment to perfect measure to make “Cherry Blossoms” poignant, not treacly. The affection between Rudi and Trudi is palpable, as is the deep bond Rudi and Yu develop in Japan. This is a quietly powerful family
JAY MCCARROLL AND A MODEL IN “ELEVEN MINUTES” drama about finding happiness, even in the face of grief. “Eleven Minutes” is the amount of time it takes a fashion show to be presented on the runway, and this fabulous documentary (which premiered at the Philadelphia Film Festival last year) depicts the efforts of “Project Runway” winner Jay McCarroll to mount his first show. As he makes an attempt to “leap from reality-TV designer to real-life designer,” his life is fraught with stress — and all of it is caught on camera.
McCarroll states pretty honestly that while he has a design for a show — called “Transport” and based on a 1960s architecture concept — he doesn’t know how he will pay for it, produce it, manufacture it, display it, advertise it or merchandize it. And, he admits with some humility, he has to learn fast — because his 15 minutes of fame are ticking away. “Eleven Minutes” makes the harsh realities faced by a novice designer like McCarroll very real. He frequently fights with his See FILM, Page 28
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Pop royalty, new faces compete for your affection By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer
Annie Lennox The Annie Lennox Collection Arista An Annie Lennox greatest-hits package is damn-near impossible to screw up. She has sold enough albums and collected enough awards to make this a slam-dunk and, sure enough, nothing but net! This collection wisely draws the most from 1992’s “Diva” with five songs, including the most Eurythmics-like track, “Little Bird.” All of her other CDs contribute two songs each to the compilation. The brilliant eclecticism of the “Diva” tracks fit well alongside restrained introspective tracks from “Bare” (“A Thousand Beautiful Things” and “Pavement Cracks”) and the bombastic tracks from last year’s “Songs of Mass Destruction”
(“Sing” and “Dark Road”). Lennox even makes the new tracks worth the effort with the jubilant and upbeat “Shining Light” and the pleasantly laidback “Pattern of My Life.” This sister is definitely doing it for herself. Rihanna The Remixes: Good Girl Gone Bad Def Jam Wow, the good people of Def Jam are milking Rihanna’s smashhit album for all it’s worth. The 2007 album has already spawned eight singles, a deluxe edition, an expanded edition and now a remix album. The original version of “Good Girl Gone Bad” was electro enough when it came out, but apparently someone saw fit to push deeper into electro-dance territory when some more experimental interpretations
would have been a welcome change. The first track, Seamus Haji and Paul Emanuel’s remix of “Umbrella,” has a propulsive beat that makes it stand out from the rest. The Wildboys’ mix of “Shut Up and Drive” and the Soul Seekers’ take on “Breaking Dishes” are decent as well. But many of the remixes sound uninspired and formulaic. “The Remixes” is sure to be hot among the DJ set, but this collection wasted an opportunity to explore new territory. Would it have been too much to ask for a neo-soul remix of “Umbrella,” a ballsy punkrock rendition of “Breaking Dishes” or a trance version of “Rehab”? Von Iva Girls on Film Von Iva Music It’s such a shame that all the pop princesses are getting so much press these days when there’s a kick-ass group like Von Iva cranking out over-the-top, booty-shaking music that anyone would love to wreck a dance floor to. The lesbian group’s EP pounds away at your body like an addictive mix of Daft Punk, Gary Numan and Luscious Jackson that never stays in any one particular genre long enough to be pigeonholed. This is aggressive futuristic pop that you just can’t tune out, no matter how hard you try. The synthesized beats on the
Method,” which proclaims, “I am gorgeous. I am free of disease.” Not to be outdone, “C Star” asks listeners to “check out my cock” many, many times. (Put it on the album cover if you’re so impressed by it.) He really should have saved that line for “Brian, My Darling,” which, rumor has it, was written for Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione. anthemic “Living For It” and the frantic “Electricity” are augmented by live disco beats played with punk-ish intensity. “Birds of Prey” and “Guise” bristle with a mid1980s gothic/new-wave energy. The six songs on “Girls on Film” just aren’t enough. You are going to want more. Gene Dante and the Future Starlets The Romantic Lead Omnirox Entertainment To its credit, this group has a pretty good formula going: a nonthreatening mix of David Bowie- and T-Rex-inspired glam, alternative/ garage rock and new wave with just a touch of theatrical camp, which the openly gay Dante probably picked up from his onstage work with “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Rock-star swagger abounds on tracks like “A Madness to His
Tracks like “Photosynthetic” and “Purity of Intent” rock with an urgent authority, while songs like “To a God Unknown” and “The Dreamers” offer a kind of spacey, Beatles-inspired piano balladry that bands like Oasis have been trying to capture for years. The future looks bright for these starlets. ■ Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.
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Family Portraits I recently was involved in a conversation about public figures who are widely known to be gay, but who still maintain media silence on the subject. The discussion revolved around everyone’s responsibility to come out, especially those in the public eye. The room was split into those who believed that a person’s sexuality was personal and me, who feels people are free to do what they want, but the whole world would be a lot better if some of these folks came out loud and proud. Fortunately for us, with up-andcoming artist Ashley Phillips, the argument is moot. Phillips is an out musician who hopes to affect the industry by projecting a visible and positive image to as many audiences as possible. (Go Ashley, go Ashley!) If you haven’t heard Phillips at one of her many gigs in the Philadelphia area, she is known for her unique voice and blend of acoustic, soul and pop. As a singersongwriter, she captivates audiences with her intimately soulful and lyrical professions of love, life and truth. Her vocal stylings have drawn comparisons to such artists as Minnie Riperton (my personal favorite), Amel Larrieux, Adriana Evans and Dionne Farris. Phillips was kind enough to meet with me in the rain at Clark Park and talk about her music and her story. PGN: So where have you been all our lives? AP: [Laughs.] I’ve been around. Over the years I’ve played at Philadelphia venues such as the Rotunda for the Black Women’s Arts Festival, Tin Angel, Sisterspace and other small venues around the area. Recently I’ve been branching out and playing in Washington, D.C., at places like Tim’m West’s Front Porch monthly event and DC Black Pride. I also perform and travel with the Brave Soul Collective, a D.C.-based organization “Bringing Light to the
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
Suzi Nash Truth” that works to raise awareness. PGN: Awareness of what? AP: Brave Soul Collective is an education, outreach and support organization for LGBTQ HIVpositive and -negative individuals who are living their lives in truth through the arts. They work to increase visibility of marginalized communities, including but not limited to gay black men and people living with HIV and AIDS. They really try to increase communication in those communities and to serve as a network for those expressing themselves in the creative and healing arts. They’re a great organization; you can check them out at www.bravesoulcollective.org. PGN: What instruments do you play? AP: I started playing violin early on, then picked up trombone in high school. I’m self-taught on both piano and guitar. Oh, and voice, of course. I came to performing a little late. It wasn’t until after high school that I started writing and performing in public. PGN: How was coming out? AP: Coming out was definitely a process. I have been blessed to have a family that was, and has continued to be, supportive. I had the most difficulty with gender presentation, really. Wearing buttondowns and ties with close cut hair hasn’t always been easy, especially with my extended family. It’s hard, sometimes, for people who’ve known me over the years to understand why I would choose this. It is simply who I am, and time has allowed for acceptance. I am truly fortunate. PGN: Tell me about your family. AP: My mom is a New York native who studied dance and musical theater. Her side of the
family was definitely the creative [side]. She went to the Professional Children’s School in New York to study theater and my grandmother went to Julliard to study voice. She was a soprano and studied in the same class as Leontyne Price. My stepfather is from Trinidad and Tobago and works as a contractor. I have two younger sisters. PGN: What kind of big sister were you? AP: I was always trying to make us into the Von Trapp family. I tried to make them sing with me at the piano and put on little shows. I had visions of us becoming a doowop group, but they apparently had other plans. PGN: What are their names? AP: Hollie and Emily. We’ve all got really WASPy names! I’m actually Ashley Ann and my youngest sister is Emily Elizabeth. They all have a musical ring to them. I guess my mom had a thing ... PGN: What instrument do you wish you could play? AP: I’ve always wanted to pick up bass and drums — especially drums. Hmm, maybe because I’m already playing a percussion instrument [guitar], I’m just really into the rhythms and overall feel with drums. PGN: Yeah, I hear a lot of percussion in the way you play. What’s an early musical memory? AP: Ha! I remember being about 3 or 4 and listening to Anita Baker on the radio in the car. I started singing “Sweet Love” while at nursery school. The lyric was, “I feel no shame, I’m in love,” and one of the other kids thought I was saying “shit” instead of “shame.” Anyway, I was put on time-out with an egg timer. At 3-4, that felt like forever. I never forgot that moment.
ASHLEY PHILLIPS Photo: Suzi Nash PGN: Your idea of misery? AP: Misery can be a warm blanket you cocoon yourself in for way too long. PGN: What was your favorite cartoon as a kid? AP: I was all about the “Animaniacs.” PGN: Crazy incident at a gig? AP: Crazy? Nothing too crazy to speak about yet. The one recur-
ring situation is being mistaken for a young boy, then singing the first few notes and watching the stunned look on people’s faces. PGN: A story someone told you about how your music affected them? AP: I can’t pinpoint one particular story at the moment, but the themes of my writing are universal. And I’ll hear about how people connect to the sentiments or feel moved by the delivery. PGN: I’m so gay ... AP: Because I have brought the UHaul on the second date. PGN: Who was your first crush? AP: It was when I was about 6, that I can remember. I went to a private Seventh-day Adventist school and had a crush on a girl a few years my senior. [Laughs.] I’ve always had a thing for older women. I gave her a valentine. She was a bit baffled. I feel like this was the first moment I learned shame around attraction. See PORTRAITS, Page 28
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Q Puzzle I’ve Been Had! Across 1. It arouses you in bed 6. “Mamma Mia!” band 10. Shows appreciation for 6Across 15. Island of Mead’s research 16. Have sex, with “around” 17. Lube user? 18. What you might lend Marc Antony 19. Collette of “United States of Tara” 20. Looks like a chicken hawk 21. Punishment for a bottom? 24. Peter the Great, for one 25. Shooter in Bruce Weber’s field 26. Seaman 29. Like the Jets, in “West Side Story” 32. State of polar bears 37. Muscle Marys pump it 39. What Log Cabin or Stonewall Democrats hopes to wield 41. Navratilova’s winter home 42. Leaves in an R.E.M. song? 45. Susan’s partner in “Thelma and Louise” 46. Stock at Barneys, e.g. 47. Manicurist’s tool 48. Orton’s “Entertaining Mr. ___ ” 50. Like Albert, in “The Birdcage” 52. Bunkmates on base 53. Island in gay Paree 55. Many, many moons 57. Heavy in a Cornwell mystery? 65. Result of nongay sex 66. Composer Stravinsky 67. Cause to come out
Recreational
FIND THEM IN THE
Down 1. Lickety-split (abbr.) 2. “Boys Don’t Cry” character 3. Souls, to Foucault 4. Cut of meat 5. Mel pretended to be gay for her in “What Women Want” 6. Postcoital splendor 7. Responses to Scar, in “The Lion King” 8. “Bastard Out of Carolina” protagonist 9. Dress with a flared bottom 10. Porter’s cabbage dish? 11. Property right 12. Actor Mapa 13. Debussy’s daddy 14. MTF operation 22. Vivian, who played Lucy’s pal 23. Vidal’s “Visit ___ Small Planet” 26. ’70s supermodel Cheryl 27. Synthetic fiber brand 28. Where to see chaps in chaps 30. Like a dancer’s diet 31. Very queer 33. Starting from 34. Shoot, off a larger branch 35. Rosie’s partner 36. Warhol’s range? 38. Lesbian porn star Hartley 40. Where gay may mean happy or queer 43. Winds up like Earhart 44. Artist Hernandez
49. Sara Gilbert, for one 51. Sings part of “The Lonely Goatherd” 54. LuPone Broadway role 56. “On the Beach” writer Shute 57. It reveals a drag queen’s thighs 58. Former Minnesota governor Carlson 59. Direction from Susan Feniger 60. “How queer!” 61. Tiny speck 62. Go from one gay bar to another, e.g. 63. Barely made, with “out” 64. Targets for McCarthy and Cohn 65. Margaret Cho routine, e.g. See SOLUTION, Page 30
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Feb. 27: Drag Queen Donna St. John with guest OmaryLynn & Briananna Carra Feb. 28: From Delaware–Miss Peaches with guest Pandora of Ritzy Rehab Monroe Mar. 6: Andrea Lamour with guest Karen Vonsay & Alisha Lamar; Mar. 7: Tina Montgomery Open Every Friday & Saturday Night 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Banquet Facilities available – Guest Staff – Bar Menu Available & Specialty Mojitos! Visit alberts2ndstory@aol.com for more info 3180 Grant Avenue (at Academy Road), Philadelphia, PA 19114
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PORTRAITS
best friend.
From Page 26
PGN: Favorite day of the week? AP: Probably Wednesday. It’s Hump Day.
PGN: Were you a sports person? AP: I was a serious basketball player for a while. It was something that I was hoping to pursue in college, but I tore my ACL — twice. I figured it was time to let the hoop dreams go. PGN: Do you speak a second language? AP: One of my best friends in grade school was deaf, so I learned to sign pretty well. Though not quite as quick as Bette on “The L Word.” A friend of mine jokes that Bette met a woman who was deaf and a third of the way into the episode she was fluent in sign language. PGN: Early signs that I was gay ... AP: I feel like I have a very common queer narrative — being young and falling in love with your
PGN: Favorite poem/poet? AP: “Swing” by Robert Louis Stevenson. It’s a poem my mom would recite to me while pushing me on a swing. I would call it my favorite because it elicits a fond memory from my childhood so vividly. PGN: Friend that lives the farthest away? AP: One of my closest childhood friends moved to Zurich, so she’s probably the winner here. PGN: You mentioned that you had difficulty with extended family accepting your gender expression. How does it affect you? AP: Well, I guess I identify as butch. I’m a female-bodied person, but I have more of a masculine expression in the way I dress
and present myself. To me, it’s just what I’m comfortable with. I grew up in Reading, which was quite conservative. It wasn’t until I went to college that I began to become more comfortable with it. I was always kind of awkward and didn’t see myself reflected in the community out there. When I got to college, I found the book “Stone Butch Blues” written by Leslie Feinberg, which I think was instrumental in a lot of people’s queer narrative. It was published in 1993 and is about a butch named Jess Goldberg and the trials and tribulations she faced growing up in the pre-Stonewall era. It was one of the first books addressing the butch/femme culture. I also discovered the queer community here in Philly and I was able to discover and be my true self. PGN: Single or involved? AP: Single these days. Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” is my unofficial anthem. It has been a while since I’ve been single, so I’m trying to
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009 find the joy in it.
FILM
PGN: What do you consider an overrated virtue? AP: Patience, definitely. The look for 2009 is instant gratification.
From Page 24
PGN: Any nicknames? AP: HypeMaster. My friends always joke that I get ridiculously excited over small things. I like to think of it as appreciating the simple things. I love the feeling. PGN: I guess that explains the passion for Animaniacs! AP: Definitely! To hear Phillips’ music, visit her MySpace page at www.myspace. com/ashleyphillipsband. Or catch her at 4:30 p.m. March 11 at Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portraits,” write to: Family Portraits, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 or portraits05@aol.com.
publicist Nancy and her boss Kelly (the PR firm’s savvy owner), and fails to heed their considerable experience and expertise. He sometimes treats his assistants — who work for him for free — badly, yet he never properly chastises the shoe designer who could potentially wreck his show. Furthermore, as issues arise with sales reps, buyers and manufacturers, McCarroll really suffers — sometimes deservedly so. He may appear playful or worried, cavalier or anxious, but what most comes across is his arrogance at having to live up to his notoriety. It’s a telling moment when he tells a reporter, hours before his Fashion Week debut, that he doesn’t want to talk about “Project Runway” anymore. McCarroll often engenders sympathy during the various ego clashes and wardrobe malfunctions that besiege him. However, what makes him likable is how he plays to the camera. Riffing with his friends and associates — a wig designer he asks to make the hairpieces look like “drunk drag queens,” or the models that have to learn how to move in his clothes — he is incredibly funny and compelling. It shows that if “Project Runway” did not teach him how to survive in the fashion industry, at least it taught him how to play to the camera. “Eleven Minutes” does provide a crash course in staging a fashion show, and this insider’s view of the industry may be the film’s most useful feature. Viewers will watch, sometimes in stunned silence, as McCarroll fights with his PR firm about the offbeat models he wants to use, a bad meeting with a sales rep and the production, design and distribution of the show’s invitations. In contrast, the other behind-thescenes elements — such as creation of the cutter’s must, a document that provides a list of the pieces needed to make an outfit, seem almost unimportant in the grand scheme of putting on a fashion show. Directors Michael Selditch and Robert Tate keep the action nimble as McCarroll flits from one crisis to the next. Significantly, the filmmakers never judge their subject or his decisions — even when he makes a noticeably bad one. Selditch and Tate also wisely pause the action periodically to show McCarroll surrounded by the hot-air balloons that inspired his collection Transport. Not only do these scenes serve to break some of the mounting dramatic tension, but they also amusingly reference all of the hot air being blown around in “Eleven Minutes,” as well as how puffed up McCarroll and the whole industry are. ■
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Dana Rudolph
scottdrakephotos.com scottdrakephotos@gmail.com
Mombian
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
LGBT families on public television: The time has come Amid all the talk of potential progress for LGBT rights under President Obama, one opportunity has made few headlines: the prospect of more LGBT-inclusive children’s programming on public television. Talk with almost any LGBT parent and she or he will bemoan the dearth of LGBT families in children’s media. There is a clear need — and a new chance. Commercial children’s programming could, of course, be more LGBT-inclusive as well. So far, however, public television has made the only move in this direction, albeit a controversial one. In the 2005 “Sugartime!” episode of PBS Kids’ “Postcards from Buster,” produced by Boston’s WGBH, rabbit Buster visits a Vermont maple-sugar farm owned by two lesbian moms. Buster’s one comment on their family structure was, “That’s a lot of moms!” Nevertheless, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings denounced the episode and asked the producers to return all federal funding. The conservative American Family Association launched a campaign to support her decision. PBS pulled the episode. WGBH aired it, however, and offered it independently to PBS stations. Fifty-seven stations — representing more than half of PBS viewers — chose to broadcast it. Producer Jeanne Jordan told the New York Times, however, that the controversy made it difficult to find funds for a second season. In contrast, the new secretary of education, Arne Duncan, has garnered praise from PFLAG’s communications director Steve Ralls (Huffington Post, Dec. 18, 2008). As head of the Chicago Public Schools, Ralls says, Duncan was well aware of the need to combat homophobic bullying and harassment, and was a strong supporter of safe-schools initiatives. One imagines Duncan would not take action like Spellings. To date, however, other than the one “Buster” episode, we have to scrounge to find even the merest hint of LGBT families on PBS Kids. Out lesbian moms like singer
Melissa Etheridge and chef Cat Cora have been guests on earlyreading show “Between the Lions,” also produced by WGBH, although there was no mention of their orientation or family structure. Other LGBT family connections are even vaguer. Out lesbian Maile Flanagan has won a Daytime Emmy for voicing protagonist Piggley Winks on “Jakers!” but few know the name behind the character. Alan Muraoka of “Sesame Street” (who plays the proprietor of Hooper’s Store) has entertained LGBT families on the R Family cruises. On “Curious George,” The Man in the Yellow Hat acts like a single dad to the eponymous monkey. He is never shown dating and could be gay for all we know (assuming we ignore the 2006 movie, in which he falls in love with the character voiced by Drew Barrymore). The time is ripe for a publictelevision children’s show to include LGBT families, and the possibilities are many, even without the need to create a new series. “Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies,” which introduces preschoolers to the natural world, could show a male penguin pair raising chicks, given the several documented reallife examples. “Reading Rainbow” could select the recent “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding” as an episode’s featured book. The tale of a little girl guinea pig who worries that her uncle won’t have time for her after he marries his boyfriend offers the perfect way to portray samesex couples and also to discuss the universal theme of children trying to figure out their own relationships with the adults in their lives. Perhaps “Sesame Street” could have two gay Muppet monsters bring their child to a playdate with character Gina the Veterinarian’s son, adopted from Guatemala in a 2006 episode. The episode was notable not only for showing an international adoption, but also for portraying an intentionally single mom. That in itself shows progress in acceptance of diverse families since 1992, when thenVice President Dan Quayle railed against Candice Bergen’s portrayal of single mom Murphy Brown. “Sesame Street” has indeed always led the pack in tackling issues of acceptance and diversity, including race, language and physical ability. However, the program has shied away from
overtly LGBT characters. (Bert and Ernie are still deep in the closet, despite the rumors that persist.) In the episode where Gina adopts her child, they come as close as they ever have to acknowledging our families with the song “Doing the Family Thing”: “Any group of people/Living together/And loving each other/Are doing the family thing ... A family can be/What it wants to be/’Cause there’s all different leaves/On the family tree/And there’s all different types/ Of families.” In between those inclusive verses are examples of different types of families. They don’t include ones with LGBT parents, but it wouldn’t be a large step to add them to a new version. Aside from federal funding, though, money from private foundations and public corporations also helps support public television. Some might pull their support rather than back LGBT inclusion. The national corporate sponsor for “Between the Lions,” for example, is Chick-fil-A, a family-owned fast-food chain whose founder and CEO has been honored by the ultraconservative group Focus on the Family. Producers must therefore make a point of reaching out to openminded foundations as well as corporations like Subaru and Campbell Soup Company, which have already targeted LGBT families through other media. That, in combination with a tolerant federal administration, could set the stage for showing children with LGBT parents positive representations of families like their own. The impact would be greater than just our children’s improved self-esteem, though. LGBTinclusive shows would give all children a truer and more complete view of modern families, and could contribute to the reduction of homophobic bullying and harassment in schools. Children’s public television is synonymous with educational TV. Isn’t preparing children to understand their society and respect fellow citizens an important part of that? Which shows are up to the challenge? ■ Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (www. mombian.com), a blog and resource directory for LGBT parents.
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Bruce Yelk
For all the party people Having just returned from an amazing ski weekend in Vermont with some of my closest friends, I’m feeling incredibly refreshed. As my regular readers can attest, I typically highlight a wide range of special events and promotions ideally suited for LGBT community members with an array of interests — but I’m feeling so reinvigorated following my ski-venture that I decided to deviate from the formula. So this week, I’m breaking out my inner party boy with a series of bar and nightclub recommendations guaranteed to entice even the most reserved wallflower. There’s no better way to release, refocus and refuel than grabbing a cocktail and hitting the dance floor at your favorite nightspot. So strap on your party pumps, ’cause Offline is taking you out! Hopefully you’re reading this column before Friday evening, because tonight will be one to remember. Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St., is celebrating the fifth anniversary of Stephen Carlino and Dennis Fee’s ownership. After taking over in 2004, they opened the Ascend Dance Lounge, making Tavern on Camac a Gayborhood hotspot every weekend. They also renovated their basement restaurant, The Underground, developing a thoughtful, innovative and cost-effective menu. Carlino and Fee are dedicated philanthropists who encourage all LGBT community organizations to utilize Tavern for fundraising and awareness events. Stop in Tavern this evening from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. to show your support and appreciation for everything they have done for our community. Check out www. tavernoncamac.com for all the details. If you’ve ever used the Web to search for social events in the area, you’re probably familiar with PhillyGayCalendar.com. Steve McCann, the site’s owner and chief architect, has done an exemplary job developing and promoting LGBT events throughout the region. On Sunday
night, PhillyGayCalendar presents 101 at One on Rittenhouse Square, 121 S. 19th St. A new weekly party, 101 brings together many of the city’s foremost personalities and organizations for something fabulously different every Sunday. PhillyGayCalendar is proud to host this week’s soiree, featuring openly gay musical act Oh My Josh. Visit PhillyGayCalendar.com for more information. In addition to this weekend’s festivities, don’t forget to mark your calendar for the following upcoming events: — Mr. Gay Philadelphia 2009 is right around the corner. In addition to the star-studded main event at PURE on April 18, many local bars are hosting preliminary competitions to pick their representatives for the contest. Bump, 1234 Locust St., will hold its prelim March 5, followed by Pure, 1221 St. James St., on March 14 and Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St., on March 15. Tavern on Camac will select its Mr. Gay representative on April 2 during happy hour. Check www.nightlifegay.com for details on any of the preliminaries and information about the April 18 main event. — The Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the city’s most outrageous and exciting events. This year’s parade will be held March 15 and will feature a new route down The Parkway. When you’re out for the parade, don’t forget to stop by Capriccio, 16th and The Parkway, for a special St. Patrick’s Day treat. It’s an amazing café and the ideal place to catch all the parade festivities. — The second installment of the PINK Pub Crawl will be held March 21. After a wildly successful event last fall, the PINK Pub Crawl will feature stops at Tavern on Camac; The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St.; Woody’s and Pure. More information is forthcoming from www.pinkpubcrawl.com. I hope these recommendations help everyone blow off some steam and enjoy a little debauchery in the coming weeks. ’Til next time, get offline and see what your community has to offer! ■ If you have comments or information on upcoming events, e-mail Bruce@nightlifegay.com, reference Offline.
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Q on the tube: Queer TV you can always see: All My Children Bianca and Reese are locked in a battle over the couple’s children. Bianca wants an annulment and has decided she is no longer in love with Reese because her wife kissed Zach before their wedding. The custody battle heats up with Kendall and Zach in the middle — and on opposing sides. Weekdays, 1 p.m. on ABC. As the World Turns Luke and Noah track Reg’s killer and Luke ends up on the wrong side of the law — and in danger. Weekdays, 2 p.m. on CBS. CRISIS SITUATION: A special two-hour “Brothers & Sisters” airing at 9 p.m. March 1 promises the thrill of a new life — and the terror of a life-threatening crisis for the Walker family — which hopefully won’t affect any of the gay characters on the show, such as Kevin Walker (played by Matthew Rhys), as their numbers seem to be shrinking on ABC as of late. Photo: ABC/Ron Tom
Ellen Weekdays, 3 p.m. on NBC. The Rachel Maddow Show Weekdays, 9 p.m. on MSNBC.
worth watching: FRIDAY Unconditional Love Grace (Kathy Bates), a middleaged Chicago housewife, flies to London to attend the funeral of her favorite pop star, Victor Fox (Jonathan Pryce). She meets his secret long-time lover, Dirk (Rupert Everett), who is bereaved over Victor’s death while engaging in a battle with the pop star’s family. 9 a.m. on Logo. Dollhouse Echo protects a pop star by becoming her back-up singer. 9 p.m. on FOX. SATURDAY America Rosie O’Donnell produced and stars in this film as the therapist of a 17-year-old teen in the foster-care system who helps him confront a troubling past. O’Donnell told Craig Ferguson last week that she discovered star and first-time actor Philip Johnston at a diner. 9 p.m. on Lifetime. SUNDAY Amazing Race Contestants include gay activist Dr. Mel White and his gay son, Mike. 8 p.m. on CBS.
The L Word In this next-to-final episode, Rose Troche directs, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s dance marathon is featured and gossip reigns supreme. Rumors fly about Tasha and Alice’s relationship troubles and someone is moving to the Big Apple. 9 p.m. on Showtime. The United States of Tara Oscar-winner Diablo Cody wrote this episode of the gender-bending drama. After getting her breasts done, Charmaine wakes up in the recovery room, where she is surprised to find “Buck” at her bedside. Meanwhile, Kate’s romantic advice to Marshall is for him to play hard-to-get with Jason. 10 p.m. on Showtime. MONDAY RuPaul’s Drag Race In “Drag School of Charm,” the contestants make over a group of female extreme fighters into their drag daughters. Xena herself, Lucy Lawless, makes a guest appearance to judge the girls’ combat prowess. 10 p.m. on Logo. TUESDAY American Idol 8 p.m. on FOX.
Nip/Tuck 10 p.m. on FX. WEDNESDAY American Idol Another three are chosen. 8 p.m. on FOX. America’s Next Top Model 8 p.m. on the CW. New Adventures of Old Christine Lesbian comedian Wanda Sykes. 8 p.m. on CBS. The Real World: Brooklyn Bisexual Sarah, transgender Katelynn and Mormon frat boy Chet. 10 p.m. on MTV. Sordid Lives: The Series 10:30 p.m. on Logo. THURSDAY Ugly Betty The Mode staff deals with the shocking aftermath of recent events. 8 p.m. on ABC. Hell’s Kitchen The lesbian chef, LA, is one of the most solid on the women’s team, as is Pennsylvania’s own Andrea. 9 p.m. on FOX. ■
A night at the Oscars By Victoria A. Brownworth PGN Contributor
Late-night talk-show host Craig Ferguson refers to the Academy Awards as the gay Super Bowl. Few would argue that Oscar night is not a favorite in the queer community. Oscar head writer and well-known queer activist Bruce Vilanch, celebrating his 20th year writing for the Academy Awards show, apparently agrees: The day before the ceremony, when asked if he still enjoyed doing the Oscars, Vilanch told The Associated Press: “It’s the greatest show on earth. It’s the biggest show in the world. Short of the Super Bowl, it’s the most gigantic thing. Everybody shows up. People who don’t go to the movies watch it. People who don’t watch television watch it. It’s kind of a cultural watershed, so it’s tremendous to be a part of it.” For queers, the 81st Academy Awards were more tremendous than usual. While queers are always legion behind the scenes at the Oscars — Vilanch among them — this year queers had a literal front-row seat with the nomination of “Milk” for Best Picture; Gus van Sant for Best Director; Sean Penn for Best Actor for his role as gay martyr Harvey Milk; Josh Brolin as Best Supporting Actor for his role as Milk’s murderer, Dan White; and Dustin Lance Black for Best Original Screenplay. One of the best Oscar ceremonies in recent memory was made all the more so by the poignant and fierce acceptance speeches by two “Milk” winners — Black and Penn. In Black’s speech, he spoke of growing up in a Mormon household in Texas until he and his mother moved to California. The 35-year-old Black thanked his mother for her life-long support. He then noted how iconic Harvey Milk had been for him: “I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life openly as who I am, and that one day I could even fall in love and get married.” Black, who has referred to Milk as his compass, told the Oscar audience that if Milk had not been murdered, “he would want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches or by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours.” There were cheers and tears when Black spoke, and those were repeated later in the evening when Penn won for Best Actor. While Mickey Rourke had been a sentimental favorite for the award, it was obvious from the audience response how much Penn’s performance — and the actor himself — was appreciated. The always-intense Penn began by saying, “You commie, homo-loving sons o’ guns” — bringing the house down. After giving his thanks, Penn, known for his left-wing politics and a contributor to the No on Prop. 8 campaign, declared: “For those who saw those signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.” The crowd cheered and applauded. Oscar night is all about fairy tales coming true — whether on the streets of the world’s most populous city or on the streets off Castro. It was a year of stellar work by a range of actors, writers and directors, making the wins for “Milk” all the more awesome. Between them, Black and Penn brought Harvey Milk back to life. And for queers all around the world watching the awards, seeing queers out in front — not behind the scenes doing hair and make-up or writing the jokes for others to deliver — was historic, poignant and affirming. Another Cinderella story for the ages. Black’s and Penn’s speeches are available on ABCnews.com, YouTube and Hulu. ■
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Ansill brings European style to Queen Village at Judy’s, working as a bartender in the 1970s. For many of us, Judy’s on Third Wanting and Bainbridge was the place to change where we tried out our little gay careers but wings. It was comfortable and not still stay in overtly gay. As a neighborhood the restaurant restaurant, if you ran into a business, school chum it didn’t mean that he enrolled you automatically outed yourself in The — unlike, say, if you were spotted Restaurant at Backstage on Fourth and South. School with If you were seen there, chances the help of were that you were family. You his father. could fly under the radar at Judy’s, He spent the and I’d go there to be around other next 14 years gay people as I took tentative steps working at out of the closet. (Though I never restaurants understood why we weren’t bright from Miami enough to figure out that if the back to school chum was in the same gay Philadelphia, establishment, there was a good including the chance he or she was family too.) Rittenhouse The place has changed Hotel, Café ownership but it still retains that Nola, Lucy’s welcoming, comfortable feel. Hat Shop, And the old gal looks a heck of a Continental lot better. The lovely eatery, still and back to at Third and Bainbridge, is now Judy’s. His Ansill Food + Wine, run by owner first restaurant was Pif, a BYOB in and executive chef David Ansill. South Philadelphia that won rave He opened the place in 2006 and reviews and a number of “Best of named it in honor of his father, Philly” awards. Leonard. He has since closed Pif to Ansill actually got his start concentrate on Ansill, and it seems to be paying off. Ansill is a tranquil spot with subdued lighting and a sleek but comfortable feel. I knew we were in for a good time when our server walked up to my dining companion and said, “Nice ANSILL’S STEAK TARTARE kicks!” I
Sunday Vegan Brunch
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ANSILL Photos, this page: Suzi Nash hadn’t even noticed his size 8-1/2 feet covered in shiny red patent leather. Score one for the server. As we pondered our choices, we were treated to an eclectic mixture of tunes ranging from African jazz beats to Johnny Cash. Ansill serves up European-style small plates, “snacks and a wine bar for food-conscious adults.” The menu features a wide variety of European dishes and encourages sampling and sharing. We started out with the marinated beets topped with pistachio-encrusted goat cheese ($8). I got a sense of déjà-vu as our order was brought out, not from any sense of nostalgia, but because this same dining companion had previously told me he didn’t like beets, only to consume half of them. Again, he proceeded to tell me he didn’t like beets, but as our server brought forth the plate of red and yellow beets brushed with olive oil and ringed with balsamic See ANSILL, Page 36
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ANSILL From Page 35 vinaigrette, I saw his eyes glaze over as he lifted his fork in the air. Gentlewoman that I am, I shared without harassing him too much. They indeed were lovely to look at and wonderfully flavorful, so I could understand why he would have a change of heart and become a dedicated beet man. Next we had the house antipasti ($18), a nice sampling of meats, fish, vegetables and cheese. The plate included a number of cured meats, such as pork tenderloin and chorizo; a variety of marinated olives, pickled vegetables, a hard-cooked egg, marinated tuna topped with bocarones (small white anchovies) and a small sandwich. Most of the antipasti was good, but the grilled mozzarella panino was fantastic. The mozzarella was marinated in olive oil with the bread dressed in a basil puree. Our last small plate was the steak tartare ($12). I must admit, I am middle-of-the-road when it comes to adventurous eating. I’ll try a
number of things even if I don’t know what it really is. I’m game for a good steak tartare (raw steak, for anyone who’s unfamiliar), but when this dish came out I had misgivings. It was a large mound of raw steak topped with half of an uncooked quail egg. But being ever faithful to you dear readers, I dove in and, oh, what a treat. The sumptuous delicacy was made with cognac and purple mustard. There was another secret ingredient that Ansill revealed to me, but my lips are sealed on that one. You’ll have to go and ask him yourself. For our first large plate, I went with the pasta du jour ($12). That night’s offering was braised pork shanks with diced smoked ham on a bed of spaetzle twists, an interesting and delicious combination of flavors and textures. It was a hearty platter, the sort of comfort food I needed after my earlier ice-skating accident. My dining companion had the New York strip ($16). The steak came out a little pink for his liking — odd, after eating steak tartare — but our server cheerfully took and
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711 Locust St. Philadelphia, Pa 19106 (215) 928-0556 Free parking after 5 pm daily.
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
If you go Ansill Food + Wine 627 S. Third St. www.ansillfoodandwine.com (215) 627-2485 Open for dinner nightly brought it back in a timely fashion cooked to the desired intensity. The steak was served with delicious butter-braised leeks and came with bone marrow, which was light and puffy. Ansill’s wife, Catherine, makes the desserts. My companion had the poached pear ($7), made with spiced red wine and served with vanilla ice cream. He described it as light and delectable and I would have to concur. I had the financier ($7), a sweet almond-butter cake, which was fabulous. Egg whites and sugar baked into it made a sweet, crunchy topping while the inside remained smooth and silky. The sweetness of the almonds played nicely against the accompanying tart cranberry compote. As I sipped a glass of garnacha ($8), a soft Spanish red wine, I listened to a Bridget Bardot song playing in the background. With the sage walls and candlelit tables, one could almost imagine being wined and dined along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, forgetting about the loud South Street crowds a mere block away. I spotted Ansill as he walked through the restaurant talking to patrons, and asked him who designed the new interior. “My only requisite when designing the place was lots of wood and lots of glass bottles,” he said. “The rest was worked out by my wife and the architect. I’m a food guy: The menu is all mine. I love to travel and I’ve used influences from all over the world in the menu. I try to get the best fresh foods in here that I can: If the product is good, the rest is simple. I like using a lot of raw foods and taking things that might not usually be accessible to people and bringing them into a neighborhood restaurant. Most neighborhood restaurants don’t serve bone marrow with parsley salad, but it’s
CHEF/OWNER DAVID ANSILL one of our most popular dishes.” Ansill also shared a little about his childhood and how he became interested in cooking. “I was a nice Jewish boy from Elkins Park,” he said. “My younger brother and sister were both nuts and I was the good kid. I was a bit of a jock growing up and if we won the game, I’d want to celebrate with good food, and if we lost, I’d want to console myself with good food! Food was always a center point of my existence. When I was in culinary school, I shared a barber with the chef who was here at the time it was Judy’s. He got me a job here as a prep guy and expediter. It was a great, great, fun place to work. It was a neighborhood institution. I remember when we were underage, we would come here and get served. It was much different back then and not such a big deal. So I have fond memories and hope that people will build new memories here now. I want the place to have that same welcoming feel for people from all backgrounds. I think the
gay community is just starting to rediscover us, which is nice. We’re still a casual, comfortable place, just tweaked a little for the new millennium.” As for upcoming events and specials, on Tuesdays, Ansill does not charge a corkage fee for patrons who bring their own wine. Monday through Friday from 6-8 p.m., Ansill hosts Happy Hour with $1 oysters, $5 Finlandia martinis, $5 Prosecco sparkling wine and $3 Yards Philadelphia draft beer. And on March 4 and 5, Ansill will bring back its popular European-style barbecue: $35 gets you a heaping plate of roasted pig, assorted grilled meats, marinated vegetables and a selection of sauces. As for Ansill’s personal mark on the place, if you look closely, you’ll notice a squirrel or two (fake, of course!) peaking around various spots at the bar. These are a reference to the chef’s nickname, given to him by his best friend in grade school: Squirrelly. The name has stuck ever since. ■
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FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 37
When stewing for health, pick meat carefully By Jim Romanoff The Associated Press Meaty stews can be rich comfort foods ... that often come at a nutritional price. But giving a bit of thought to your choice and quantity of meat can lower the cost of comfort. When making beef stew, chuck is the best choice. Bottom round, which is leaner but still has enough fat to keep it moist and flavorful, also works well, especially if you cook it low and slow — that is, for a long time at low heat. Pork butt and shoulder definitely make for flavorful results, but are high in fat. Lower-fat pork sirloin and tenderloin can make a sumptuous and tender stew. But they must be cooked for less time, usually under an hour, so they don’t
end up tough and dry. For lamb stew, leg meat is considerably lower in fat than other cuts and offers great flavor. The leg meat contains enough connective tissue so that it becomes relatively tender when cooked at a low temperature for a long time. To keep things significantly healthier, always be sure to trim all meats of any visible fat before you cook them. Another strategy for making a stew lean is to load it with vegetables. They add essential flavor and are filling, but low in fat and calories. Mushrooms in particular add a deep, satisfying flavor to stew, plus they have a chewy, almost meaty texture. This Irish lamb stew has all the flavors you’ll want for a St. Patrick’s Day meal. And the prep couldn’t
be simpler: Combine everything in a slow cooker set on low. Enjoy it eight hours later. The stew is made with lean, boneless leg of lamb plus plenty of potatoes, leeks, carrots and celery. Chopped fresh thyme and parsley add an aromatic layer, plus a welcome touch of bright green. IRISH LAMB STEW Start to finish: 8 hours (15 minutes active) Servings: 8
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4-cup packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped In a 6-quart slow cooker, combine the lamb, potatoes, leeks,
carrots, celery, broth, thyme, salt and pepper. Stir well. Cover the slow cooker, then cook on low until the lamb is fork-tender, about 7 to 8 hours. Stir in the parsley just before serving. Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 266 calories; 7 g fat (2 g saturated); 65 mg cholesterol; 27 g carbohydrate; 23 g protein; 4 g fiber; 427 mg sodium. ■
2 pounds boneless leg of lamb, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 1-3/4 pounds white potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 3 large leeks, whites only, halved, washed and thinly sliced
IRISH LAMB STEW AP Photo: Larry Crowe
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
Diversions
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
Your guide to arts and entertainment
Theater
College of Music and Dance presents a performance from the acclaimed group at 7:30 p.m. March 2 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum The New Candlelight Theatre presents the musical featuring the witty lyrics and toe-tapping tunes of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, through March 14, 2208 Millers Road, Ardentown, Del.; (302) 4752313.
Hilary Hahn The Kimmel Center presents the violin virtuoso at 8 p.m. March 4 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Jurowski Conducts Mahler The Philadelphia Orchestra presents a unique program of early orchestral works by two composers who reshaped 20th-century music, at 8 p.m. March 5, 7 and 10 and 2 p.m. March 6 and 8 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Honor and the River The Walnut Street Theatre’s Independence Studio on 3 presents Anton Dudley’s powerful coming-of-age story about deep rivers and deeper emotions, through March 15, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. Hugging the Shoulder The Walnut Street Theatre presents the story of a young man who kidnaps his older brother and takes him on a grueling road trip to conquer his heroin addiction, through March 8 at Studio 5, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. The Irish and How They Got That Way The Kimmel Center presents an irreverent but affectionate history of the Irish in America that mingles laughter and sentiment in a tapestry of classical songs and stories, as told by Pulitzer-winning author Frank McCourt, from March 5-29 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Jump/Cut Flashpoint Theatre Company presents the Philadelphia premiere of Neena Beber’s play about a writer/filmmaker couple who document their friend’s mental decline and the unraveling of both, through Feb. 28 at Second Stage at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 665-9720. The Karma Cookie 1812 Productions presents a comedy following two
HERE AND MEOW: If anthropologists ever get around to studying where and when the “furries” fetish became a phenomenon, chances are they will find out there was a production of “Cats” nearby. They’re billing this as a family musical but, if you take your kids to see this, they’ll probably at some point in their adult life end up in a zebra costume dry humping a similarly costumed menagerie of strangers in a dark room. Not that there is anything wrong with that; just don’t be shocked when it happens. The longest touring musical in Broadway history scratches up all the furniture in Philly from March 3-8 at the Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St. For more information, call (215) 336-1234. British brothers around the globe on their quest for enlightenment ... sort of, from March 5-29 at The Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 592-9560. My Name is Asher Lev Arden Theatre Company presents the world premiere of the story of a young Hassidic artist torn between his observant Jewish community and his need to create, through March 17 at Arden’s Arcadia Stage, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122. Oh, the Humanities! There’s Something about Mona The Mask and Wig Club of the University of Pennsylvania presents a comedy set in Florence, Italy, during the Renaissance, through Feb. 28 at Prince Music Theatre, 1412
Chestnut St.; (215) 569-9700. The Philly Fan Act II Playhouse presents the popular one-man show starring Tom McCarthy, through March 1, 56 E. Butler Ave.; (215) 654-0200. Scorched The Wilma Theater presents the East Coast premiere of the epic drama/mystery written by acclaimed Lebanese-Canadian playwright Wajdi Mouawad, through March 29, 265 S. Broad St.; (215) 546-7824. Six Degrees of Separation The dark and witty play explores themes of the New York elite, racial tensions, homophobia, homelessness, obsession with status and relationships between parents and children, March 5-22
at Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High St., Pottstown; (610) 970-1199. A Streetcar Named Desire Walnut Street Theatre presents the Tennessee Williams classic as part of its landmark 200th-anniversary season, through March 1, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. What You Will Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the world premiere of the urban interpretation of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” directed by Keith Baker and Broadway choreographer Donald Byrd, through March 1, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol; (215) 785-0100. A Year with Frog and Toad Arden Theatre Company
presents the revival of the smash-hit musical based on the Newbery and Caldecotthonored children’s books by Arnold Lobel, March 4-April 19 at 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.
Music classical
Chamber Concert The Philadelphia Orchestra presents a wide range of ensembles and musical styles at 3 p.m. March 1 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 7905847. Mariza The Portuguese recording star performs at 7:30 p.m. March 1 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. iPalpiti Orchestra Temple University’s Boyer
Music other
Mudvayne, In This Moment and Nonpoint The metal bands team up to perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 27 at the House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; (609) 236-2583. 3 Doors Down The rock band performs at 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at the House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; (609) 236-2583. Bruce in the USA The Bruce Springsteen tribute band performs at 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 5727650. Stebmo The Philadelphia Art Alliance and Ars Nova Workshop present the East-West Coast jazz collaboration featuring Steve Moore on piano and keyboard, Todd Sickafoose on bass and Kenny Wollesen on drums, 8 p.m. March 2, 251 S. 18th St.; (215) 5454302.
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Diversions, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147; fax them to (215) 9256437; or e-mail them to diversions@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
Exhibits
a/chroma/scape/s AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of original paintings by Greg Minah and John Cartwright, through Feb. 28, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250. Black Hands, Blue Seas — The Untold Maritime Stories of African Americans Independence Seaport Museum presents an exhibition that explores the African-American maritime experience, through March 22, Penn’s Landing on the Delaware River, 211 S. Columbus Blvd.; (215) 4138631. Chelsea Hotel: An Artist’s Memoir The Sol Mednick Gallery presents a photographic exhibition by Linda Troeller, through March 6 at The University of the Arts Terra Hall, 211 S. Broad St.; (215) 717-6300.
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS an exhibition of woodblock print (ukiyo-e) art made popular during Japan’s Edo Period, through April 17, 601 E. Main St., Collegeville; (610) 409-3500.
PGN
PAGE 39
Pick
InSights: Devon Dikeou — Marilyn Monroe Wanted to be Buried in Pucci The Galleries at Moore presents a mixed-media installation by New Yorkbased artist Devon Dikeou through March 14, 20th Street and The Parkway; (215) 965-4027.
A Slice O’ Minnelli Rick Skye performs as Liza at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Harlans Cabaret, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.
Etc.
Eddie Griffin The comedian performs at 8 p.m. Feb. 27 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 5727650.
L’arte d’alluminar Haverford College Library Special Collections presents an exhibition of illustrations of Dante’s Divine Comedy, through April 22, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford; (610) 896-1161.
Saving Face: Portraits from the Collection of Robert Infarinato James A. Michener Art Museum presents an Circling Cartography Proximity Gallery presents a exhibition of iconic portraits new series of works by Marie of artists and celebrities DesMarais, through Feb. 28, from the collection of Bucks County resident Robert M. 2434 E. Dauphin St.; (267) Infarinato, through March 15, 825-2949. 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; (215) 340-9800. Eli VandenBerg The out artist exhibits Sendak on Sendak drawings from two series: The Rosenbach Museum and “Passing,” which explores Library hosts an exhibition gender transition; and exploring the work of gay “Place and Home,” which artist/author Maurice Sendak, focuses on discovering through May 3 at 2008-10 and rediscovering origins, through today at the William Delancey Place; (215) 7321600. Way LGBT Community Center’s Art Gallery, 1315 Shift: Investigations in Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220. Contemporary Art The James A. Michener Impressions of an Age: Art Museum presents Ukiyo-e Prints from the an exhibition featuring Berman Collection paintings, photographs, The Philip and Muriel film and sculpture with Berman Museum of Art at recurring elements, unusual Ursinus College presents
Charles Duelfer The author of “Hide and Seek: The Search for Truth in Iraq” hosts a book event at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.
Cabaret
Landscape: Terrestrial and Extra-Terrestrial Twenty-Two Gallery presents an exhibition of “spacescape” paintings by Jerome Schwartz, through March 8, 236 S. 22nd St.; (215) 7721911.
New Works: Vivian Beer and Marilyn Kirsch Wexler Gallery presents an exhibition featuring new works from furniture artist Beer and New York-based painter Kirsch, through Feb. 28, 201 N. Third St.; (215) 923-7030.
15 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.
Jesus, The Bible, Homosexuality and the Church Collingswood Presbyterian Church hosts author the Rev. Jack Rogers for a seminar for equal rights both in the church and in society for LGBT people, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the church, 30 Fern Ave., Collingswood, N.J.; (856) 854-4523. Neil Simon pretty much perfected the mismatched buddy comedy with “The Odd Couple,” the Broadway play that spawned a big-screen adaptation and a hit TV show, not to mention probably being a bit responsible for Bert and Ernie, “Will & Grace,” “Two and a Half Men” and countless other dysfunctional TV and movie friendships. Catch Peter Pryor as Oscar (left) and Tony Braithwaite as Felix as the stage classic runs through March 1 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 260 S. Broad St. For more information, visit www.kimmelcenter.org or call (215) 790-5847. Photo: Ivan Ruzics
juxtapositions and narratives that skew both time and space, through April 12, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; (215) 340-9800. Women through the Lens of Time The Galleries at Moore presents a photojournalism exhibition featuring people, subjects, issues and events that student curators feel have reflected or shaped women’s lives, drawn from the archives of The Inquirer, which span 180 years, through March 14, 20th Street and The Parkway; (215) 965-4027. Yumi Kori: Utatane The Japan-based architect
transforms the Goldie Paley Gallery at Moore College of Art using video and sound to create a multi-sensory, interactive environment, through March 14, 20th Street and The Parkway; (215) 9654027.
Opera
Turandot The Opera Company of Philadelphia presents Puccini’s opera sung in Italian with English translations, at 2:30 p.m. March 1 and 8 p.m. March 6 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Film
Susperia The 1977 Italian horror film is screened at 9:45 p.m. Feb. 27 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223. To Catch a Thief The 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film is screened at 2 p.m. March 1 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 9170223.
Books
Susan Stryker The activist and author of “Transgender History” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. Feb.
The Scene TLBTB Productions’ newest LGBTQ party in Philly is held from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Feb. 28 at Vesuvio, 736 S. Eighth St.; (215) 922-8380. The Peking Acrobats The troupe of 20 acrobats, jugglers, contortionists, magicians and more performs March 1-4 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650. Gender and Race in the Post-Election Era: A Media Perspective The League of Women Voters of Philadelphia and the Center for Law and Society at Community College present a panel discussion about the future of gender and race issues in the country, from 6-8 p.m. March 3 at Community College of Philadelphia’s Winnet Student Life Building, 1700 Spring Garden St.; (215) 435-8914. ■
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 40
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FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
PAGE 41
Hot Spots NIGHTLIFE 12th Air Command 254 S. 12th St. 215.545.8088 12thair.com Multi-level bar, dancing, deck Albert’s 2nd Story 3180 Grant Ave. (at Academy Road) 267.339.1579
Bar/lounge near Ritt. Sq. Tavern on Camac 243 S. Camac St. 215.545.0900 tavernoncamac.com Restaurant, piano bar w/Fri. and Sat. dance nights Uncles Bar 1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660 Small, friendly corner bar
www.chartreuseflorist.com Flowers, plants Club Body Center 1220 Chancellor St. 215.735.7671 Bathhouse near bars, 24 hrs. Cut 204 S. 13th St. 215.687.4929 Hair and skin studio Danny’s Adam and Eve 133 S. 13th St. 215.925.5041 Gay-owned adult bookstore. Video booths. 24 hours
Alfa 1709 Walnut Ss. 215.751.0201 Bar, dining and w/end brunches
Valanni 1229 Spruce St. 215.790.9494 valanni.com Dinner & w/e brunch
The Bike Stop 206 S. Quince St. 215.627.1662 thebikestop.com The city’s only leather bar
Venture Inn 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Bar/restaurant
Gables Bed & Breakfast 4520 Chester Ave. 215.662.1918 Quaint, gay-owned B&B in University City
Bob & Barbara’s 1509 South St. 215.545.4511 Drag night, Thurs. 10 p.m.
Westbury 261 S. 13th St. 215.546.5170 thewestburybar.net Bar/restaurant
Giovanni’s Room 1145 Pine St. 215.923.2960 One of the oldest gay bookstores in the country
Woody’s 202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com Multi-level bar, dancing
Joe Coffee Bar 1100 Walnut St. 215.562.7384 Gay-owned. Food. Outdoor seating when warm
BUSINESSES
Matthew Izzo 151 N. 3rd St. 215.829.0606 Fashion, furnishings
Bump 1234 Locust St. 215.732.1800 Trendy bar and eatery Fluid 613 S. 4th St. 215.629.3686 Trendy dance club off South St. Knock 225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 info@knockphilly.com More Than Just Ice Cream 1119 Locust St. 215.574.0586 Lunch, dinner and dessert Pure 1221 St. James St. 215.735.5772 purephilly.com Late-night club experience
12th St. Gym 204 S. 12th St. 215.985.4092 Adonis Cinema 2026 Sansom St. 215.557.9319 Multi-level adult theater AIDS Thrift Store 514 Bainbridge St. 215.922.3186 Clothes, housewares, books, collectibles, etc.
Shampoo 417 N. Eighth St. 215.922.7500 shampooonline.com Gay dance club on Friday
Alexander Inn 301 S. 12th St. 215.923.3535 www.alexanderinn.com Luxury rooms, Internet, fitness center
Sisters 1320 Chancellor St. 215.735.0735 sistersnightclub.com Women’s bar, restaurant, dance floor, karaoke
Brew Ha! Ha! 214 S. 12th St. 215.893.5680 brewhaha.com Coffee, tea and seating with a great view of the ’hood
Stir Lounge 1705 Chancellor St. 215.732.2700
Chartreuse 1200 Spruce St. 215.545.7711
PHAG 1225 Walnut St. 215.627.0461 Furnishings, art, unique gifts Philadelphia Java Company 518 S. 4th St. 215.928.1811 Food, outdoor seating The Pleasure Chest 2039 Walnut St. 215.561.7480 Sansom Street Cinema 120 S. 13th St. 215.545.9254 Adult theater near bars, 24 hrs. Sansom Street Gym 2020 Sansom St. 267.330.0151 sansomstreetgym.com Philly’s newest bathhouse Soleil 202 S. 12th St. 215.735.8786 Tanning booths and beds
Spruce St. Video 252 S. 12th St. 215.546.6843 Gay and Hollywood film rentals and sales Supreme Bean Café 615 South St. 215.629.2250 Hipster/hippie shop on South Street Three Trees Custom Framing 722 S. 4th St. 215.922.4533 TLA Video 1520 Locust St. 215.735.7887 tlavideo.com Gay and Hollywood film rentals and sales.
ELSEWHERE 704 Strawberry Café 704 N. 3rd St. Harrisburg 717.234.4228 Atland’s Ranch Nightclub 8505 Orchard Road Spring Grove 717.225.4479 altlandsranch.com Brownstone Lounge 412 Forster St. Harrisburg 717.234.7009 Club XS 36 W. 11th St., York 717.812.1474 Diamonz 1913 W. Broad St. Bethlehem 610.865.1028 diamonz.net Frank Jeffrey’s Hotel Washington 231-233 Bridge St. Phoenixville 610.935.8000 Hillside Campgrounds Creek Road, Gibson 570.756.2007 Liquid 891 891 Eisenhower Blvd. Harrisburg 717.939.1123 Neptune Lounge 268 North St., Harrisburg 717.233.0581
Nostalgia 1101 N. 9th St., Reading 610.372.5557 Rainbow Inn at Sunbury Rt. 61 South, Sunbury 717.988.4688 Rainbow Mtn. Resort Mt. Nebo Road East Stroudsburg 570-223-8484 Scarab 724 Franklin St., Reading 610.375.7878 Secrets Business Rt. 209 East Stroudsburg 570.420.8716 Silhouette Lounge 523 Linden St., Scranton 570.344.4259 silhouettelounge.com Stallions Night Club 706 N. Third St., Harrisburg 717.232.3060 Stonewall/Moose Lounge 28 N. 10th St., Allentown 610.432.0706 stonewall-mooselounge.com Sundown Lounge 429 N. Mulberry St. Lancaster 717.392.2737 The Tally Ho 201 W. Orange St. Lancaster 717.299.0661 Twist Fox Ridge Plaza Wilkes-Barre 570.825.7300 twistbarpa.com The Woods Campground 845 Vaugh Acres Lane Leighton 610.377.9577 thewoodscampground.com
DELAWARE Blue Moon Restaurant 35 Baltimore Ave. Rehoboth Beach 302.227.6515 Crimson Moon/Club ImPulse 1909 W. 6th St. Wilmington 302.654.9099 crimsonmoonde.com
Cafe Zeus 37 Wilmington Ave. Rehoboth Beach 302.226.0400 Cloud Nine 234 Rehoboth Ave. Rehoboth Beach 302.226.1999 Restaurant, bar, dance club Frogg Pond 3 S. 1st St. Rehoboth Beach 302.227.2234 Lambda Rising Bookstore 39 Baltimore Ave. Rehoboth Beach 302.227.6969 Serenity by the Sea Books and Gifts 405 Rehoboth Ave. Rehoboth Beach 302.227.6818
NEW JERSEY Cruisin’/The Circuit 911 Kingsley St. Asbury Park 732.776.7661 Club Atlantis 1213 Ocean Ave. Asbury Park 732.869.9700 Club Tru 9 S. MLK Blvd. Atlantic City 609.344.2222 The Colosseum 7090 Highway 35 South Sayerville 732.316.0670 colosseumnj.com David’s Dusk Til Dawn Café 10 S. Mt. Vernon Ave. Atlantic City 609.347.0808 ext. 713 Marquis de Lafayette 501 Beach Ave. Cape May 800.257.0432 Charming old hotel across from the beach Paradise 101 Asbury Ave. Asbury Park 732.988.6663
PGN
PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
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Meeting Place A community bulletin board of activities, facilities and organizations
Community centers ■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday through Friday. See the Youth section for more events. 255 S. 16th St.; (215) 545-4331 ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania: 3907 Spruce St.; (215) 898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Activism/Politics
ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) Meets at 6 p.m. every Monday at St. Luke and the Epiphany Church, 330 S. 13th St.; (215) 3861981; www.critpath.org/actup. Delaware Valley Chapter, Americans United for Separation of Church and State Seeks activists and supporters of church-state separation. Holds monthly meetings and events; (856) 863-3061; www.dvau.org. Equality Advocates Philadelphia Holds a volunteer night second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m., 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 605; (215) 731-1447; www.equalitypa.org. Green Party of Philadelphia Holds general meetings fourth Tuesday of each month (except April) at 6:30 p.m., 4134 Lancaster Ave.; (215) 243-7103; www.gpop.org. Log Cabin Republican Club of Philadelphia Meets at 7 p.m. third Wednesday of the month at the William Way Community Center; (215) 4655677; www.phillylogcabin.org. Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club Meets seasonally; (215) 760-7184; www. libertycity.org.
■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 348-0558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.
OutFront! Board of directors meets third Monday of the month; (215) 842-0343.
■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220; www.waygay.org. Peer counseling: Monday through Friday, 6-9 p.m. Library hours: Mondays 3-6 p.m., Tuesdays 3-6 p.m., Wednesdays 3-9 p.m., Thursdays 3-9 p.m., Fridays 3-6 p.m., Saturdays noon-6 p.m. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.; Volunteer Velada, third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
Gay Men’s Book Discussion Group Meets at 6:30 p.m. first Wednesday of the month at the Independence Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 18 S. Seventh St.; (215) 685-1633.
Health Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; (215) 763-8870 ext. 6000. AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., suite 205; (2215) 536-2424. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; (215) 851-1822 or (866) 2223871. Spanish/English. HIV testing Free, anonymous testing and counseling is offered from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment at AIDS Resource, 520 W. Fourth St., suite 2A, Williamsport;
Key numbers ■ 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: (215) 5921513
(570) 322-8448. HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; (215) 685-1803. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications, confidential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Office Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; (610) 586-9077. Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0652. www.mazzonicenter.org. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; (215) 985-9206. Gloria Casarez, (215) 686-2194; Gloria. Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: (215) 686-2555 ■ Mazzoni Center: (215) 563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org ■ Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine: (215) 563-0658 ■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): (215) 572-1833
■ AIDS Treatment hot line: (215) 5452212
■ Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: (215) 686-4670
■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: (215) 685-1633
■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: (215) 772-2000
■ The COLOURS Organization Inc. 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 4960330. ■ Equality Advocates Pennsylvania: (215) 731-1447; (866) LGBTLAW ■ Equality Forum: (215) 732-3378 ■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: (215) 732-TALK ■ Mayor’s liaison to LGBT communities:
■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Chief Inspector James Tiano: (215) 685-3655 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: (215) 494-LGBT; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: (215) 875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: (717) 920-9537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: (215) 732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
Arts
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009 Male Oenophile Group Male group forming to discuss, appreciate and taste various wines. Will meet once a month to investigate the nuances and glories of the fermented grape. Call (267) 230-6750 for more information.
the Pride Center of New Jersey; (908) 234-1481.
Men’s Knitting Circle Social and knitting group meets from 6-8 p.m. last Tuesday of the month at Joe Coffee Bar, 1100 Walnut St.; (215) 592-7384.
Women’s Table Tennis New group forming. Interested women are encouraged to e-mail michelesimone19144@yahoo. com.
Mornings OUT LGBT Senior Social Activities for sexual-minority seniors are held every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the William Way Center. PhilaVentures Philadelphia’s GLBT outdoor group meets for a hike in Wissahickon Valley Park on Sundays at 2 p.m. at Borders Books, Music and Café, 8701 Germantown Ave.; (215) 271-8822. Rainbow Room A meeting/activity night held for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth and their friends Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Rainbow Room of Planned Parenthood in Doylestown; (215) 348-0558. Social XChange A social group for sexual minorities ages 1323 meets every Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at 1201 Chestnut St., 15th floor; (215) 496-0330
Sports
Brandywine Women’s Rugby Club Meets for Tuesday and Thursday practice at Greene Field, Howell Street and Moore Road, West Chester; www.brandywinerugby.org.
Library Book Club Meets to discuss a new book at 7 p.m. on third Wednesday of the month at the William Way Center.
City of Brotherly Love Softball League GLBT softball league serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Games are played Sundays, beginning in April, in Fairmount Park; (215) 4622575; www.cblsl.org.
New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus Chorus rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Mondays in Princeton, N.J.; (609) 675-1998.
Delaware Griffins Women’s football team seeks players; (302) 6339054; www.delawaregriffins.com.
Open-mic night An amateur poetry, music and storytelling event sponsored by The Pride Center of New Jersey, meets at 8 p.m. every third Friday at the George Street Playhouse, 1470 Jersey Ave., North Brunswick, N.J.; (732) 846-0715.
Frontrunners Running club meets Saturday mornings at 9:30 for a run and brunch. Lloyd Hall, No. 1 Boathouse Row; www.frontrunnersphila.org.
Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Chorus rehearses from 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays; (215) 731-9230; auditions@pgmc.org. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Opera Club Meets to share and listen to recordings at 6:30 p.m. on last Saturday of the month; (215) 224-6995. Philadelphia Voices of Pride Philadelphia’s first mixed GLBT chorus rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the William Way Center; (888) 505-7464; www.pvop.org. Queer Writer’s Collective Workshop and discussion group meets 4-6 p.m. on fourth Saturday of the month at the William Way Center. Women’s Book Group Meets first Thursday of the month at 6:45 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; brassygrrl@hotmail.com.
Recreation
Diversity Dancers Ballroom dancers meet the first Sunday of the month for tea dance and lessons. Other events scheduled throughout the year; (215) 922-2129; DiversityDancers@aol.com. Gay Bridge Club Non-beginners group meets Monday afternoons at the William Way Center; (215) 985-4835. Gay-friendly Scrabble Club Meets from 6-11 p.m. in the P.I.C. Building, 42nd and Locust streets; (215) 382-0789. Gay and Lesbian Scrabble Players in the tri-state area gather for socializing and friendly/competitive games; ScrabbleGroup@excite.com. Gay Opera Guys of Philly New group for opera appreciation meets last Sunday of the month at 2:30 p.m. in Roxborough/ Andorra area; (215) 483-1032. Humboldt Society: Lesbian and Gay Naturalists Meets second Thursday of the month at the William Way Center; (215) 985-1456; www. humboldtsociety.org. Indepedence Squares GLBT square dance club, modern Western square dancing. Monthly open house. Tuesday classes in the fall; Lutheran Church, 2111 Sansom St.; (215) 735-5812; www.independencesquares.org.
Team Philadelphia Meets at 8 p.m. second Wednesday of the month at the William Way Center; www.teamphiladelphia. org.
Etc.
AIDS Law Project Provides free legal assistance to people with HIV/AIDS and sponsors free monthly seminars on work and housing; 1211 Chestnut St., suite 600; (215) 587-9377; www.aidslawpa.org. BiUnity Philadelphia area social and support network for bisexuals, their family members and friends meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the William Way Center; www. biunity.org. BiZone A group open to all bisexual, bi-curious and bifriendly people and their partners has meetings at 7:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey. Boomers and Beyond A support and event programming group for sexual-minority seniors meets at 7:30 p.m. every first and third Monday at The Pride Center of New Jersey. Bordentown, N.J. Friends, Lesbians and Gays A political, community and social group that also works to promote Bordentown as a gayfriendly community meets at 6 p.m. on second Sunday of the month at Firehouse Gallery, 8 Walnut St., Bordentown, N.J.; (609) 298-3742. Delaware Pride Meets at 7 p.m. on first Thursday of the month at the United Church of Christ, 300 E. Main St., Newark, Del.; (800) 292-0429.
Gay and Lesbian Bowling League Bowls at 8 p.m. Thursdays in the Norristown area; call Doug Schneidig; (716) 864-4393.
Delaware Valley Pink Pistols For LGBT people dedicated to legal, safe and responsible use of firearms for self-defense; meets at 2 p.m. on third Saturday of the month at Classic Indoor Range, 1310 Industrial Blvd., Southhampton; (267) 386-8907; www. pinkpistols.org.
Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club GLBT and allied soccer club; practices Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon and Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. at Edgeley Fields in Fairmount Park;www.falcons-soccer.org.
Friday Feast and Fun Dinner hosted by St. John’s Lutheran Church at 6:30 p.m. second Friday of the month, 24 N. Ridge Ave., Ambler; (215) 576-8008.
Philadelphia Fins Swim Team Male and female swimmers meet at 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays in Center City; (610) 564-6661; www. philadelphia-fins.org.
Gay Coffee Hours Meets from 6-9 p.m. on second Thursday of the month at Joe Coffee, 1100 Walnut St.; (215) 592-7384.
Philadelphia Gay Bowling League Meets 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays September through April at Brunswick Zone, 1328 Delsea Drive, Deptford, N.J.; (856) 889-1434; www. philagaybowling.com. Philadelphia Gay Flag Football New group forming. Contact Jered at gayflagfootball@gmail.com or (214) 770-5373. Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club Team seeks players; all skill levels welcome; (215) 913-7531; info@phillygryphons.org. Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association Meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday at William Way Center; (215) 755-2641; into@plta.us. Philadelphia Phoenix Women’s football team seeks players; (267) 6799535; www.philadelphiaphoenix.org.
Haverford College’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance Open meetings 10-11 p.m. Mondays in the lounge in Jones Basement at Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave.; (610) 896-4938. Latina/o Virtual Community Local listserv offers various information and resources; (215) 808-2493; Zorros_mail@yahoo. com; LatinPhillyLGBT@yahoogroups.com. Lesbians and Gay Men of New Brunswick A social, educational and potluck group meets at 8 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at The Pride Center of New Jersey. LGBTQ and Friends Activity Group Meets at 7 p.m. on third Friday of the month to plan outings and potlucks at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County.
Philly Gay Hockey Association Philadelphia Phury seeks players; (917) 656-1936; phury@gayhockey.org.
Long Yang Club Philadelphia Social organization for gay Asians and their friends holds monthly socials; P.O. Box 401, Philadelphia, Pa. 19105; www.longyangclub. org/philadelphia.
Rainbow Riders of the Delaware Valley Motorcycle club meets regularly; (215) 836-0440; www.groups.yahoo.com/group/rainbowridersdv/.
Metropolitan Community Church Christian education program is held Wednesdays from 6-10 p.m. at the William Way Center.
Rainbow Rollers Gay and lesbian bowling league meets 9 p.m. on Tuesdays September-April at Laurel Lanes, 2825 Rte. 73 South, Maple Shade, N.J.; (856) 778-7467.
Our Night Out A casual social networking party of LGBT professionals, allied communities, friends and colleagues meets in a different Philadelphia hot spot each month. To receive monthly event invitations, send email to OurNightOutPhilly@gmail.com; PhillyGayCalendar.com/org/OurNightOut.
South Jersey Gay Bowling League Gay and lesbian bowling league meets 7 p.m. on Fridays September-April at Laurel Lanes, 2825 Rte. 73 South, Maple Shade, N.J.; (856) 778-7467. Spartan Wrestling Club The gay wresting team meets from 7-9 p.m. Mondays at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; (215) 732-4545; www.phillyspartans. com. Team NJ Meets at 7:30 p.m. third Thursday of the month at
Philadelphia Bar Association Legal Advice Offered from 5-8 p.m. on third Wednesday of the month; (215) 238-6333. Philadelphia Prime Timers Club for mature gay and bisexual men and their admirers meets regularly; (610) 344-0853; www. primetimersphiladelphia.org.
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
PAGE 43
Classifieds
With Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services and Personals
Bailout for homeowners stirs up strong feelings By Stevenson Jacobs and Alan Zibel The Associated Press Banks got bailed out. So did automakers. So why not struggling homeowners? The question has struck a raw nerve across the country, with critics saying the Obama administration’s latest housing rescue rewards people who bought homes they couldn’t afford. Others counter that the taxpayerfinanced plan will slow spiraling home prices and avert a deeper economic disaster. The debate captures the strong emotions stirred up over who benefits as the government tries to fix the financial crisis. It’s likely to remain on the front burner for months as lawmakers consider other contentious issues — like whether bankruptcy judges should be given the power to impose changes on borrowers’ home loans. For Chris Grande of suburban Dayton, Ohio, helping troubled borrowers only makes sense after the billions spent on other bailouts.
“Does it reward bad behavior? Absolutely, it does. But no more than the banks who offered these loans rewarding themselves for their own bad behavior,” said Grande, 26, who works in the marketing department of a community college. The rescue plan unveiled last Wednesday by President Obama offers $75 billion in incentives for banks and investors to reduce struggling home borrowers’ interest rates and make other changes to loan terms. The money will come from the second half of the $700-billion federal financial bailout. The goal is to keep 4-million homeowners out of foreclosure and halt free-falling home prices. Kim Guymon, a stay-at-home mom, bought a three-bedroom home with her husband in suburban Seattle in 2001 and has watched it drop $150,000 in value since last summer. “I feel like I’m doing the right thing paying my mortgage, and now apparently I have to pay my neighbor’s mortgage, too. People are really angry,” she said. Rescuing people whose homes
are worth less than they owe on their mortgages doesn’t sit well with Robert Bechler, either. Still, the 37-year-old flooring contractor said he sees little choice. “If they don’t bail those people out, it’s just going to get worse. It’s a necessary evil, I suppose,” said Bechler, who with his fiancée just bought a house in Cape Coral, Fla., for $92,000 after waiting years for prices to fall. Kerry Estes, 38, a graphic designer from Dayton, Ohio, said the only homeowners who should receive a bailout are those who couldn’t make mortgage payments because of medical emergencies. “Even in our area, there have been so many people that have bought more house than they could afford,” said Estes, who bought a $100,000 home with his wife three years ago. “I would love to live in a $200,000 house too, but we really couldn’t afford it.” To qualify for the bailout, lenders and mortgage investors would have to agree on a lower interest rate that would be designed to reduce the borrower’s mortgage payments to
38 percent of their pretax income. The government would then provide financing to bring that ratio down to 31 percent. Another piece is designed to help borrowers who are still making their payments on time, but want to refinance into lower mortgage rates. Republican lawmakers and conservative pundits immediately denounced the plan as an affront to free-market principles and said it promotes irresponsible borrowing. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a Texas Republican, summed up the plan as “Nice guys finish last.” Conservative columnist David Brooks echoed those sentiments in a New York Times column titled “Money for Idiots.” Rick Santelli, a reporter for financial network CNBC, compared the government’s actions to those of communist Cuba during a dramatic, televised rant last Thursday from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Video of the exchange has been viewed over 1.2 million times on CNBC.com, more than any other clip in the Web site’s history.
Supporters of the plan are pushing back. “This is the financial equivalent of what Hurricane Katrina did to New Orleans. Did they know they were living below sea level? Yes. Does that mean we shouldn’t help them? That’s ridiculous,” said Kathleen Day of the nonprofit Center For Responsible Lending. In an interview with The Associated Press, Obama’s housing secretary, Shaun Donovan, said it’s in everyone’s interest to stop the wave of foreclosures, which drag down the prices of all homes in an affected area. Donovan said administration officials considered the potential backlash from angry borrowers when they designed the plan. That’s why it doesn’t just help borrowers in danger of losing their homes, he said: It also aims to make it easier for households who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth to refinance. There are nearly 14-million households in that situation, according to Moody’s Economy.com. ■
Location! Location! Location! This week’s featured property
Washington Square West
Beds: 3 Baths: 2.5 Age of property: 25 years inside, 100+ year facade Square Footage: approx. 2,425 Cost: $989,900 Realtor: Bruce Lang Real Estate Co: Coldwell Banker Realty Corp Phone: 215-351-7437 Direct: 267-312-6221 Web Site: www.cbrca.com
Check your ad
PLACING ADS Using voicemail? Please be sure to have the following information ready when you call: • Your ad copy • The type of style you want • Desired abbreviations • American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA information • Your name and mailing
Spectacular modern carriage house with cook’s kitchen, maple cabinetry, hardwood floors throughout, large deck perfect for entertaining with city skyline views, huge suites with walk-in closet, newly renovated master bath, 2 fireplaces, 2 car parking
address • Daytime telephone number Having all this information ready will speed your order and help to avoid errors. Phone calls can only be returned during business hours. For more information, see the coupon page in this section.
Philadelphia Gay News assumes responsibility for errors in classified ads only when notified by noon the Tuesday after the ad first appears. To receive credit for errors, please notify PGN by then. Credit only will be extended in the form of additional advertising space. Any cash refunds, for any reason, are subject to a $10 service charge. PGN will publish no classified ad — in any category — that contains sexually explicit language. Obviously excluded are traditional four-letter words that relate to sexual activity. Other words may be excluded at the discretion of the publisher, who reserves the right to edit or rewrite any ad that, in his opinion, violates this policy or its intent.
CLASSIFIEDS
PAGE 44
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
Placing Classifieds Liner Ads In Person: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, By Phone or on the Web: 24 Hours, 7 Days
Deadline for Line Advertising is Friday at 3 p.m. for the following Friday’s issue. You may place your ad via our secure voicemail system, fax or e-mail at any time, or on our Web site. Please have the following information ready to place your ad:
YOUR AD COPY • YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS • DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER • CREDIT CARD INFORMATION PHONE: 215-625-8501 ext. 200 OR 215-451-6182 (DIRECT) • FAX: 215-925-6437 • E-MAIL: don@epgn.com GENERAL INFORMATION
All classified advertising must be in our office by 3 p.m. Friday for the next Friday’s paper. Ads arriving after that time will be held for the next available issue. PGN reserves the right to edit or rewrite ads as needed, to refuse any ad for any reason and to determine the final classification. Ads determined to be in bad taste, directed to or from persons under the legal age of consent or containing racially or sexually discriminatory language will be refused. We need your full name, mailing address and daytime phone number on the insertion order form for you ad. This information is confidential and will not appear in the paper. Any ads received without full information will be destroyed. Sexually explicit language will be edited or refused at the discretion of the management.
PAYMENT AND PLACEMENT
Classified ads may placed online or by mail, fax, e-mail or in person at the PGN offices at 505 S. Fourth St., Phila. Phone, fax and e-mail orders are accepted with credit/debit cards only. A $10 minimum applies to all charges. If you are paying in person with cash, please have the exact change as we cannot make change at the office. All ads must be prepaid for their entire run. NO EXCEPTIONS! DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL; IT’S NOT SAFE AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.
TERM DISCOUNTS - BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ISSUES PREPAID 4 weeks, 5% • 8 weeks, 10% • 16 weeks, 15% • 26 weeks, 20%
CANCELLATION POLICY All PGN Classified ads are cancelable and refundable except for “FRIENDS” ads. Deadline for cancellation is 3 p.m. Friday. The balance will be credited to your credit/debit card. Checks take two weeks to process. The date of the first issue the ad appeared in, along with the classification, your name, address and daytime phone number is required to cancel your ad.
Classifieds Liner Insertion Order
Select the TYPE STYLE you want from the examples below, and begin each line under the arrow to the left of the letter representing that style. Write to the end of the line (hyphenate words correctly. Do not stop at any other arrow, as each arrow represents a starting point. Allow one block for each letter, number, punctuation mark and space. Be sure to skip a space between words. PHONE NUMBER MUST INCLUDE AREA CODE. Be sure to circle one of the classifications and compute the cost of your ad. Liner advertising is on a PREPAY BASIS ONLY, and payment must accompany this form. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL. Type STYLE A Type STYLE B TYPE STYLE C
A
B
HEADLINE (24 SPACES PER LINE) FREE WHEN PLACED ONLINE 40 spaces Per Line 36 spaces Per Line 24 SPACES PER LINE
7 point 7 point 7 POINT
C
NAME ADDRESS CITY PHONE
PLEASE PRINT STATE
ZIP
AMEX • MASTERCARD • VISA • DISCOVER CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION SIGNATURE NAME ON CARD # # #
“A” LINES @ $5.50 - $ “B” LINES @ $7.50 - $ “C” LINES @ $10.00 - $ BOX YOUR AD $5.00 SUBTOTAL
NUMBER OF WEEKS X SUBTOTAL % TERM DISCOUNT AD TOTAL CLASSIFICATION (CIRCLE ONE) REAL ESTATE FOR SALE • REAL ESTATE FOR RENT • ROOMMATES • SEASONAL RENTALS • SERVICES • FINANCIAL SERVICES HELP WANTED • JOBS WANTED • BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES • FOR SALE • AUTOMOTIVE • AUCTIONS • TRAVEL RESORTS ADOPTION • PERSONALS • FRIENDS MEN • FRIENDS BISEXUAL • FRIENDS TV/TS • FRIENDS WOMEN
PGN now offers
FREE online classifieds. Go to www.philagaynews.com for the details. You can also place your print ad through the Web site it’s fast and easy!
TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED
Return form and payment to: Masco Communications 505 S. Fourth St., Phila., PA 19147 or fax: 215-925-6437 or email: don@epgn.com
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
CLASSIFIEDS
PAGE 45
CLASSIFIEDS
PAGE 91
Real Estate
APRIL 18 - 24, 2008
REAL REAL ESTATE ESTATE
REAL REAL ESTATE ESTATE
SALE
SALE
VENTNOR, NJ (HEIGHTS) FORECLOSED HOME AUCTION Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, More 500+pool). homes5 House & adjacent lot &(swimming Must Be Sold! REDC/Free 800-756Bedroom, 2 bath, LaundryBrochure Rm, Kitchen, Din2144 USHomeAuction.com ing Room, Sun room & great room. Living _______________________________33-09 room, and lower & Upper decks. 2nd r-2 Potter County5 acres adjacent 4000 acre bedrooms, 1 bath, great room, to sun room, & State Game in Hebron Electric, deck 1st r. Lands 3 bedrooms, bath,Twp. living room, perc, hard road frontage, small stream. foyer, dining area, kitchen, laundry room, and $34,900. Owner financing. 800-668-8679. deck. Central Air. Call 215-468-9166 after 6 _______________________________33-09 pm. $950,000.00. Florida LandInvestment Opportunity! 2 _______________________________32-17 acre waterfront homesite only $89,900. (was REHOBOTH BEACH, DE $169,900) Private, gated community with 2 14 x 17 with 11 x 25 add. Many improv. 3 BR, recreational lakes. Municipal water & sewer. 1.5 BA. Sht.Just dist. beach. South Ask $62,900. Call Low taxes. 90tominutes of Orlando! 302-644-3331, lv. mess. or 302-381-2797. Excellent financing. Call now 1-866-352-2249. _______________________________32-16 FLlandbargains.com PASSYUNK SQUARE _______________________________33-09 Spectacularly rehabbed townhome w/ beautiAdirondack Wholesale Acerage 141 AcresTroful h/w oors magni cently styled and phy deer Area&WAS: $169,900 NOW:living $99,900. dining through large EIK out tted 88 Acresroom w/ Large pond to WAS: $159,900 NOW: with granite tops,Bass wood cabinets, $119,900. 30 counter Acres- ADK Pond WAS: dishwasher, and stainless $89,900 NOW: $69,900.appliances. 81 Acres-Second Near oor features two spacious and Salmon River/ Pulaski $99,900.bedrooms Beautiful acerage, at 15yrcustom low. Financing Available. hugeprices bath boasts tiled shower, extra Christmas & Associates 800-229-7843 www. deep soaking tub. Nestled in quickly growing landandcamps.com Passyunk Square. Call Reggie @ Century 21 _______________________________33-09 Newport Realty (215) 752-7660. _______________________________32-17 Open House $315K Fabulous Grad Hosp 2BR 728 S Smedley St, 19146 Sun 4/20 1-3pm _______________________________32-16 Bank Repos & Foreclosures! 1-4 bedroom Homes from $25,000! Great Locations! Payment from $199/month! For listings & Information 800-604-8363. _______________________________32-16 NEW Single-Family homes in active adult (55 plus) community in historic Smyrna, Delaware, near Beach and Bays. From $99,000. 302-6595800 or see www.bonayrehomes.com _______________________________32-16 5 bedroom, 2 Baths Bank Repo only $45,000! Payments from $199/month! 5% down, 20 years @8%apr. For listings 800-604-8363. _______________________________32-16
REAL REAL ESTATE ESTATE
SALE
HOMES FROM $10,000! MONTANA LAND BARGAINS Foreclosures for sale! 1-4 bedrooms available! 20AC with Utilities & Country Road was These homes must sell! For Listings Call 800- $99,900 Now $69,900 BLM access. Deer & 706-1762 ext. 6888. elk galore! Call to view 877-229-7840 www. _______________________________32-16 WesternSkiesLand.com ATTENTION OUTDOORMEN _______________________________32-16 NYS Old Scout Camp 15 Ac on Lake- $39,900 GOLF SIDE SC HOME NEW CABINS- $19,900 Fishing & Hunting off Luxury four bedroom, four bath. Fully furnished. limits until now! A sportsman’s dream. Limited Mountain and lake views. $678,000. Call Dave time offer- call now! Christmas & Associates 602-758-9062. 800-229-7843 www.landandcamps.com _______________________________32-16 _______________________________32-16 72 acres along McKean/Potter County line HERKIMER, NY 94.4 Acre dairy farm. 4 bedroom house, 85 near Shinglehouse. Mostly wooded, some Direct Line 610-789-0982 stall cow barn, 4100’ paved road frontage. open area, includes old hunting cabin, Office elds.610-325-4100 $236,000. www. electric, $199,000. Field and Stream RE. Great views, open 800-668-8679. helderbergrealty.us E-Mail:518-861-6541. sold.andy@verizon.net _______________________________32-16 _______________________________32-16
PREFERRED • FREE Listings by Email...DAILY! • Negotiable Commissions!
Andy Mariano
Online. Anytime.
Mike Jenofsky
PHILAGAY NEWS.COM 6737 Harbison Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19149 (215) 333-5200 Main (215) 333-6012 Main Fax
Loan Officer
(267) 341-1066 Direct Phone (267) 341-1067 Direct Fax Toll Free (800) 559-2514 x1066 Email: mjenofsky@fpms.com
PGN
There are easier ways to get noticed...
REAL REAL ESTATE ESTATE
REAL ESTATE ESTATE REAL
SALE
SALE
Let CHRIS CHRIS RISS RISSuse his Experience, Enthusiasm, and Contacts to sell your place or find your new beach home. Most Transactions Award
CHRIS RISS makes it happen in Direct: 302-226-6655 REHOBOTH! Lingo: Lingo: 302-227-3883 302-227-3883
ChrisRiss@JackLingo.com
www.RehobothBeachHouses.com
South Philadelphia - Custom Townhouse Rates have to 701 SigelTime St. - Asking $229,900 D refinance, R Openconsolidate House Sundaysdebt, from 1 - 3 p.m. O or buy NOW! P Ask about our P E no closing cost D option for buying a home.
Mike McKeown Email: mike.mckeown@mindspring.com 1-888-533-9890 Licesensed by Dept. of Banking/Insurance in NJ, PA, DE and NY
The COOLEST homes in Philadelphia’s Gorgeous 2 bedroom withneighborhoods. HOTTEST new brick colonial front. Featuring new cherry kitchen with granite countertops. � City location with the finest features l ing e Stainless steel appliances and townhome d n of a suburban Mo Ope c/t floors, large open floor � 2-3 Bedroom homes with garages d plan. Hardwood floors an (up tot/o, 1,710 sq. ft.) from the low $300’s r G new powder room on 1st � 3 Bedroom homes with garages floor with recessed(up lighting, to 3,400 sq. ft.) from the mid $500’s 2nd floor has two bedrooms and beautiful new custom � Deck or balcony with each home tiled bathrooms with stall shower with glass doors, brand � 10 year tax abatement Schoolhouse Lane & Ridgenew Avenue heater and central air, plus newly finished rec room in East Falls � Free Center Shuttle basement with c/t floors. ThisCity home is is 215.844.8888 literally brand new with extensive work The Arbours at Eagle Pointe Brewerytown Square The Villas & Regency performed t/o house. B R E W E R Y TO W N 215.765-2800 Brand New 2-3 Bedroom Townhomes with Garages Up to 1,700 sq. ft. From the Mid $200’s Tour our Decorated Models Free Center City Shuttle
at Packer Park
S O M E R TO N CallS OJohn Eckstrom : 215-272-0269 UTH PHILADELPHIA 215.698.4540 Remax Millennium: 215-379-1100 215.389.9881 A Lifestyle Community for
Spacious New One Floor Living & Distinctive Townhomes with Garages Up to 1,686 sq. ft. From the Mid $300’s Tour our Decorated Models
PGN
Adults 55 & Better From the Mid $300’s
PAGE 46
CLASSIFIEDS
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
SALE
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
REAL ESTATE
SALE
REAL ESTATE
SALE
SALE
Buy or Sell in the Poconos
White Star Lending Group, Inc.
Close to Mt. Airy Casino & Camel Back.
215-646-7372
Licensed by PA Dept. of Banking #16701
Home Mortgage Rates
Corners of Routes 390 & 44 • Candensis, PA 18325 OFFICE: (570) 595-2110 • FAX: (570) 595-7207 CELL: (570) 994-5118
30 year fixed rate 5.75% zero points APR 5.760%
FRED W. BALDI
zero points APR 5.765%
www.PoconosHomesInfo.com
223-1/2 Jamestown St., Manayunk Philadelphia 19128 Offered at $424,900
Heights of Collingswood
REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® fred_baldi@hotmail.com
15 year fixed rate 5.50%
Fabulous renovation in Manayunk, beautiful home with great views, upgrades galore. You won’t believe the finishes in this rare single just 3 short blocks off Main Street. 3 bedrooms, 21/2 baths, all the bells and whistles and a 10 year tax abatement. Patricia Kolea Coldwell Banker Preferred 230 Sugartown Road, Wayne, PA 19087 610-975-5900 Office 610-517-4306 Cell
Enjoy all the comforts of home. The Ultimate in Lifestyle. Convenient to Routes 38, 76, 70, I-676 the New Jersey turnpike and 295. Just minutes from robust downtown Philadelphia, Collingswood is rich in historical associations Neighborhood cafes and quaint shops line the streets symbolic of an earlier time. Our newly renovated apartments feature upgraded Kitchens and Bathrooms. We are located across the street from Newton Lake Park and many activities including fishing, boating, and jogging trails. · · · · ·
Free shuttle to PATCO Speed line 24 hour state of the art fitness center On site dry cleaners On site food market Garage parking available
· · · ·
Tennis court/Swim Club Pet Friendly Flexible lease terms Utilities included
Office 856-854-4112 • Fax 856-854-9390 Open Houses Sunday MARCH 1, 2009 Noon - 1:00
1608 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
AVENUE OF THE ARTS 1326 SPRUCE ST #2903 (Center City One)-2br, 2 bth, 29th fl views $435,000 Tom Gangemi GRADUATE HOSPITAL 923 S. 17th-Attn Investors!! Triplex renovation started $260,000 Janis Dubin NORTHERN LIBERTIES 1006 N. 5TH, UNIT 1 – 1BR, 1 1⁄2 bath bi-level condo w/central air $239,500 Alison Ermilio OLD CITY 244-48 N. 3rd, UNIT 3B – Corner unit condo, parking included $225,000 Kera Ritter SPRING GARDEN 1601 Spring Garden ST #419- gorgeous upgraded unit, elevator and secure $179,900 Janis Dubin
www.philarealtyexchange.com
RITTENHOUSE 2025 CHANCELLOR ST –(Wanamaker House) 3 br, 2.5 bth Townhouse comes w/ rooftop pool, fitness center, deeded parking, hw floors, recessed lighting, stainless steel appliances and 24hr door man, plus much, much more $875,000 Alison Ermilio 226 W. RITTENHOUSE SQ -2 br/den. 2 bth, newly renovated, with park view, $895,000 Tom Gangemi SOUTH PHILADELPHIA 1904 S. 9th St- 2br home in Bella Vista w/ large living room, $139,900 John Perno UNIVERISITY CITY 209 Saint Marks Sq- 6br,2.5bth porch front w/huge backyard, c/a, w/d, wood floors and high ceilings. $639,000 Janis Dubin
FOR RENT 1006 N. 5th ST #1-1br,1.5 baths, bi-level condo in Northern Liberties $1300 mo Alison Ermilio 711 S. 18th ST-2 beds/1.5 baths, backyard, 2 secure parking spaces, great space $2,000 mo Kera Ritter 3512 BARING ST – Studio, utilities included in rent starting at $900 mo Kera Ritter 3722 CALUMET ST- 3bR, landscaped patio, new appliances, c/a, w/d $2,000 mo Janis Dubin 2349 DICKINSON ST- Clean modern 4 bedroom house pet friendly $895 mo Janis Dubin 4030 W. GIRARD AVE-Huge Storefront retail space, $1000 mo Kera Ritter 1613 LOMBARD ST Brand new everything, 3 br, 2 bth and working fp $2500 mo Kera Ritter 2314 REED St- 2 bedrooms- 2 Units-wood floors, new kit, exposed brick starting $895 mo Janis Dubin 226 W. RITTENHOUSE SQ-2br,den, recently renovated, balcony, view of park $3500 mo Tom Gangemi 1601 SPRING GARDEN ST #419- gorgeous upgraded unit, elevator and secure $1300 mo Janis Dubin 2015 WALNUT ST-Commercial Storefront in Rittenhouse Sq. $2,000 mo Kera Ritter Various 1 and 2 bedroom residential listings-For More Information Please Call The Office CAREER OPPORTUNITY FOR FULL TIME SALES AGENT- FOR INTERVIEW CALL OFFICE “WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THOMAS GANGEMI AS A NEW SALES ASSOCIATE”.
242 S 13th St Units C/F. Furness Flats. Large 1 and 2 bed, 1 bath. last two units left in this highly desirable building. Low fees and taxes ...................................... .........................................................................................Starting at only $255,000 238 S 13th St. Unit G100 “George T. Sale Condo” Unique Garden level 1 bd, 1 ba. unit w/ private entrance.. Low fees & Tax Abatement. Lowest price 1 bd. in Wash. Sq. West .......................................................................................$200,000 1305 Spruce St. TH1A New Listing, Great 2 room condo w/ unique custom touches. Gourmet S/S & granite kitchen, marble bath, hi ceilings, wood floors and low fees..............................................................................A Steal @ $225,000 1:30 - 2:30 432 Brown St. “New Listing First Time Open” Parking, Parking, Parking. This newer move-in condition 3 bd, 2 1/2 ba. townhouse comes with (4) four car parking. The extra deep lot runs through to Olive St. A large deck and rear garden off the kitchen will add to your living enjoyment. See this one before it is gone. ................................................................ Realistically priced only $425,000 1305 Spruce St. TH1A New Listing, Great 2 room condo w/ unique custom touches. Gourmet S/S & granite kitchen, marble bath, hi ceilings, wood floors and low fees..............................................................................A Steal @ $225,000 507 S 15th St. Cute 2 bd., 2 ba. home located in the Rittenhouse Square area. Full basement and side garden. Lowest price in the area..................................... ...........................................................................................A Steal at only $250,000
Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.thephillyrealtors.com Dan Tobey
The Curtis Center 170 W. Independence Mall , Suite L-44 Philadelphia, PA 19106
215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax dtobey@cbpref.com
CLASSIFIEDS
FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
REAL ESTATE
RENT
No Matter...
How You...
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAYBORHOOD Available Immediately. One bedroom apartment with central air conditioning, ample closet space and wall to wall carpet. Great Center City Location for only $900 per month. Please call Tom at Solo Realty Co. to see this space. 215-564-7656 ext. 22 or tom@solorealty.com _______________________________33-11 ITALIAN MARKET AREA 2nd fl. 2 BR apt., sep. ent., lg. walk in closet, lg. EIK w/modern amen., W/D, C/A, hdwd. flrs. thruout. $950. Call 267-278-1636. _______________________________33-09
LOWER BUCKS/BENSALEM Single home, 2 BR, 1 BA, new W/D, refrig., W/W carpet, easy access I-95. Walking distance R7 train. $995. Call Vince, 215-639-8512. _______________________________33-09 BROOKHAVEN, DELCO-1 BR Conv. to I-95, Blue Rt., R-3, airport. 2nd fl. sep. entr. of showcase property. Clean, modern, new carpets, appliances, A/C. Lg. rms. eat-in kit., bsmt laundry. Heat incl. No smoke, no pets. Refs. rqrd. $750/mth. + $350 sec. dep. Call 610-876-2229. _______________________________33-10
COMMERCIAL BUSINESS SPACE
2 BR Main Line Apt w/Roof Deck
RENT
Located at 17th and Lombard 1100 Sq Ft. on first floor with full basement. Is fitted as restaurant now, but good for food retail, salon or professional office space also.
Call: 267 544-0260
RENT
Available April 1 or May 1 ....Charming 2 BR apt w/ convenient on-street parking, just steps away from shopping, Phila Sports Club, and train station. Private entrance, wall to wall carpeting, upgraded bathroom and eat-in kitchen, ceiling fans and skylight. Additional basement storage, shared yard, guest parking. Rent is $1030 ($1050 with pet) plus utils, 2 year lease. Water and trash pick-up incld. First and last month, and security deposit req’d.
Call Nancy at 610-642-9910
Vacation Rental Wildwood Crest, NJ
Look at it...
Adorable seashore home in the heart of the Crest. 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, EIK, living room, family room, outdoor shower and only 2 1/2 blocks to the beach! Great front porch and back deck for relaxing. Off street parking. Well behaved pets allowed. Contact Lisa at 973-492-1532 or iluvpits@msn.com
ROOMMATES
You Can Always Trust
PGN
PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________33-10 GM sks same to share 2 BR apt. 69th St. U.D. W/D. Newly renov. W/W crp. 610-352-1188. _______________________________33-09 KENNETT SQUARE GM professional seeks roommate to share home. Call Jerry, 484-732-8029. _______________________________33-09 HAVE YOUR OWN 2 RMS & BATH Share 1st fl. in hist. hse. 570 + elec. 215844-8118. _______________________________33-11
VACATION/
SEASONAL RENTALS SUMMER RENTAL SEA ISLE CITY, NJ More info at www.vacationseaisle.com Monthly / Half Season / Full Season. _______________________________33-16 OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations www.holidayoc.com _______________________________33-16
HELP WANTED Looking for personal assistant, one day a week. Errands, letter writing, etc. Please contact 732-299-2697. _______________________________33-09 POST OFFICE HIRING NATIONALLY! Avg. pay $20/hr, $57K/yr, incl Fed ben, OT optional fee-based test prep materials, not affliliated with the US Postal Service. 1-866446-8993. _______________________________33-09
PAGE 47
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Executive Administrative Assistant Vox, a leading, independent health care communications company, is currently seeking ahighly organized, detail and deadline oriented individual to support the senior team. Responsibilities include calendar management, general word-processing, creation and management of spreadsheets, proposal preparation including advanced PowerPoint skills and research.The candidate must have the following skills, abilities and attributes in order to be successful in this role: • Superior time management, follow-up, multi-task, and project management skills • Ability to maintain a calm and professional demeanor at all times • Must be pro-active, have common sense, and exercise professional judgment • Must have near expert MS Office skills in Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint • Must have inherent customer service and communication skills We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please forward your resume with salary requirementshr@voxmedica.comor fax to 215 592-7748.
Gay is our middle name.
PGN
Advertising Sales Representative PGN, one of the country's most award-winning Gay and Lesbian publications, is looking for a special candidate to fill this position in our advertising sales department. Applicants should have previous advertising sales experience, preferably in a similar environment. You should have a strong work ethic, good communication skills (both written and verbal), and an aggressive desire to sell advertising in this very special niche market. Most important, you should aspire to become an integral part of our successful sales team. We offer a competitive salary plus bonus, as well as Health Insurance. Applicants should call Nick Forte at 215-6258501, ext. 209. Email resume to nick@epgn.com or send resume to: PGN, 505 S. 4th St., Phila. PA. 19147 Attn.: Nick Forte EOE
CLASSIFIEDS
PAGE 48
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FEB. 27 - MAR. 5, 2009
There are easier ways to get noticed...
this space: only $25 per week*
Your ad dollars go further when you target your audience *when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks
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HELP WANTED
FOR SALE
SERVICES
CHEF/HOUSEMAN WANTED Mature couple with large home in Bryn Mawr desire services of a chef/house manager/handyman. Must be able to work with other household staff. Hours would be lunch through dinner, Monday-Friday. Meals must be prepared healthy and fresh. Duties include managing affairs for the home, such as grocery shopping, errands, care of two small dogs, maintaining wine cellar, and upkeep of automobiles. Must be organized and neat. Occasional dinner parties. Must have driver’s license and car. Live in/live out. Salary: commensurate with experience. Please send resume to SGalman21@aol.com. Include cover letter. _______________________________33-09 EARN EXTRA MONEY WEEKLY! Processing our brochures. Processors Needed NOW! Start Today call 1-800-6213560 Code 19. _______________________________33-09 Over 18? Between High School and College? Travel and Have Fun w/Young Successful Business Group. No Experience Necessary. 2wks Paid Training. Lodging, Transportation Provided. 1-877-646-5050. _______________________________33-09 CC oral surgical office seeks outgoing, motivated front desk check in person. Prior experience helpful but not necessary. Call Sean at 267-767-4780 or email resume to seanmwild@gmail.com _______________________________3310Extra Income Mailing Brochures. Weekly pay check! Free 24 hour information 1-888250-8110. _______________________________33-09 Mailing Brochures! Weekly pay + Bonus. Supplies Furnished. Guaranteed Opportunity. Call Now! 1-800-307-7131. _______________________________33-09 NOW AVAILABLE! 2009 POST OFFICE JOBS. $18-$20/hr. NO EXPERIENCE, PAID TRAINING, FED BENEFITS, VACATIONS. CALL 1-800-910-9941 TODAY! Ref #PA09. _______________________________33-09
POLE BUILDINGS 24x40x10’, $9,995 Includes 1-9’x8’ Garage Door, 1-3’ Door. 30’x40’x10’ $10,995 Includes 1-10’x10’ Sliding Door 1-3’ Door. Fully Erected. Maintenance Free. www.fettervillesales.com 800-331-1875. _______________________________33-09 SAWMILLS From only $2,990.00 Convert your LOGS TO VALUABLE LUMBER with your Norwood portable band sawmill. Log skidders also available. www.norwoodsawmills.com/300n Free information: 1-800-578-1363-Ext300-N. _______________________________33-09 ONLINE PHARMACY Buy Soma, Ultram, Fioricet, Prozac, Buspar $71.99/90 $107/180 Quantities. PRICE INCLUDES PRESCRIPTION! Over 200 meds $25 Coupon. Mention Offer: #21A31. 1-888531-6744. tri-pharmacy.info _______________________________33-09 ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO YOU!! ALL BRAND NEW POWER WHEELCHAIRS, HOSPITAL BEDS AND SCOOTERS. IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-9984111 TO QUAILIFY. _______________________________33-09
Responsible and reliable girl looking for more houses to clean. Cleaning done by girl from Europe. If you want your home cleaned and in spotless condition, call 215-427-0989. _______________________________33-15 ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. Medical, Business, Paralegal, Computers, Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 866-858-2121 www. CenturaOnline.com _______________________________33-09 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified -Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)349-5387. _______________________________33-09
AUTOS DONATE VEHICLE Receive $1000 Grocery Coupon. Noah’s Arc Support No Kill Shelters. Research to Advance Veterinary Treatments. Free Towing, Tax Deductible, Non-Runners accepted 1-866-912-GIVE. _______________________________33-09
PERSONALS Looking for gay computer person to troubleshoot and teach me. I’m in the PA suburbs. drdpelliott@aol.com _______________________________33-09
BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES 100% RECESSION PROOF! Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy All for $9,995. 1-800-460-4027. _______________________________33-09
ADOPTION ADOPTION Wishing to adopt newborn to nurture and adore. Will provide your baby with warm, loving, stable home. You will be treated with respect/ confidentiality. Expenses Paid. Please call Glenna 1-866-535-8080. _______________________________33-09 ADOPTION An act of love. We admire your courage. Your baby will be given a loving, secure future. Expenses Paid. Please call Michele/ Bob 877-328-8296. _______________________________33-09
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Social Security Disability Claims Appeals PAGE 110 PAGE PAGE 110 PAGE 52 PAGE110 110215-629-0585 PAGE 110 Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030
MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2008
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LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law
CLASSIFIEDS
AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law
Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney
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1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com
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Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030
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1211 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
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Attorneys-at-Law
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