PGN March 2 - 8, 2018 by The Philadelphia Gay News

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

Vol. 42 No. 9

Family Portrait: Jonathan Lovitz is bringing LGBT commerce to Philly

March 2-8, 2018

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

Mediation ordered in lesbian financial dispute

PAGE 23

Several LGBT-related films are poised to strike gold at the Academy Awards

PAGE 2

FIGHT protests racism allegations

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Gruesome details dominate trans murder trial By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

PHILADELPHIA FIGHT EMPLOYEES AND BOARD MEMBERS MARCH TO THE PHILADELPHIA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS OFFICE FEB. 26. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Visit epgn.com for updates on this developing story By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com Waheedah Shabazz-El, the goodwill ambassador for Philadelphia FIGHT, led a chant Monday in a conference room at the office for the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. “People with AIDS are under attack,” the group chanted 12 times. Midway through the demonstration, a PCHR employee walked in, requested them to quiet down and offered them the opportunity to chant outside the office. The group ultimately decided to quiet down. Twelve FIGHT employees and board members marched from the organization’s Locust Street office to PCHR. The group, which included 10 people of

color, protested what they called “misrepresentations” of the nonprofit regarding racism and organization practices. About an hour after the protesters entered the office, PCHR Deputy Directors Pam Gwaltney and Randy Duque met briefly with the group. PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau was not available for the meeting but Gwaltney said she would be available on March 1 and requested that the group send two or three representatives. In its report, “Inform, Monitor, Enforce: Addressing Racism and Discrimination in Philadelphia’s LGBTQ Community,” PCHR presented findings on racism in Gayborhood bars and LGBT-serving nonprofits. The report stated that “past and current employees of certain LGBTQ social-service agencies report patterns of discrimination relating to the agencies’ employment practices.” PAGE 15

Jurors in the Diamond Williams murder trial heard gruesome details of the trans woman’s death this week, including that her severed pelvis was discovered in the Schuylkill River. The trial began Feb. 26 and is expected to continue through next week. Charles N. Sargent is accused of murdering Williams in July 2013 inside the Strawberry Mansion residence he shared with his then-girlfriend, Veronica Johnson. But Sargent claims he stabbed Williams in self-defense after she became violent during a sexual encounter and then dismembered her corpse. CHARLES He pleaded guilty to making terroristic threats, abusing a corpse and possessing an instrument of a crime while abusing a corpse, but denies murdering Williams. According to police, Sargent initially said he deposited

UPenn study finds that GBQ boys need more sex ed By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com

A recent University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing study showed the importance of receiving sexual-health education at a young age. The study specifically examined communication between parents and their gay, bisexual or queer adolescent male children. According to Dr. Dalmacio Flores, a postdoctoral student in Penn’s Nursing Department of Family and Community Health, it’s important for parents to communicate sex-related topics to adolescent males for healthy sexual devel-

NJ governor appoints first LGBT admin of term PAGE 5

opment. “The growing information on how sex communication occurs between parents and LGBTQ children can ultimately help families and health-care providers address this population’s health outcomes through inclusive sex communication,” Flores said in a statement. Flores created the study after working on the HIV/AIDS floor at a hospital a few years ago. “We kept seeing admissions among younger gay men and, to me, it just reinforced that they are not getting the appropriate prevention messages. They were getting infected at such young ages,” Flores told PGN. He began interviewing clients and found that even if the

Williams’ body parts in a vacant lot. But evidence disclosed during the trial indicates he threw Williams’ pelvis into the Schuylkill River. The victim was 31 years old. On Feb. 28, jurors were shown color photographs of several of Williams’ body parts strewn in a vacant lot. They also were shown a photo of the left side of Williams’ head with a deep puncture wound made by a cylindrical object. According to police, Sargent admitted stabbing Williams with a screwdriver. On Feb. 27, Veronica Johnson testified that she arrived home from work on the morning of Williams’ death and learned from Sargent about SARGENT the presence of a corpse. Johnson said she saw Sargent drag Williams’ body from the second floor of her residence to the basement, where authorities believe he dismembered the corpse with an axe. PAGE 14 Johnson

young men were getting sex education in a school setting, they weren’t learning about same-sex behavior. Flores said it’s more than just teaching about “the birds and the bees.” “Sexual communication has always been exclusively focused on heterosexual behavior.” Additionally, he said there was a lack of literature and education for parents when it comes to sexual communication. “Supporting parents’ capacity to address the needs of their LGBTQ children through inclusive sex communication has the potential to minimize risk behaviors before PAGE 2 these youths leave the confines of the

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

Resource listings Legal resources • ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513; aclupa.org • AIDS Law Project of PA: 215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • AIDS Law Project of South Jersey: 856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org/ • Equality PA: equalitypa. org; 215-731-1447

• Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations — Rue Landau: 215-686-4670 • Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-7603686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com • SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-920-9537

• Office of LGBT Affairs — Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; amber.hikes@phila.gov

Community centers • The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. • LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce

St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu.

• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center

Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.

• William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.

Health and HIV testing • Action Wellness: 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org

• AIDS Library:

1233 Locust St.; aidslibrary.org/

• AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080

• Bebashi-Transition to Hope: 1235 Spring Garden St.; 215769-3561; bebashi.org

• COLOURS: coloursorganization.org, 215832-0100 • Congreso de Latinos Unidos;

216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870

• GALAEI: 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.; 267-457-3912, galaei.org. Spanish/ English

• Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad

St.; 215-685-1821

• Mazzoni Center:

1348 Bainbridge St.; 215-563-0652, mazzonicenter.org

• Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust St.; 215-985-4448, fight.org

• Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center:

1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206

• Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207

Other • Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 • Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com

• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK • PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 • Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288

Mediation ordered in lesbian financial dispute By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com

A federal judge in Philadelphia recently ordered two lesbians involved in a financial dispute to participate in 10 hours of mediation. In a federal lawsuit filed last year, the plaintiff claims the defendant owes her about $330,000 stemming from joint real-estate ventures and transactions. The women lived together in Philadelphia from August 2010-June 2015. The plaintiff subsequently relocated to Mississippi, but the defendant continues to live in Philadelphia. The women were also business partners and embarked on real-estate ventures involving properties in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to court records. Through their attorneys, the women expressed a desire for privacy and PGN is withholding their names. The plaintiff alleges the defendant owes her $128,178.87 from the sale of their prior residence — which is 50 percent of the sale’s proceeds — even though the plaintiff’s name wasn’t on the title to the property. The plaintiff contends her name wasn’t on the title because the defendant wasn’t “out” as a lesbian. “[The joint property] was titled in defendant’s sole name because defendant was not UPENN from page 1

home,” said Flores. A research team found that sex communication with parents throughout adolescence often excludes gay, bisexual and queer youth. Understanding and communicating can lessen sexual risks, Flores said. According to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, male-to-male HIV sexual transmission accounts for 92 percent of new HIV infections among adolescents 13-24. By understanding the roles parents and health-care providers play, there is a chance for positive, family-based sexual-health discussions in a time of identity and behavior development, Flores said. “Parents could have conversations more suited to attractions and behaviors of budding identities.” The doctor added that through research, he found that many of the young males were getting improper messages, often from a parent assuming the sexuality of a child, and focusing solely on heterosexual activity. “With health-care providers’ help, parents can be better sex educators and conduits of pertinent sexual-health information for their GBQ adolescents.” A National Institutes of Health training grant and postdoctoral funding financed the study. Additional funding was received from the Surgeon General C. Everett Koop HIV/AIDS award. Flores said the next focus of the study

publicly out as a lesbian and did not want a record of joint property ownership with plaintiff,” according to the suit. The remainder of the disputed funds relate to other jointly owned property, unreimbursed services and contributions by the plaintiff, and alleged misuse of a joint bank account by the defendant. The plaintiff’s suit contains 11 counts against the defendant involving breach of contract, conversion, unjust enrichment and promissory estoppel. “Plaintiff has made numerous demands to defendant and defendant has made promises to plaintiff that she has not abided by, including inducing plaintiff to travel to Philadelphia in December 2016 to attempt to resolve the financial dispute wherein it was not resolved,” according to the suit. A defense filing seeks the dismissal of several counts, citing insufficient contractual evidence, lack of jurisdiction, lack of timeliness, redundancy, inadequate documentation and other reasons. Last month, in a nine-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone ordered the women to participate in 10 hours of mediation. Beetlestone said she’ll defer ruling on the defense’s request for dismissal of the case while the mediation takes place. Neither side had a comment for this story. n will look specifically at the parents’ perspectives. A new study started last month, including continuous meetings with parents. “We need to identify parents who have had those conversations, whether it was inclusive or not inclusive to the barriers. We’re looking for parents — we need diversity,” said Flores.

“With health-care providers’ help, parents can be better sex educators and conduits of pertinent sexual-health information for their GBQ adolescents.” For now, it is important for parents to start normalizing these conversations at home, whether or not their sons have come out. It is also imperative not to assume a child is straight. Parents can also share information with other parents to get the conversation started, according to Flores. The study, which is currently available online, will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Adolescent Research. n For the full study, visit http://bit.ly/2sZcGPr. For more information on Penn Nursing, visit http://www.nursing. upenn.edu/.

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Spring Wedding Issue March 9

News & Opinion

10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Mark My Words Street Talk Transmissions

Columns

12 — Out Law: LGBT unions under fire 15 — Body U: A life with chronic pain

“Hopefully this case will help other people in the same situation.” ~ John Roberts, on the SSA providing him his partner’s benefits, page 7

Arts & Culture 21 23 25 26 28

— Feature: And the Oscar goes to ... — Family Portrait — Scene in Philly — Out & About — Q Puzzle

Transgender author Alex Myers has penned the story of Deborah Sampson, a woman who dressed as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War.

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Creep of the Week: Brian Brown is the president of the National Organization for Marriage. LGBTs need not apply.

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Out comedian is championing a primetime sitcom.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

N.J. Gov. makes his first LGBT appointment to cabinet position By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) recently appointed the first LGBT person to the Governor’s Cabinet since his inauguration succeeding Chris Christie (R). The Murphy administration announced last week that Brenda “Sue” Fulton was appointed to serve as the chair and the chief administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The Motor V e h i c l e Commission is made up of eight members, four of of whom are appointed by the governor. Murphy also appointed Zakiya Smith Ellis as the secretary of Higher Education

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and Deirdre Webster Cobb as chair and CEO of the Civil Service Commission. “For the first time in New Jersey’s 242 years, the majority of a governor’s cabinet appointments are female,” Murphy said in a statement. “While it has taken too long to get to this first, I am proud to stand with this diverse group of leaders, all of whom are committed to building a stronger, fairer New Jersey that works for everyone. Our team is made up of the best and brightest and their accomplishments and dedication will ensure that our residents and businesses have a state government that is responsive, responsible and professional.” Fulton is the executive director of Women in the Service Change Initiative and served in the United States Army until she was honorably discharged with the rank of captain. She founded multiple organizations that advocate for LGBT military members and, in July 2011, was appointed by President Barack Obama as the first openly gay member of the West Point Board of Visitors. She was the first

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female USMA graduate to chair the West Point Board in 2015. “I’m honored and humbled to be asked to lead the MVC, and to be part of Gov. Murphy’s administration. We will make it our aim every day to better serve the people of New Jersey. I am also grateful that we have a governor who wants to include all New Jerseyans, including the LGBTQ community, in governing one of the most diverse states in the USA,” Fulton said in a statement. Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino applauded the governor’s appointment. “We endorsed Phil Murphy during his campaign because we were confident he would choose competent and qualified leaders for New Jersey. He has shown us today that our belief in him was wellfounded,” Fuscarino said in a statement. “We are optimistic that this is just the beginning of a long line of appointments and decisions to be made by Gov. Murphy that will positively impact and be reflective of the LGBT community.” n

Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.

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LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

BBWC discuss activism efforts at Bryn Mawr College lecture By Adriana Fraser PGN Contributor

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The Black & Brown Workers Cooperative, formerly known as the Black & Brown Workers Collective, has been no stranger to fighting for workers’ rights to disrupt and dismantle power dynamics within oppressive workspaces. The BBWC has been advocating for owning one’s labor since the group’s inception nearly two years ago. Group cofounders Shani Akilah and Abdul-Aliy Muhammad aim to liberate marginalized workers while redefining workers’ rights issues. The duo led part of the Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research’s (GSSWR) Scott Lecture Series Feb. 20 entitled, “Black and Brown Workers Cooperative: Owning Our Own Labor.” In a nearly packed room, Akilah, an alum of the GSSWR program, and Muhammad discussed power structures within the workplace and how those structures often don’t reflect the faces of the black, brown and marginalized individuals who work on the frontlines. The discussion explored the intersections of race, gender, gender identity, sexuality and capitalism within the context of the labor struggle. “Current workspaces are perpetuating unequal systems of power and control,” Akilah said. “Take a good look at who is in control and who is being pushed to the margins.” During the lecture, the queer, non-binary cofounders addressed what they called the “dirtiness” of resistance work and workers’ rights: to shine light on unfair and uncomfortable work environments without the fear of consequences or their livelihoods being in jeopardy. The lecture also examined the beginning stages of labor uprisings with connections stemming from slavery uprisings. The theme of the lecture, “Owning Your Own Labor,” was inspired by both Muhammad and Akilah’s experiences working in what they said were oppressive workspaces. “I had a crisis of consciousness. I couldn’t look myself in the mirror,” Akilah said after discussing their work environment. “[We] can no longer give our labor to [a] system that oppresses us.” Through their resistance efforts, the BBWC hopes to influence more worker-owned institutions and operated spaces while advocating for the community to decide who gets positions of power. During the lecture, the group also focused on the need for those in power to prove their legitimacy by providing equity for those who work alongside them, as well as for the community that those groups are serving. The BBWC’s mission is to “actively challenge, resist and dismantle those colonialist, white-supremacist and oppressive systems that impact the lives of Black and Brown workers,” according to the group’s website. They have led public protests against LGBT nonprofit organizations and city leaders. The BBWC called for resignations of the former director of the Office of LGBT Affairs as well as the former CEO and medical director of the Mazzoni Center. Just months after the group’s initial protests, former director of LGBT Affairs Nellie Fitzpatrick, former Mazzoni CEO Nurit Shein and former Mazzoni medical director Dr. Robert Winn departed their positions. Muhammad refused to take their HIV medication until Shein resigned. Mazzoni announced the CEO’s resignation days later. “When you’re pos, you’re not seen as human,” Muhammad said. “I decided to use my body as a form of liberation.” The BBWC still has an active campaign against Philadelphia FIGHT and CEO Jane Shull. The goal of the campaign is to remove whom they believe are acting to stop equity while liberating spaces for black, brown and LGBT workers. n

LOCAL PGN

Gay widower awarded benefits from Social Security By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The Social Security Administration recently granted gay widower John D. Roberts with spousal-survivor benefits, almost two years after he initially requested them. Roberts, 64, of North Philadelphia, began receiving the benefits in January 2018. He applied for them in February 2016, two months after his spouse, Bernard O. Wilkerson, died. SSA initially denied Roberts’ request, on the basis that the men were only officially married for three months. In September 2016, Orphans Court Judge George W. Overton ruled that the men were in a common-law marriage dating back to July 4, 1990. But SSA still didn’t grant the monthly benefits, despite Overton’s ruling, according to a lawsuit Roberts filed in May 2017. He is now receiving the requested benefits, retroactive to January 2016, the month after Overton passed away, according to court papers. M. Patrick Yingling, an attorney for Roberts, didn’t know whether the case would set a precedent. “The extent to which the case will have precedential value for future Social Security claimants is still to be determined,” he said. “We’ll see how the court addresses [additional motions in the case]. I’m hopeful for a good result.” Roberts issued this statement: “Social Security’s refusal to recognize my marriage never made sense. I am grateful to Patrick and the Reed Smith firm for taking my case. And I am thankful the court required Social Security to revise

its decision. I know that Bernard would be happy as well. Hopefully this case will help other people in the same situation.” Yingling said Roberts prefers not to publicly disclose the specific dollar amount of his monthly benefits. During a November 2017 hearing, U.S. District Judge Berle M. Schiller told attorneys defending SSA: “I don’t want the Social Security Administration to dance and hide and shuck and jive when they know very well that this was a longstanding common-law marriage ruled on by the courts in Pennsylvania.” Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Degnan said SSA works in good faith with claimants to facilitate the granting of benefits. “The process at SSA is not adversarial,” Degnan told PGN. “We assist claimants in providing the necessary documentation [of a marriage] and once the necessary documentation is submitted, SSA makes their determination.” Asked whether SSA would implement a blanket policy recognizing common-law marriages recognized by state courts, Degnan replied: “According to the law passed by Congress, SSA has an obligation to make an independent determination of claims of common-law marriage. We can’t simply rely on a statecourt determination. There’s a test that SSA uses.” He added that SSA treats same-sex common-law marriages the same as it treats those of the opposite sex. “SSA’s policy regarding common-law marriage is the same regardless of it being a same-sex couple or otherwise. We require the same type of verifiable documentation [regardless of LGBT status].” n

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IBA to host event for black LGBT communities By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com The Greater Philadelphia LGBT Chamber of Commerce will host a networking event for African-American and black LGBT business communities. The event is part of its “Intersections” series, which focuses on diversity and inclusion within the LGBT business community. The program launched with a similar event for the Latinx community in November. IBA’s next event, in collaboration with PHL Diversity, will be held March 7 at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. It is free and open to the public. “Our Intersections series is a threeyear event series focused on diverse business opportunities, in collaboration with Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and PHL Diversity. The goal is to introduce the IBA to other racial and ethnic business communities and discover how collaboration and cooperation make us stronger and make our businesses thrive,” said IBA Executive Director Zach Wilcha. According to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, LGBT businesses contribute more than $1.7 trillion to the United States economy, creating tens of thousands of new jobs. “As of 2016, certified LGBT businesses

owned by African Americans comprise only 4.3 percent of the national total,” Wilcha said. “It’s time to change that. This event will provide opportunities for our communities to overlap, intersect, network and celebrate.” According to Wilcha, the LGBT community intersects with various minority communities and it’s vital to work together. “It’s going to be fun and purposeful. We will gather socially at the intersection of LGBT, African-American, black and business communities. We’ll be centering and celebrating African-American and black business communities as we introduce them to the IBA and our mission. “Folks should join us as we explore the impact that African-American, black and LGBT professions can have in the workplace, in entrepreneurship, taking our seat at the table and our ability to change the narrative of under-representation.” In May, IBA plans to host a third event for Asian-American business communities. “After this year, our events will combine all communities and begin to ask some provocative questions about how intersecting communities can work best uplifting one another,” said Wilcha. n IBA Intersections at AAMP will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 7 at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St. Visit thinkiba.com/events for more information or to register.

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Trans author Alex Myers speaks on Revolutionary War novel ahead of Philly event By A.D. Amorosi PGN Contributor In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Museum of the American Revolution will welcome transgender author Alex Myers (born “Alice”) to its History After Hours series March 6 with an event entitled, “Fierce Females.” Myers penned the 2014 novel “Revolutionary,” based on his real-life ancestor Deborah Sampson Gannett, who dressed as a strapping male soldier to fight in the Revolutionary War. The author spoke with PGN about mixing fact and fiction to create his novel. PGN: What is your understanding of the night you will be part of — “Fierce Females” — and Philadelphia’s newest museum? AM: Females in general, let alone the fierce ones, often get ignored in the Revolutionary period. We focus on the other FF, the founding fathers. I’m looking to counter-balance that narrative. And that is part of what I think the museum is about: telling a story that we think we all know. The stories of women from the American Revolution are sometimes condensed down to Molly Pitcher and Abigail Adams — a lot of stories of women as supporters, helpers. These stories keep the women in their proper spheres: wives, mothers, etc. The truth is that women fought on the battlefield with men all the time in the war. Molly Pitcher was loading a cannon when she was shot. These women were fierce! But we hear instead about how she carried water for the men and don’t really stop to wonder why she was on the battlefield in the first place.

PGN: Do you believe you would have been so deeply entrenched in her transformative story and that history in general if you had not been born “Alice”? AM: Probably not. Her story really spoke to me and still does. It is so like, and unlike, my own journey. I heard her story from my grandmother when I was a little girl. I remember thinking that I wanted to be like Deborah — that I understood her and that she would have understood me. I can recall thinking about what her life must have been like, and wondering whether other people had done things like that. As a kid, I was desperate for role models of women who had anything near an identity like mine. They were few and far between. PGN: Please tell me about the idea of fictionalizing her story. I love exploded reality but it blurs what is and what isn’t. AM: With Deborah, I dove in to the facts of her life and found that there wasn’t a lot that was verifiable. She tells us what she did in a memoir, but a lot of this is clearly made up. When I researched her and realized that so much of her story was

unknown, or unable to be corroborated, I decided to make the “skeleton” of the novel out of the facts that could be substantiated and then embellish on my own. So, for example, she claims she enlisted earlier than we can verify, so I took a later date of enlistment, which matched all the documentation I could find. Once we presume her membership in a unit, we can track some of that company’s movements. This gave me a sort of skeleton for the piece. From there, I looked at where the holes were. The accounts are often very vague: “The company rotated through duty along the Hudson” would be a typical report. I could really make up almost anything I wanted. So I read a lot of history books and whatever I could find on the period, and had fun imagining what it was like for her, trying to keep within the bounds of the possible. PGN: Are the differences between the truth and the fiction so radically different? AM: I’d offer the example of Deborah’s own memoir. It is more fictional than my novel. We tell the story we want to tell and call it fact or fiction depending on our era [or] our motive. But I am a thorough subscriber to Tim O’Brien’s idea of a “true” story and “story truth.” With Deborah, I really believed that she wanted to live as a man. That was the truth. Now, how to tell a story that would portray that truth? Fiction

was necessary. It wasn’t appropriate for her to speak desires such as these in her time period. So I had to invent and work around her constraints. PGN: What do you know/what have you gathered about Sampson’s true transgender nature? AM: Nothing I can support with fact. I have only my own best guesses. For me, the most profound “evidence” is that after she came back from the war, she lived with a relative — an aunt, most likely — and told people she was Ephraim, her brother. The fact that she tried to continue passing as a man suggests to me that she preferred to live as a man, but wasn’t able to make it work due to social and monetary constraints. It seems she wanted the money, perhaps the adventure and, I think, the chance to be a man. It is impossible to say what she wanted ... she doesn’t tell us that in so many words. Researching her life, I imagine it was impoverished, routine, constrained and rather bleak. I do think money was a huge motive. But I also think that she enjoyed living as a man, and felt that it fit her personality. n History After Hours: Fierce Females will take place 5-8 p.m. March 6 at the Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. Third St. Visit http://bit.ly/2F8HJNz for more information.

LGBT summit to open doors for networking, business education By Brittany M. Wehner brittany@epgn.com The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce will host its second LGBT Business Summit, providing an opportunity to network and grow as a business community. The March 6 networking event will include breakfast, an open keynote address, two breakout-discussion sessions, lunch, a panel discussion on what it means to be an ally, and a main keynote address. “This is an exceptional opportunity to spend the day with the Lehigh Valley’s LGBT business community and allies. For those in the LGBT business community, the summit will empower, motivate and inspire you,” said Angela DelGrosso, vice president of Business and Diversity Councils of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The first breakout session will include “Power of the LGBT Dollar” and “Transitioning with your Transgender Employees.” The second session will include “HR Diversity & Inclusion” and “Resources for Starting Your Own Business.” Following lunch, a panel discussion will be held and Eric Alva, an Iraq War veteran and LGBT-rights activist, will provide a keynote speech. Alva stood next to President Barack Obama as he signed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Act of 2010. Alva is a former spokesperson for the Human Rights

pal advisor to Mayor Jim Kenney on issues affecting the LGBT community. Hikes also previously served on the boards of William Way LGBT Community Center, Identity Kit Project and Mountain Meadow Camp, and was a long-time organizer for the Philadelphia Dyke March. The first LGBT Business Summit was held last year ERIC ALVA (LEFT) AND AMBER HIKES and was created by Campaign. the LGBT Business Amber Hikes, the executive Council of the Greater Lehigh director of the Philadelphia Office Valley Chamber of Commerce. of LGBT Affairs, will also give a The LGBT Business Council keynote speech. Hikes develops originally held its signature policy and serves as the princi- event, the LGBT Wedding Expo.

However, after same-sex marriage was legalized, the council found the Lehigh Valley vendors to be very inclusive and felt there was no longer a need, DelGrosso said. “We then created the LGBT Business Summit for professionals in the LGBT community and allies to learn more about being an out professional or an inclusive workplace,” DelGrosso said. “For allies, this summit will help you with your very-important role as a coworker, employer or friend. Creating an inclusive and diverse work environment is imperative in 2018 and we are here to help.” n The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce will host its second LGBT Business Summit 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. March 6 at Moravian College, 1107 Main St., Bethlehem. For more information or to get involved, visit www.lehighvalleychamber.

LOCAL PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

TAKE THE LEAD

Take an active role in your health. Ask your doctor if an HIV medicine made by Gilead is right for you.

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9/26/17 3:18 PM

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL

Creep of the Week

D’Anne Witkowski

Brian Brown

Editorial

Another failure (but not for us) The country received a devastating rollback earlier this week. At least that’s how a conservative anti-LGBT Trump supporter would feel after hearing Monday’s news. The Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled that Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits workplace discrimination based on one’s sexual orientation. The law previously only included protections based on sex, with LGBT activists arguing it should include sexual-orientation discrimination as well. Luckily, the Second Circuit agreed with those activists in a 10-3 ruling. In a majority opinion, Chief Judge Robert A. Katzmann wrote on the evolution of Title VII. “Since 1964, the legal framework for evaluating Title VII claims has evolved substantially,” Katzmann wrote, noting that the law should also include sexual orientation. “Sexual-orientation discrimination is a subset of sex discrimination because sexual orientation is defined by one’s sex in relation to the sex of those to whom one is attracted, making it impossible for an employer to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation without taking sex into account,” Katzmann added. While the ruling currently only applies to the 2nd Circuit, which includes New York, Connecticut and Vermont, the U.S. Supreme Court could affirm (or reverse, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that) the decision and expand it nationwide. The case originated with skydiving instructor Donald Zarda, who said his employer fired him because of his sexual orientation. Zarda died in a 2014 base-jumping incident but his family and estate continued the lawsuit against his employer, Altitude Express. While Zarda didn’t live to see his case conclude, he still made major changes to the Second Circuit’s LGBT community — much to the chagrin of the Justice Department, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief opposing Zarda. The Trump administration has tried to consistently roll back the rights of our community and this demonstrates yet another failure during the president’s hateful rule. We may have thought we lost on Nov. 8, 2016, but after this particular ruling, it’s clear who the real winners are. n

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.

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to embrace it if they When I was a kid, I knew of Bermuda only from songs, specifically “Kokomo” by want to be ‘on the the Beach Boys (“Bermuda, Bahama, come right side of hison pretty mama”) and “Bermuda Triangle” tory.’” by Barry Manilow, a mysterious love story By “partners in of sorts that includes the lyric, “Lying with the media,” I’m my woman on the island sand.” Ha ha ha. assuming he’s referIt’s funny because Manilow is gay. ring specifically to In fact, after hiding their relationship for Rachel Maddow decades, Manilow married his husband, and Anderson Garry Kief, in 2014. Cooper, and I am But Manilow did not marry Kief in so here for that. Bermuda. In fact, he couldn’t have because However, it isn’t like this whole “arc of histhere was no legal marriage for gay couples tory” business is something silly gays made in Bermuda in 2014. In fact, there was no up; it’s something that came from two minmarriage equality at all in Bermuda until a isters. First, it was abolitionist Theodore 2017 ruling by the country’s Supreme Court. Parker, then Martin Luther King Jr. And then on Feb. 7, marriage equality And yet Brown sees marriage equality was gone again with the passage of the not as civil rights and as strengthening Domestic Partnership Act, which basically family bonds and the communities those tells same-sex couples they can’t get marfamilies live in, but as a tyrannical imposiried, though they can form domestic parttion on “people of faith.” As if there aren’t nerships, which will have rights similar to LGBT people who have faith. As if having marriage. faith is a prerequisite for equal rights. And wouldn’t you know it, the National According to Brown, backers of sameOrganization for Marriage is very excited sex marriage “want people to accept the about Bermuda’s divorce of gay marriage. lie that since the U.S. Supreme Court In a Feb. 9 fundraising plea, NOM presi- imposed gay marriage on the nation in dent Brian Brown crowed, “The country of 2015 with their illegitimate and anti-conBermuda became the stitutional Obergefell first nation in the world However, it isn’t like this decision, that the issue to repeal gay ‘maris resolved for all and whole “arc of history” riage’ this week!” that it’s time to accept He then claimed it — no, more than business is something credit for it. accept it, everyone silly gays made up, it’s “NOM played a must openly embrace significant behindand celebrate it.” something that came the-scenes role in the Here Brown is right, from two ministers. tremendous victory but only partially. in Bermuda,” Brown First, it was abolitionist Gays most definitely writes. “Our team want acceptance and Theodore Parker, then advised pro-marriage celebration, which is supporters there on why it’s the ultimate Martin Luther King Jr. strategies to preserve goal of the LGBTQ marriage and I travShadow Government elled there twice to meet with activists to make gay marriage mandatory for everyfrom Preserve Marriage Bermuda to disone as soon as President RuPaul and Vice cuss potential strategies.” President Latrice Royale are elected in Well, how nice of him. 2020. You have to admit, “RuPaul/Royale” Brown is especially excited about this has a great ring to it. The arc of history is Bermuda “victory” because he claims it fierce, honey, and people like Brown who exposes the “lie” that the arc of history are on the wrong side are, sooner or later, bends toward justice. going to have to lip sync for their lives “The biggest lie about same-sex ‘marwhile the rest of us serve up equality realriage’ is that it is inevitable,” Brown writes. ness. n “LGBT activists and their partners in the D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian media regularly trot forth with falsehoods living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been such as gay marriage is somehow part of an writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow ‘arc of history,’ and that everybody needs her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

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OP-ED PGN

A personal loss She and I had a special bond. We both not understand or didn’t give us the right grew up knowing poverty. We both felt the respect, she added in determination, “Sonsting of discrimination. We also knew the in-law, you’ve seen that before, right?” feeling of rejection when we pursued a Jason thinks she did it to show us how path that was not generally accepted. much she supported us, but I already knew She was my mother-in-law, and she that. I think she did it to show the doctors passed away last week. how cool she was. And she was. Either From the minute we met, I adored her. way, it brings a smile to my face and I’m Like me, she was pushy, but unlike me, sure that is what she would want. Her chilyou’d never know it. Her pushiness was dren, Lillian, Ryan and Jason, all have their gentle. Her pushiness was to stories that bring them warmth protect her family. She’d go to and a smile. any extent to do so but you’d At our wedding, just before never know it since, no matthe ceremony, she surprised ter how difficult the situation, Jason and me by giving each of she was there and willing to do us a piece of her wedding veil, whatever it took without one which she had cut for the occaword of complaint. She was sion and said, “Put it in your also a determined woman and pockets, it’s my family tradiwanted to live life to its fullest. tion.” She was not only there When we were out at a restauwith smiles; she wanted us to rant and she couldn’t decide know that she wanted to be a on a dessert, she’d say to the personal part of our lives and server, “Just bring them all.” celebrate us. She was brave and adorEveryone she met felt they able even when in the hospital. had a special bond with her. All Mark Segal of her loved ones have a story, While we worried about her, she wanted us — her family — and she left each of them with to feel comfortable and know she would a smile. fight for them. Lynn, my mother-in-law, thank you for On one visit, as each group of doctors being in my life. n entered her room, she introduced us to Mark Segal is the nation’s most-award-winning comthem. “This is Jason, and this is my sonmentator in LGBT media. His memoir, “And Then I in-law, Mark.” When one group came in Danced,” is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or and she did that intro, and she felt they did at your favorite bookseller.

Mark My Words

Transmissions

Gwendolyn Ann Smith

Discovery and denial I’ve told this story many times before. It was a Sunday evening in my preteen years and I was in the backseat of my parents’ mint-green 1963 Dodge Dart. The radio was turned to an AM talk station. On the show, a mother called in to talk to the host, a call-in therapist: Her child came out as trans, and was seeking genital-reassignment surgery and other care. I’ll admit, I don’t recall a lot of what the host had to say, but I know it largely stuck to the basic facts. What I do remember was hearing for the first time about someone who shared the same feelings I had: I did not fit in the gender I had been assigned at birth based on a cursory examination of my genitals. I continued to listen without drawing attention to the topic of interest. In the front seat, however, my parents were also listening. Toward the end of the call-in question, my mom wondered aloud how difficult it must be for a parent to have to deal with something so challenging. I don’t recall my father giving much of a response. What I learned in that moment was that my feelings were not unique, and there were options I could explore. I also learned that this would hurt my parents, and that they would not likely be able to cope. Even

though I now had a name for what I was and how I felt, I knew that I would have to hide my trans self away forever. Every so often, I would hear more about being trans, and it continued to push me further into my own closet. For one, I recall when tennis player Renée Richards fought for acceptance, and how her story was treated in much the same way Caitlyn Jenner’s has been in the last few years. This taught me that being known as transgender meant facing public scorn and ridicule. I remember looking through the men’s magazines my dad kept tucked in his nightstand, where I could find stories discussing trans people. I read the Wendy Carlos interview in Playboy and saw the Carolyn Cossey pictorial in the same issue. These were rare moments where transgender people were treated well, but most of the time, trans people were treated as sexual deviants in the pages of these periodicals. Once again, I felt ashamed of my identity. I spent my school years in denial. It wasn’t until my college years when I finally started cracking away at that façade. I suspect my story is not that uncommon for trans people in my age range. In fact, I suspect I was luckier than most, having heard more about being transgender issues

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

Street Talk Should Amazon be headquartered in Philadelphia, despite a lack of statewide LGBT protections? "Yes. It will bring muchneeded revenue to the state. The money could soften the burden experienced by members Chris Bey of the LGBT home-health aide community South Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. It won't give people everything they want, but it can bring some comfort. At least we'll get more money into the state."

“Yes, but only if they work to establish LGBT rights statewide. Because of all the resources Amazon has at their disPaul Jackson posal, they university professor can be very Gayborhood influential with state lawmakers. Let’s hope they read this and do it!”

"I'm an avid supporter of LGBT rights. But I'd like to see Amazon have a headquarters here. They should come here and be Sunny McCarthy a staunch student ally. They Center City could create incentives for their workers to also reside in Philly. That might spur neighboring towns into action and advocate for LGBT rights."

"Yes. We desperately need more jobs here. I know it's important to have a statewide LGBT civilrights bill. Tyler Pendzik But why student single out South Philadelphia Amazon? They already have progressive nondiscrimination policies for the LGBT community. It shouldn't be an issue for them [to deal with]."

than the average person, even if much of what I learned pushed me deeper into denial. Today, things are, mercifully different. There are a lot more transgender people who are out, and public, and thriving. We can be seen, for example, on television, in sports and in public office. What’s more, there is an ever-growing body of information just a few mouse-clicks away. This allows transgender kids to find agency, and for their parents to serve as their advocates. This is, however, what causes me the most concern about the current political climate. We are still facing threats against transgender people serving in the military under this presidency, and are seeing other departments in the administration turning their backs on transgender people. Most recently, the Department of Education under Betsy DeVos will no longer pursue cases of discrimination against trans kids in school. We are still seeing laws being foisted upon the populace, seeking to prevent trans-

gender people from having equal rights, and we still see transgender people treated as deviants, as objects of ridicule, and as people who do not deserve to even exist. There are those who would say that young trans people are coming out in larger numbers because of a “trend.” Some even argue that kids are being shunted into transness against their best interests. That is nonsense. We live in a time where there are more possibilities for trans folks of all ages. I want to live in a world where the young kid in the back of their parents’ 2004 Honda Accord will not repress their feelings at every turn. I don’t want to see us slowly creep back into a place where the trans youth of today will face decades of denial and pain because society will not offer them a place to thrive. We cannot go back. n Gwen Smith is a southpaw. You’ll find her on the web at www.gwensmith.com.

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

Wedding Services

LEGAL PGN

The state of the LGBTQ union Much of our focus on LGBT rights centers at the federal level, but there are also several ongoing battles in several states concerning equality. The first is South Carolina legislators’ attempt to introduce a bill defining same-sex marriages as “parody” marriages. This laughable reasoning is a direct violation of the Obergefell v. Hodges language, which invalidates state laws “to the extent they exclude samesex couples from civil marriage on the same terms and conditions as opposite-sex couples.” However, with such severe constitutionality issues, it’s doubtful it’ll see a vote.

islation. A bill in Kentucky would prevent government interference with religious exercise, allowing religious organizations to refuse services based on moral, ethical or closely held beliefs. In Colorado and Oklahoma, legislation has been introduced to authorize foster parents to make faith-based decisions concerning the minors in their care, including conversion therapy. Only nine states and Washington, D.C., outlawed this practice for minors. These bills make it clear LGBT people are still considered second-class citizens.

Out Law

Angela Giampolo

Anti-trans legislation In Anchorage, Alaska, Proposition 1 is an effort to mandate “intimate facilities,” such as restrooms and locker rooms, be protected for one’s birth sex. The proposition is set for an April vote. In Massachusetts, lawmakers are seeking to repeal a 2017 antidiscrimination law put into effect to protect gender identity in public places like hotels, restaurants and stores. While the Anchorage legislation only affects the Alaska city, Massachusetts’ bill would override every statewide local ordinance. Pennsylvania sought to limit medical expenses to CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) recipients barring transition-related coverage. Thankfully, the bill died in committee, but a more invasive bill in New Hampshire seeks to limit transition-related services covered under Medicare. It also prohibits minors seeking gender-confirmation surgery and allows medical-care professionals to refuse treatment based on “religious, moral or ethical convictions.” No promo homo laws Seven states currently have laws prohibiting positive LGBT education, including human sexuality. While many of these laws were enacted in the 1980s and ’90s, Indiana is seeking to enact a law in 2018. SB65 would require written parental consent for students to receive human-sexuality education, including information on sexual activity, sexual orientation and gender identity. Religious-exemption laws Perhaps more commonly in the limelight is religious-exemption leg-

Prevention of nondiscrimination laws Three states — Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina — have laws that prevent local governments from enacting nondiscrimination protections exceeding state-level laws. The most notorious is HB2 in North Carolina, which was set in motion in reaction to a Charlotte law protecting sexual orientation and gender identity at the local level. It rolled back those protections and prevented new ordinances from being enacted in other North Carolinian municipalities. Florida is set to join the ranks of these three states with proposed legislation in 2018. However, fewer of these bills are being introduced in states across the union. The ACLU, which tracks all bills across the country, has entire sections with no pending legislation listed in them. The section of roadblocks for transgender people to update identification documentation is blank, as is the health-care-access section. There is good news! The number of states offering legislation to protect both sexual orientation and gender identity is growing. Fourteen states have legislation in the works, and some of those states have both senate and house bills working toward more protections simultaneously. Eight more states have introduced bills to protect individuals based on sexual orientation, and while those don’t include our transgender community members, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. The tide is slowing, and public tolerance for wasting taxpayer money on these non-starter bills — many of which die in committee or are

never signed into law due to constitutionality issues — is lower than ever. Society is no longer as willing to look away from LGBT discrimination as it once was. What’s left of these bills are the last bastions of homophobia and transphobia, and they appear to be skrinking as courts whittle away the loopholes. On Feb. 26, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit handed down a 10-3 ruling LGBT activists have long been hoping for: the 1964 Civil Rights law bars employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation. In the ruling, Chief Judge Robert A. Katzmann wrote: “Sexual orientation is a subset of sex discrimination because sexual orientation is defined by one’s sex in relation to the sex of those to whom one is attracted,” adding that this condition makes it “impossible for an employer to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation without taking sex into account.” The case in question is a lawsuit brought by Donald Zarda, a skydiving instructor who assured a female student, who seemed uncomfortable being so tightly strapped to him, that he was “100-percent gay.” He was subsequently fired after the student’s boyfriend complained. Zarda died in a 2014 BASE-jumping accident but his family and estate has continued the lawsuit in his name. The 2nd Circuit’s decision overrules lower-court rulings, leaving the only avenue to appeal through the Supreme Court. The ruling is a blow to the Trump administration. The Justice Department previously filed an amicus brief opposing Zarda’s discrimination claim, stating it is the department’s policy that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act does not cover sexual orientation under the umbrella of sex discrimination. Ten of the 13 judges — the full panel of the 2nd Circuit — disagreed with the Justice Department, handing the LGBT community a major win. While we wait for the ruling in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, it’s heartening to see these awful pieces of legislation are getting fewer, farther between and more difficult to justify. n Angela D. Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and specializes in LGBT law, family law, business law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com, and she maintains a blog at www. phillygaylawyer.com. Reach out to Angela with your legal questions at 215-645-2415 or angela@giampololaw.com.

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.

What Is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).

Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:

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Enough is Enough Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi.

Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).

Should I Take Mytesi If I Am: Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant? • Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother? • It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you

What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines? If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.

What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi? For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist. To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.

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Mytesi comes from the Croton lechleri tree harvested in South America.

Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com. NP-390-18

• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

PGN MURDER from page 1

didn’t immediately call 911 but her son, Lamar Johnson, notified police several days later. Lamar testified after his mother but said he couldn’t recall details of the incident. At one point, Common Pleas Judge Diana L. Anhalt became impatient with the young man and urged him to answer questions in a direct manner. After the Johnsons testified, photographs of blood splatter inside their residence were shown to jurors. “We found a whole lot of red stains on the second floor of this particular home,” testified Officer Clyde Frazier of the city’s Crime Scene Unit. Photographs of bloody clothing, carpet stains and plastic bags also were displayed to jurors electronically and on an easel. Looking disheveled in a brown pinstriped suit, Sargent was serving as his own attorney. He was closely guarded in the courtroom this week and isn’t permitted to leave his seat to address jurors. The prosecutor, Kristen J. Kemp, also must remain near her seat. Sargent repeatedly misgendered Williams during the trial. He faces a penalty of life imprisonment if found guilty of first-degree murder. Prosecutors aren’t seeking the death penalty. He remains incarcerated pending the outcome of the trial. n

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

Living with chronic pain revolves around being active, healthy, attenLiving with chronic pain is no joke. You may look at people without realizing that tive and productive. I find myself adjusting they are pushing through the pain, discom- my schedule, attitude, social activities and fort and — at the same time — trying to exercise regimens regularly. On top of that, appear OK. This can be an unpredictable I am determined to find ways to create ease occurrence. A person can feel fine one in my life, but also to help others improve minute and begin to suffer the next. Some their active lifestyle despite their pain. days may be worse than others. Here are some things I began doing to help create ease in my life — According to NHIS (2012), steps you can adapt for yourself: 11.2 percent of American adults experience pain on some level 1. Find a friend to chat with every day and 17.6 percent of or try therapy: I began therapy American adults suffer from to help me cope with the fact “severe levels” of pain. What is that I have a lifelong brain dischronic pain? Chronic pain is order, which will inhibit certain when people feel aches and pains activities, and recognize that as in their joints, bones and muscles a business owner, mentor, perfor months or even years. This sonal trainer, family member, can be a result of injury, infecfriend, etc., I need to be the best me I can be. I need to be sharp tion or specific medical condiand prepared. They always say tions. Headaches, backaches and that the first step is acknowlarthritis are also included in the chronic-pain category. Megan Nino edgment and then acceptance. 2. Find a “chat room” Pain can inhibit people from online of people who also have the same functioning normally during their everyday condition: Use this as a resource to ask lives. This affects work, relationships and questions and get ideas on finding comfort. leisure time and can add large amounts of 3. Adjust your sleep and rest schedstress and anxiety ule: As we all know, sleep is important As someone who suffers from progresespecially for someone who suffers from sive chronic pain in the form of pressure a chronic condition. I have an alarm set headaches, neck stiffness and other sympat night to tell me I need to start winding toms, like brain fog and numbness due to down. I’m also more proactive in either having a chiari malformation, I find myself regularly trying to adapt every day. Over the taking a nap or finding 15 minutes in the last year, it has been a tough pill to swallow middle of my day to collect myself. considering my entire lifestyle and business 4. Stay active as long as you are

Body U

FIGHT from page 1

The report also provided recommendations that “board members, directors, management and staff of the Mazzoni Center and Philadelphia FIGHT must receive training on the FPO and implicit bias.” “We are all here together because we believe in the institution of Philadelphia FIGHT,” Shabazz-El told PGN. “We are here because we are demanding that this report gets taken down along with an apology to Philadelphia FIGHT. We are here demanding that Rue comes over in about a week and have a tour. [We want to] allow them to tour the building and see how much work we get done. At the end of the day, it’s about the patient and all of us are committed to giving the best service to the patient that we can.” The Rev. Jeffery Haskins, FIGHT’s Project TEACH coordinator, told PGN that 175 FIGHT employees signed a “Petition Against Threat to Dismantle Philadelphia FIGHT.” The signees said they “wish to condemn in the strongest possible terms, any wicked and selfish plans by aggrieved ex-employees including

Elisabeth Long and Danica Moore, to dismantle Philadelphia FIGHT and throw us and our dependent families into disarray while pushing our clients out of essential health services.” Long previously accused FIGHT of “pervasive racism” in a staff-wide email upon her departure from the organization, while

cleared to: Exercising and physical activity can be challenging when you’re in pain. Exercise releases endorphins that give you that “feel-good” feeling. I’ve spoken to other chronic-pain sufferers and they exercise because it’s either feel bad and do nothing or feel crappy while you do something productive. In fact, some symptoms for conditions like arthritis, Parkinson’s, etc. can be relieved with some properly structured exercise. Remember to speak with a doctor before pursuing any exercise programs because certain movements may not help you. For example, with my condition I cannot load my spine/neck. This means I can’t back squat or box competitively anymore. Another physical activity suggestion is to take note of when your pain is the worst. For me, I have minimal pain in the morning, this is when I do my most rigorous/ impactful exercises like leg and chest exercises. Figure out what times of day work best for you. Lastly, hire a professional who can guide and supervise you through your exercises. Guess what? Exercises can be modified to what you can do. 5. Physical therapy, massage therapy, heat pads, icing, etc: These are all options to help you find relief. It does not hurt to try, but be sure to look at a professional’s credentials. As for ice and heat, many people find relief with these options. 6. Pay attention to the weather and barometric pressures: Research has already proved that certain conditions can

in this report and we’ve updated it and there has been updates on that report. It’s outdated. It’s not current and so when people read that, they will look at Philadelphia FIGHT and think that we have not improved. We have met those requirements by law.” Additionally, the petition notes that FIGHT CEO Jane Shull has

FIGHT CEO JANE SHULL (LEFT) AT THE BROAD STREET MINISTRIES PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT FEB. 23 Photo: Scott A. Drake

Moore aired her grievances on social media upon her termination. “We’ve complied to all that was

“spearheaded the fight of equal health for all.” “Jane’s efforts and true compas-

get worse because of the weather. They even have a medical forecast on most weather websites. 7. Watch what you eat: Food is important to fuel and repair. Start looking at what you’re eating. Certain foods can cause more inflammation in people than others. Speak to your doctor or registered dietitian before making changes to your diet. 8. Discover stimulants and supplements that can help: Before going this route, please speak with a doctor. Some supplements and stimulants do not mix well with medications. After speaking to a few people about what helps them, here’s a list: Caffeine, CBD, B vitamins, Magnesium, tumeric, glucosamine, omegas, vitamin D, vitamin C, etc. Remember you are not alone. There are ways to try to make your life easier. If you are reading this and know someone who is suffering, remember to be patient, and if you want to help, ask what they need. Some people want sympathy, while others just want to live a normal life without people feeling bad for them. Everyone’s experience with pain is different. If you suffer from chronic pain, please feel free to email me at MeganANino@VigorVida.com for support. n Megan Niño is a kinesiologist and personal trainer through her business Vigor Vida Fitness & Wellness. She is an energetic and positive person who prides herself on teaching others to find empowerment in their lives through fitness. She trains her clients out of Optimal Sports Club and offers in-home training in Philadelphia and on the mainline.

sion for others created a safe space for all,” the petition reads. “Only those who have not walked the journey of being discriminated against, stigmatized and denied treatment because of their economic deprivation or color can seek to undermine the glass ceiling roof that Jane Shull has broken in the health-care and social-services field.” In the petition, the employees called on racial-justice organization the Black & Brown Workers Cooperative to pull down its social-media posts about FIGHT. This includes memes with Shull’s face superimposed on a white woman who is being fitted for a corset by a slave as well as accusations of paternalism and plantation politics. In a statement to Philadelphia Magazine, BBWC called FIGHT’s protest a “misinformation campaign.” “This is not an attack on Philadelphia FIGHT,” the statement reads. “This is about the removal of toxic leadership. This is about transferring power from leadership that has proven itself to be illegitimate through its targeted violence. That is why we must work with those most impacted to shift power back to workers and

the community.” A FIGHT spokesperson provided PGN with an outline of its employee makeup: 51 percent African American, 41 percent Caucasian, 6 percent Latinx and 2 percent Asian. Additionally, three African Americans, two Caucasians and one Asian individual comprise the “top-management staff.” In an email, the spokesperson noted that FIGHT would not disclose the names of board members who were patients but of the organization’s 19-member board, approximately two-thirds are African American and two-thirds are patients. While there is an overlap between the two populations, it should not be construed as the same people, the spokesperson said. Additionally, one quarter of the board is Caucasian This meeting with PCHR came days after FIGHT announced a collaboration with Health Partners Plans and Broad Street Ministry to improve health-care access to individuals struggling with homelessness and chronic-health conditions. BSM will expand its services with FIGHT’s satellite clinic, which will include a full-time HPP social worker. n

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

ELECTION NOTICE GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 A.M. AND 8:00 P.M. IN ALL ELECTION DISTRICTS AND DIVISIONS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA, VOTERS WILL NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR THE FOLLOWING OFFICES:

UNITED STATES SENATOR – ALL W ARDS AND DIVISIONS GOVERNOR – ALL W ARDS AND DIVISIONS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR – ALL W ARDS AND DIVISIONS REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS

2 DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT Congressional districts to be determined. Congressional districts to be determined. Visit our website for updates. Visit our website for updates. TH 5 DISTRICT Congressional districts to be determined. Visit our website for updates. www.philadelphiavotes.com

SENATOR IN THE GENERAL ASSEM BLY

SENATORIAL DISTRICTS ARE COMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING WARDS AND DIVISIONS WITHIN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY 2

DISTRICT

4 DISTRICT

Wards 07, 19, 23, 31 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19], 33, 35, 53, 54 [PART, Divisions 01 and 02], 55, 62, 63 and 64 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18].

Wards 09, 10, 12 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 10, 12 and 13], 17, 22, 50 and 59.

REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEM BLY

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS ARE COMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING WARDS AND DIVISIONS WITHIN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY ND

172 DISTRICT Wards 41 [PART, Divisions 19, 23 and 24], 54 [PART, Divisions 10, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 22], 55 [PART, Divisions 09, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17], 56 [PART, Divisions 01, 03, 04, 08, 09, 13, 14, 15, 32, 33, 34 and 40], 57 [PART, Divisions 13 and 14], 58 [PART Divisions 09, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19 and 26], 63 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23 and 25] and 64 [PART, Divisions 01, 03, 05, 07, 08, 09 and 15]. TH 174 DISTRICT Wards 56 [PART, Divisions 02, 05, 06, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 41], 57 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28], 58 [PART, Divisions 11 and 28] and 66 [PART, Divisions 19, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 46]. TH 177 DISTRICT Wards 23 [PART, Divisions 01, 03, 04, 08, 09, 13 and 14], 25 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 22 and 23], 31 [PART, Divisions 06, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19], 41 [PART, Divisions 05 and 07], 45 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24 and 25], 55 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 06, 08, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27 and 29] and 64 [PART, Divisions 02, 04, 06, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18]. TH 180 DISTRICT Wards 07, 33, 42 [PART, Divisions 01 and 23] and 45 [PART, Divisions 08, 09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19 and 21].

182 DISTRICT Wards 02 [PART, Divisions 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24], 05 [PART, Divisions 06, 07, 08, 09, 11, 14, 22, 28 and 29] and 08.

186 DISTRICT Wards 30, 36 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41], 48 [PART, Divisions 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23] and 51 [PART, Divisions 03, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22 and 24]. TH 190 DISTRICT Wards 04 [PART, Divisions 01, 07, 08, 12, 13, 19 and 20], 06, 24 [PART, Divisions 06, 07, 08, 16 and 17], 38 [PART, Division 09], 44, 52 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21 and 28] and 60 [PART, Divisions 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20 and 21]. ND 192 DISTRICT Wards 04 [PART, Divisions 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 09, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21], 34 and 52 [PART, Divisions 05, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27]. TH 195 DISTRICT Wards 15, 24 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19], 28, 29 and 32 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31]. TH 198 DISTRICT Wards 11 [PART, Divisions 04, 05, 06, 09, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18], 12, 13, 17 [PART, Divisions 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 29] and 38 [PART, Divisions 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 10, 11, 17, 18 and 21].

191 DISTRICT Wards 03, 40 [PART, Divisions 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34 and 47], 51 [PART, Divisions 01, 23, 25 and 27] and 60 [PART, Divisions 07, 19 and 22]. TH 194 DISTRICT Wards 21 and 38 [PART, Divisions 01, 07, 08, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19 and 20]. TH

197 DISTRICT Wards 11 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 07, 08, 11, 13, 19 and 20], 16 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04 and 05], 19, 37 [PART, Divisions 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20], 42 [PART, Divisions 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11 and 22], 43 and 49 [PART, Division 01]. TH 200 DISTRICT Wards 09, 22 and 50.

201 DISTRICT Wards 17 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27 and 28], 49 [PART, Divisions 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22] and 59. RD 203 DISTRICT Wards 10, 35 [PART, Divisions 09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 27, 28 and 31] and 61 [PART, Divisions 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28].

8 DISTRICT Wards 03, 27 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23], 36, 40 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51], 46, 48 [PART, Divisions 03, 04, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22 and 23], 51 and 60 [PART, Divisions 05, 06, 07, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22].

152 DISTRICT Ward 63 [PART, Divisions 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 24].

185 DISTRICT Wards 26, 36 [PART, Divisions 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15], 40 [PART, Divisions 01, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50 and 51] and 48 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03 and 13]. TH 188 DISTRICT Wards 27, 46, 51 [PART, Divisions 02, 04, 05, 06, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26 and 28] and 60 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03 and 23].

170 DISTRICT Wards 58 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44] and 66 [PART, Divisions 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 31, 33, 34, 38, 39, 40 and 41]. RD 173 DISTRICT Wards 41 [PART, Divisions 04, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 25 and 26], 55 [PART, Divisions 04, 05, 07, 26 and 28], 65 and 66 [PART, Divisions 02, 07, 11, 17, 24, 29, 30, 32, 35, 36, 37, 42, 43, 44 and 45].

202 DISTRICT Wards 35 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 12 and 32], 53 [PART, Divisions 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23], 54 [PART, Divisions 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17 and 18], 56 [PART, Division 07] and 62 [PART, Divisions 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26].

M EM BER OF THE DEM OCRATIC STATE COM M ITTEE

ELECTED BY SENATORIAL DISTRICT

M EM BER OF THE REPUBLICAN STATE COM M ITTEE

ELECTED BY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES ADOPTED IN 2011

175 DISTRICT Wards 02 [PART, Divisions 01, 15, 16, 25, 26 and 27], 05 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25, 26 and 27], 18 [PART, Divisions 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 10, 11, 12 and 17], 25 [PART, Divisions 09, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 24] and 31 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14].

W ARD EXECUTIVE COM M ITTEE ELECTED BY ELECTORAL DISTRICT

Lisa M Deeley Chairwoman, City Commissioners

Al Schmidt Vice Chairman, City Commissioners

Anthony Clark City Commissioner Kevin A Kelly Acting Supervisor of Elections

179 DISTRICT Wards 23 [PART, Divisions 02, 05, 06, 07, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23], 35 [PART, Divisions 15, 23, 24, 26, 29 and 30], 41 [PART, Divisions 01, 02 and 03], 42 [PART, Divisions 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24 and 25], 53 [PART, Division 01], 54 [PART, Division 01], 61 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03 and 07] and 62 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 19]. ST 181 DISTRICT Wards 05 [PART, Divisions 15, 20 and 23], 14, 16 [PART, Divisions 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18], 18 [PART, Divisions 01, 03, 08, 09, 13, 14, 15 and 16], 20, 32 [PART, Divisions 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 11 and 12], 37 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17 and 21] and 47. TH 184 DISTRICT Wards 01, 39 and 48 [PART, Divisions 14 and 20].

CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL & STATE OFFICES Nomination Petitions for the May 15, 2018 Primary Election must be filed with the Department of State, Bureau of Elections Commissions and Legislations, in Room 210, North Office Building, Harrisburg, PA by 5 P.M. on March 6, 2018 except for Representative in Congress which must be filed by 5 P.M. on March 20, 2018.

www.philadelphiavotes.com

PGN

AVISO DE ELECCIONES ELECCIÓN PRIMARIA GENERAL MARTES 15 DE MAYO DE 2018

ENTRE LAS 7:00 A.M. Y LAS 8:00 P.M., EN TODOS LOS DISTRITOS Y DIVISIONES ELECTORALES DE LA CIUDAD Y EL CONDADO DE FILADELFIA, LOS VOTANTES ELEGIRÁN A LOS CANDIDATOS PARA LOS SIGUIENTES PUESTOS:

SENADOR DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS - TODOS LOS DISTRITOS Y LAS DIVISIONES GOBERNADOR - TODOS LOS DISTRITOS Y LAS DIVISIONES VICEGOBERNADOR - TODOS LOS DISTRITOS Y LAS DIVISIONES REPRESENTANTE EN EL CONGRESO

2 ° DISTRITO Distritos Congresionales queda por determinar Visite nuestro sitio web para actualizaciones.

3 ° DISTRITO Distritos Congresionales queda por determinar Visite nuestro sitio web para actualizaciones.

5 ° DISTRITO Distritos Congresionales queda por determinar Visite nuestro sitio web para actualizaciones.

www.philadelphiavotes.com

SENADOR EN LA ASAM BLEA GENERAL

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

185 ° DISTRITO Distritos 26, 36 [PARTE, divisiones 10, 11, 12, 13 y 15], 40 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50 y 51] y 48 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03 y 13].

186 ° DISTRITO Distritos 30, 36 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 y 41], 48 [PARTE, divisiones 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 y 23] y 51 [PARTE, divisiones 03, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22 y 24].

188 ° DISTRITO Distritos 27, 46, 51 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 04, 05, 06, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26 y 28] y 60 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 23]. 191 ° DISTRITO Distritos 03, 40 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34 y 47], 51 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 23, 25 y 27] y 60 [PARTE, divisiones 07, 19 y 22]. 194 ° DISTRITO Distritos 21 y 38 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 07, 08, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19 y 20].

190 ° DISTRITO Distritos 04 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 07, 08, 12, 13, 19 y 20], 06, 24 [PARTE, divisiones 06, 07, 08, 16 y 17], 38 [PARTE, división 09], 44, 52 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21 y 28] y 60 [PARTE, divisiones 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20 y 21]. 192 ° DISTRITO Distritos 04 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 09, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 y 21], 34 y 52 [PARTE, divisiones 05, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 y 27].

197 ° DISTRITO Distritos 11 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 07, 08, 11, 13, 19 y 20], 16 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04 y 05], 19, 37 [PARTE, divisiones 15, 16, 18, 19 y 20], 42 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11 y 22], 43 y 49 [PARTE, división 01].

198 ° DISTRITO Distritos 11 [PARTE, divisiones 04, 05, 06, 09, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 y 18], 12, 13, 17 [PARTE, divisiones 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 y 29] y 38 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 10, 11, 17, 18 y 21].

200 ° DISTRITO

201 ° DISTRITO Distritos 17 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27 y 28], 49 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 y 22] y 59.

LOS DISTRITOS SENATORIALES ESTÁN CONSTITUIDOS POR LOS SIGUIENTES DISTRITOS Y DIVISIONES DENTRO DEL CONDADO DE FILADELFIA

2 ° DISTRITO Distritos 07, 19, 23, 31 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 y 19], 33, 35, 53, 54 [PARTE, divisiones 01 y 02], 55, 62, 63 y 64 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 y 18].

4 ° DISTRITO Distritos 09, 10, 12 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 10, 12 y 13], 17, 22, 50 y 59.

8 ° DISTRITO Distritos 03, 27 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22 y 23], 36, 40 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 (solo bloques 1094, 1095 y 1098), 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 y 51], 46, 48 [PARTE, divisiones 03, 04, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22 y 23], 51 y 60 [PARTE, divisiones 05, 06, 07, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 y 22].

Distritos 09, 22 y 50. 202 ° DISTRITO Distritos 35 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 12 y 32], 53 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 y 23], 54 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17 y 18], 56 [PARTE, división 07] y 62 [PARTE, divisiones 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 y 26].

REPRESENTANTE EN LA ASAM BLEA GENERAL

170 ° DISTRITO Distritos 58 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 y 44] y 66 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 31, 33, 34, 38, 39, 40 y 41].

172 ° DISTRITO Distritos 41 [PARTE, divisiones 19, 23 y 24], 54 [PARTE, divisiones 10, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 y 22], 55 [PARTE, divisiones 09, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16 y 17], 56 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 03, 04, 08, 09, 13, 14, 15, 32, 33, 34 y 40], 57 [PARTE, divisiones 13 y 14], 58 [PARTE divisiones 09, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19 y 26], 63 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23 y 25] y 64 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 03, 05, 07, 08, 09 y 15].

173 ° DISTRITO Distritos 41 [PARTE, divisiones 04, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 25 y 26], 55 [PARTE, divisiones 04, 05, 07, 26 y 28], 65 y 66 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 07, 11, 17, 24, 29, 30, 32, 35, 36, 37, 42, 43, 44 y 45].

174 ° DISTRITO Distritos 56 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 05, 06, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 y 41], 57 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 y 28], 58 [PARTE, divisiones 11 y 28] y 66 [PARTE, divisiones 19, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 y 46].

175 ° DISTRITO Distritos 02 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 15, 16, 25, 26 y 27], 05 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25, 26 y 27], 18 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 10, 11, 12 y 17], 25 [PARTE, divisiones 09, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 y 24] y 31 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13 y 14].

177 ° DISTRITO Distritos 23 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 03, 04, 08, 09, 13 y 14], 25 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 22 y 23], 31 [PARTE, divisiones 06, 15, 16, 17, 18 y 19], 41 [PARTE, divisiones 05 y 07], 45 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24 y 25], 55 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 06, 08, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27 y 29] y 64 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 04, 06, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 y 18].

179 ° DISTRITO Distritos 23 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 05, 06, 07, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 y 23], 35 [PARTE, divisiones 15, 23, 24, 26, 29 y 30], 41 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02 y 03], 42 [PARTE, divisiones 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24 y 25], 53 [PARTE, división 01], 54 [PARTE, división 01], 61 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03 y 07] y 62 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 14 y 19].

180 ° DISTRITO Distritos 07, 33, 42 [PARTE, divisiones 01 y 23] y 45 [PARTE, divisiones 08, 09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19 y 21].

181 ° DISTRITO Distritos 05 [PARTE, divisiones 15, 20 y 23], 14, 16 [PARTE, divisiones 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 y 18], 18 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 03, 08, 09, 13, 14, 15 y 16], 20, 32 [PARTE, divisiones 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 11 y 12], 37 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17 y 21] y 47. 184 ° DISTRITO Distritos 01, 39 y 48 [PARTE, divisiones 14 y 20].

182 DISTRITO Distritos 02 [PARTE, divisiones 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 y 24], 05 [PARTE, divisiones 06, 07, 08, 09, 11, 14, 22, 28 y 29] y 08.

203 ° DISTRITO Distritos 10, 35 [PARTE, divisiones 09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 27, 28 y 31] y 61 [PARTE, divisiones 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 y 28].

LOS DISTRITOS DE REPRESENTANTES ESTÁN CONSTITUIDOS POR LOS SIGUIENTES DISTRITOS Y DIVISIONES DENTRO DEL CONDADO DE FILADELFIA 152 ° DISTRITO Distrito 63 [PARTE, divisiones 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 y 24].

195 ° DISTRITO Distritos 15, 24 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18 y 19], 28, 29 y 32 [PARTE, divisiones 01, 02, 03, 04, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 y 31].

M IEM BRO DEL COM ITÉ ESTATAL DEM ÓCRATA

ELEGIDO POR EL DISTRITO SENATORIAL

M IEM BRO DEL COM ITÉ ESTATAL REPUBLICANO

ELEGIDO POR LOS LÍMITES DEL DISTRITO ELECTORAL ADOPTADOS EN 2011

COM ITÉ EJECUTIVO DE DISTRITO

ELEGIDO POR EL DISTRITO ELECTORAL

Lisa M Deeley Anthony Clark Presidente, Comisionados de la Ciudad Comisionado de la Ciudad Al Schmidt Kevin A Kelly Vicepresidente, Comisionados de la Ciudad Supervisor de las Elecciones

CANDIDATOS PARA LOS PUESTOS FEDERALES Y ESTATALES Las peticiones de nominaciones para la Elección Primaria del 15 de mayo de 2018 deben presentarse ante el Departamento de Estado, Oficina de Comisiones y Legislaciones de Elecciones (Department of State, Bureau of Elections Commissions and Legislations), en la Sala 210, North Office Building, Harrisburg, PA antes del 6 de marzo de 2018 a las 5 P.M. excepto Representante en el Congreso que debe ser presentado antes de las 5 P.M. el 20 de marzo de 2018.

www.philadelphiavotes.com

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

Family Portrait Out & About Q Puzzle Scene in Philly

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23 26 28 25

PAGE 24

NOMINEES: “A FANTASTIC WOMAN” (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT), “CALL ME BY YOUR NAME,” “THE SHAPE OF WATER,” “MUDBOUND”

LGBT nominees take center stage at 90th Academy Awards By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor Hollywood’s biggest night is often jokingly referred to as “the gay Super Bowl.” For the 90th Academy Awards, there are many queer reasons — including LGBT nominees — for tuning in to the March 4 telecast. Let’s start at the top. Three of the Best Picture nominees — “Call Me By Your Name,” “The Shape of Water” and “Lady Bird” - feature gay male characters in lead or supporting roles, and a fourth, “The Post,” features out actress Sarah Paulson. While it would be well-deserved for “Call Me By Your Name,” a devastating romantic drama between two young men, to take the top prize — and become the second gay-themed film in a row (after “Moonlight” last year) to win a Best Picture Oscar — the prognosticators are predicting

“The Shape of Water,” director Guillermo del Toro’s splendid romantic fantasy about a mute woman (Best Actress nominee Sally Hawkins) and a sea creature, will go home with the gold. “The Shape of Water” has 13 nominations, the most of any nominated film this year. One of those nominations is a Best Supporting Actor nod for Richard Jenkins, who plays the gay character, Giles, in the film. Jenkins is a long shot in the category, but his sly turn in the film is award-worthy. Acting Oscars usually go to the actors who over-emote, which is why subtle performances, like Jenkins’, tend to only get nominated but not win. Case in point: In the Best Actor race, Gary Oldman’s scenery-chewing performance as Winston Churchill in “The Darkest Hour” is expected to defeat the star-making turn by Timothée Chalamet as gay teen Elio in “Call Me By Your Name.” There is an ardent

faction of Chalamet supporters hoping and lobbying for an upset — some of them may even be Oscar voters — but “Call Me By Your Name” is likely only going to win in one of the four categories for which it was nominated. Alas, out gay filmmaker Luca Guadagnino was snubbed for Best Director, and supporting actors Armie Hammer and Michael Stuhlbarg also were skipped for nominations, much to the disappointment of fans. “Call Me By Your Name” is predicted to take home the trophy for Best Adapted Screenplay. Out gay filmmaker James Ivory will likely get his first Oscar for his magnificent work turning André Aciman’s novel into a screenplay. Ivory was nominated three times for directing — in 1987 for “A Room with a View,” in 1993 for “Howards End” and in 1994 for “The Remains of the Day.” He made all of these

films with his late partner, producer Ismail Merchant. Ivory’s competition in the Best Adapted Screenplay category includes out writer/ director Dee Rees for “Mudbound.” Rees, who shares the nomination with Virgil Williams, is the first African-American woman, queer or otherwise, ever nominated in this category. The pair’s screenplay was derived from Hillary Jordan’s novel about the friendship between two World War II veterans — one African American (Jason Mitchell) and one white (Garret Hedlund) — in Mississippi. This outstanding film should have also been nominated in the categories for Best Picture and Best Director. “Mudbound” received three other Oscar nominations, all historic. One was for Rachel Morrison in the category of Best Achievement in Cinematography. The out lesbian is the first PAGE 22

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woman to be nominated in that category. The film’s other two historic nods were for Mary J. Blige, a double nominee as Best Supporting Actress and Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song) for “Mighty River.” She shares the nomination with Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson. Blige is the first performer to ever be nominated for both an acting and a music Oscar in the same year. “Call Me By Your Name” was also nominated in the Best Song category for Sufjan Stevens’ melodic tune “Mystery of Love.” However, many viewers might wonder why Stevens’ more emotionally powerful song from the film, “Visions of Gideon,” which plays over the end credits, was not nominated. The Best Song Oscar is anticipated to go to “Remember Me” from the Disney/ Pixar film “Coco” (which is also predicted to take home the Best Animated Feature prize), but there has been a groundswell of support for another contender in this category: “This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman.” Benj Pasek and his straight partner, Justin Paul, wrote this infectious song about personal freedom and expression. The pair won last year’s Best Song Oscar for “City of Stars” from “La La Land.” And speaking of singers and Oscars, Cher, who won an Academy Award for “Moonstruck” back in 1988, has a film in competition this year. It is the Best Documentary Short Subject nominee, “Edith+Eddie,” which she executive-produced. This poignant and heartbreaking story recounts the relationship between 95-year-old Eddie and 96-year-old Edith, an interracial couple that is forced apart by one of her daughters. An affecting story about elder abuse, “Edith+Eddie” is a frontrunner in this category. The Best Documentary Feature award is projected to go to Agnès Varda, her daughter Rosalie Varda and street artist JR for their film “Faces/Places.” Varda,

who was married to bisexual filmmaker Jacques Demy, is, at 89, the oldest competitive Oscar nominee ever, beating out 89-year-old Ivory by exactly eight days. Varda will also receive an honorary Oscar at this year’s ceremony. Another landmark nomination is also in the Best Documentary Feature category. African-American Yance Ford is the first trans filmmaker to ever be Oscar-nominated. He was recognized for his unflinching film “Strong Island.” An extremely powerful and personal story, Ford’s documentary traces the 1992 murder of his brother and the racism his family encountered before, during and after the crime. While “Strong Island” has won numerous prizes on the festival circuit, it will most likely have to settle with just being nominated at the Oscars. A transgender film that is anticipated to take home an Oscar this year is Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio’s “A Fantastic Woman,” which has been nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category. It stars trans actress Daniela Vega as Marina, a trans woman who suffers mental, emotional and physical abuse after her male partner’s sudden death. Vega’s remarkable performance, which conveys Marina’s dignity in the face of intolerance, launched a campaign for her to make history as the first trans nominee in the Best Actress category. However, she failed to land a spot in the final five. Lastly, out gay Oscar-winner Bill Condon — he won a Best Adapted Screenplay trophy in 1999 for “Gods and Monsters,” based on Christopher Bram’s novel — may not be competing for an award this year, but the film he directed, “Beauty and the Beast,” is up for two Oscars: Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. It may be hard for “Beauty” to beat the favorites in those categories — “Phantom Thread” and “The Shape of Water” — but, as the saying goes, “It’s an honor just to be nominated.” n The 90th Academy Awards will be telecast on ABC at 8 p.m. Sunday.

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PROFILE PGN

Family Portrait

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

Suzi Nash

Jonathan D. Lovitz, taking care of business across the country Jonathan D. Lovitz has an impressive résumé. He is a senior vice president at NGLCC, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and a regular commentator on MSNBC, CNBC, NPR, The Advocate, Out Magazine. He has spoken at or fundraised for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, The Trevor Project, GLSEN and the Democratic Party. He is also a respected openly gay actor and news anchor for Logo TV and other networks. But the best part about him is that he’s a nice guy — a true gentleman who loves to share his community and help others. PGN: Tell me a little about yourself. JL: I was born in South Jersey and I grew up in Florida, but we had a summer house at the Jersey shore, so coming to Philly was a part of my childhood. I have fond memories of spending several birthdays at the Franklin Institute walking through the giant heart, or visiting the Camden Aquarium or the Liberty Bell. It’s neat being back here as an adult, when I can check everything out with a new appreciation. PGN: Have you gone back to the heart yet? JL: I have not. I’m hoping my wonderful scientific better half takes me soon. He can explain all the weather exhibits to me! PGN: What did you want to be when you grew up? JL: Oh man, does wanting to be an X-Man or Ninja Turtle count? There were a lot of perks growing up in Florida like being able to go to Disney World, so I wanted to be an imagineer for a while, then I went to space camp and I wanted to be an astronaut, until I discovered performing. I fell in love with acting and studied theater in college. I was also involved in student government and debate, anything where I could be loud and in front of people and hopefully make them feel something on the other end of it. I always liked being very public and engaged with people. PGN: You have such an amazing resonant voice. What was the first acting role you remember? JL: There were a few elementary roles but the first meaty one was playing Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors.” That was the moment when I realized, This is awesome! I was fortunate enough to go to a theater-camp conservatory where I met some incredible people, who are now huge Broadway and TV stars. We all got to be weird kids together and I’m so grateful for that experience. I was around a lot of openly LGBT teenagers at a very young age and it set me on a good path. Growing up in Broward County, Fla., was really special. I was surrounded by a very loving, diverse community. It was the first county in the

country to protect LGBT students. I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but looking back, I knew I felt very safe and supported in high school. Taking a boy to prom was hardly novel by the time I got there. I think it set me up to make working with LGBT youth such an important part of my life, because my coming-out process was relatively easy. My family was great. My friends were great and I had the theater to fall back on. PGN: That makes such a difference in your confidence and how you move through the world as a gay person. JL: Yes, and then I went to a really great, liberal university, which also was a safe space for me. PGN: So what happened to Florida? It doesn’t seem to be the mecca of liberal politics right now. JL: Right? Well, I think Florida, like a lot of places that my work has allowed me to go to, has a lot of blue dots and red squares. Thankfully, the blue dots seem to be blooming as more communities are finding the need to stand together. I still have a lot of faith in my home state. And every time I go home, I see something that impresses me: an out legislator or a new LGBT-friendly initiative by a corporation, things that wouldn’t have happened a decade ago. And most recently, the amazing kids who are rising from the pain of what happened at Parkland and leading the fight for all. PGN: True, a long ways from the time of Anita Bryant. JL: Yes, that was a crazy time. I hated to see a good pie go to waste. PGN: I hear you. So what got you out of Florida? JL: I was at the University of Florida (go Gators!), where I studied musical theater, and along the way. I tripped and fell into political activism. The John Kerry campaign was happening, during the early Bush years when we started to see some steps backwards for LGBT issues that were pretty nasty and eye-opening. I was meeting groups full of young people, who were looking forward to becoming professionals in their fields but wanted to stay connected to some kind of activism. It planted a seed in me that began to grow. Immediately after graduating, I got hired to go on a national tour with a Broadway show. I toured with “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” I was in that lucky 1 percent that actually got paid to work right out of school. And immediately after that, I toured with “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which played at the Academy of Music right here in Philadelphia. I remember coming through and having family here. But through it all, I always kept politically active and aware.

I supported the Democratic Party and supported local races. One of my best friends from Florida became Florida’s first out state legislator, so I was always tied to young people doing great things. PGN: Wow, that’s pretty cool. What came next? JL: After touring for a few years, I moved to New York and did theater there pretty consistently and then took a leap of faith and tried television. I got lucky again with some background roles, which became speaking roles, which eventually led me to being asked to become an interviewer and a journalist. I fell in love with being able to use my own voice to connect with people, particularly on LGBT issues. I was a news anchor for Logo TV and other outlets. PGN: One of the things I read was that part of the reason you wanted to do LGBTactivist work was because of the LGBT folks you met while touring who were not

the only way they were able to keep it safe and secret; [and] meeting people outside Cheyenne, Wyo, who told me they had to drive five hours to get to the nearest gay bar where they could be themselves. It’s amazing to meet these people and then go to the San Franciscos, New Yorks and Atlantas of the world and see how incredible it is to have free choice and opportunity everywhere. I was blessed to meet some incredible people on that journey. I still keep in touch with some of them. And now, especially since I get to travel so much with my current job, I meet up with some of the people I met touring and get to hear how things have changed, in most cases thankfully for the better. PGN: Tell me about that current job. JL: After working in television for so long and being out very publicly in my career as both an actor and an anchor and an advocate, I got connected to groups like the Trevor Project and the Human Rights Campaign and the NGLCC. I was thrilled when I learned how powerful business can be in affecting social change. It’s their mission and we’ve seen it in the last few years, from small businesses changing local communities to big corporations affecting public policy in states like North Carolina and Indiana. I was really taken aback by the power of what LGBT people were doing by asserting our economic strength and the number of businesses that were willing to stand with us. It’s inspiring and it’s clearly where the trends are going. NGLCC on our own and through affiliates is operating in over 15 countries around the world!

PGN: Holy cow! JL: Yes, there’s a global movement to connect human rights, commerce, economic opportunity and Photo: Suzi Nash bridge communities, especially in the last few months always having it so easy. where we’ve seen a powerful connection. JL: Oh yeah, there’s such an amazing Where we’ve seen not just LGBT groups patchwork of inspiring LGBT stories but women, people of color, immigrants, out there that, thanks to the miracle of veterans, students all saying we’re in this the Internet, we’re hearing more of them together more than we’ve ever been, and these days and we’re able to connect with it’s elevated LGBT voices in a way that’s our brothers and sisters in a way that we weren’t able to before. I remember going to remarkable and I’m so lucky to be a part of a bar in Birmingham, Ala., where they had it. I’ve been entrusted to be the public voice private security out in front and you had to and face for a lot of this work and it means buy a $1 private membership because that’s everything to me. PAGE 28

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

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TELEVISION PGN

Out comedian keeps winning in new primetime sitcom By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

people that really love each other, not only the brothers who are trying to raise this teenager but also the people at the gym who they’ve known forever,” she said. “It’s like this ‘it-takes-a-village-type show. We definitely give each other a hard time but it has a lot of heart. It’s a quirky comedy but it’s still people you want to root for.” The show also dives into issues of diversity and family structures that aren’t the norm.

A new sitcom featuring LGBT characters is hitting the airwaves this week — and it looks to be a winner. The show centers on Vince (Anders Holmes), who lives with his good-natured brother after he gave up on his post-high-school dream of sports stardom to run the family gym in Brooklyn. Secretly, he’s on the verge of giving up on the business and moving to Florida when his high-school sweetheart, Priya (Mindy Kaling), shows up unexpectedly to drop off their 15-year-old son, Michael (J.J. Totah), in his father’s care so he can attend a prestigious performing-arts school in New York. Out comedian Fortune Feimster, who is no stranger to television regularly appears on “Chelsea Lately,” “Last Comic Standing” and “Glee,” plays Ruby, Vince’s childhood friend who works at his gym. Feimster said that show creators Charlie Grandy and actor Kaling (“The Office,” “The Mindy Project”) wrote Ruby specifically for her. “They asked me if it was something I would be interested in,” she said. “It would have been some character and this character would be based around me. I had already worked with them before and had a really positive experience. It’s so rare to have creators tell you that they want to build a character around you, so I jumped at the chance.” Feimster said that, at first, the show focuses on FORTUNE FEIMSTER AS RUBY Photo: Danny Ventrella/NBC “Everything about this family dynamic is non-tradiVince and his brother Matthew adjusting to suddenly having a new family member in their chaotic lives. But tional,” Feimster said. “You have a multi ethnic situation. He’s a gay teenager and suddenly he’s going away other characters eventually help the brothers. “As the season moves on, you get to explore more of from his mom to be raised by his dad and his brother the gym and how everything works together,” Feimster in New York City from Ohio. His idea of New York is said. “But you definitely want to see the dynamic of everything he’s watched on ‘Sex and the City. This new how they suddenly take on the responsibility of taking transition as a young gay kid, making new friends, you care of this kid. When you have this young actor like J.J. do explore his ethnicity and it’s an interesting journey. who’s at the helm, you want to wind him up and let him A lot of kids these days are coming to terms with their go. He’s so funny. I think he’s really going to stand out.” sexuality a lot sooner than my generation did. There’s Feimster described the show’s humor as fast-paced a sense of confidence there and knowing who they are but also dealing with things teenagers deal with. So I but heartfelt. “It’s got the quippiness of a ‘Mindy Project’-type think it’s a pretty interesting look into the young kid’s show where there’s a lot of sharp jokes and pop-culture world. As a gay person, I’m super proud that there’s this references but at the end of the day, it is about these TV show that is going to have a gay kid and a lesbian on network TV. I feel like most of the time, you either have one or the other or none, so I have a particular sense of pride being a part of this show.” Feimster has had to put her live standup gigs on hold while working on “Champions,” but she said she’ll be back on the road with new jokes soon after the sticom premieres. “I’ve been doing a lot of writing when I’m not filming. I’m trying to prep for when I start back on the road in midMarch. I’ll be coming into these shows with new material and a new perspective on things. I’m working towards putting together a new hour that I hope will be on some platform. I’m in the process of creating that material.” n “Champions” premieres 8:30 p.m. March 8 on NBC.

YASSIR LESTER (FROM LEFT), ANDY FAVREAU, J.J. For more information, visit www.nbc.com/champions TOTAH, MOUZAM MAKKER, ANDERS HOLM AND FORTUNE or www.fortunefeimster.com. FEIMSTER Photo: Trae Patton/NBCUniversal

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

Philly POPS go Broadway for concert series By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com

the author of “Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. March 7 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215567-4341.

a Broadway program with them and I said yes. They just get it. They know how to do it.” It doesn’t matter if you’re a casual fan

Luminaries from Broadway and the big screen will join the Philly POPS next weekend during “Best of Broadway,” a showcase of the finest in showtunes featuring three guest vocalists: Debbie Gravitte, Susan Egan and Christopher Seiber. Out conductor Todd Ellison will preside over the performances, which will feature classic songs from shows like “My Fair Lady,” “Cats,” “Wicked,” “A Chorus Line,” “Beauty and the Beast” and Disney tunes. Ellison said the entertainers have a personal connection to the songs they perform. “What I love as a concertgoer is I want to learn a bit about the performers as well as why they are CONDUCTOR TODD ELLISON Photo: Ronnie Nelson singing these songs,” he said. “The pieces we’ve chosen, everybody or a Broadway expert; Ellison said anyone has a connection to the material in some would fully enjoy the Philly POPS’ rendiway from their life experience. It’s not just tions of Broadway songs. a random collection of Broadway songs. “No matter what kind of concert you’re These are songs that have had an impact on going to, we’re all looking to be moved by their lives or in their career, songs they’ve something,” he said. “We’re going for an sung in shows themselves or songs they experience. If you go to a symphony congrew up loving. It’s a dream come true, cert, you’re picking those musicians, that orchestra, that conductor that are going to really.” Ellison added that, having worked with interpret a piece of music a certain way. the POPS before, he knows the orchestra It’s the same when people discover the will bring the songs to brilliant life on songs we’re going to do in our concert. I think they’re going to be surprised they stage. “I had the good fortune of conducting know most of the songs. It’s part of our a Memorial Day concert with the Philly DNA in a way. You hear a Gershwin song POPS about two years ago at Longwood and it takes you back to a place in time or a Gardens and that was my first time with memory. I think people will discover they them,” he said. “They were the greatest have a lot more in common with the matebunch of players. They really know how rial we’re doing than maybe they thought to swing. I’ve done about 10 symphony and no matter what, we’re going to interorchestras and they are playing pop. So pret it in a way that moves them.” n it’s always just a little different. But this The Philly POPS perform “Best of Broadway” group is just the greatest at playing every March 9-11 at The Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall, style, and they asked me if I wanted to do 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999.

PGN YOUTH SUPPLEMENT - MARCH 30 ISSUE

Shen Yun 2018 The traditional Chinese dance ensemble performs through March 11 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999.

STILL KEEPING IT MOVING: Classic new-wave/synthpop group OMD (short for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark), hits Philadelphia in support of its latest album, “The Punishment of Luxury,” playing new songs alongside greatest hits 8 p.m. March 7 at TLA, 334 South St. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1011.

Theater & Arts Design in Revolution: A 1960s Odyssey Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of pop art and psychedelia from the civilrights and antiwar movements through Sept. 9, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. The Humans Walnut Street Theatre presents the Tony Awardwinning new play about a family’s holiday turmoil, through March 4, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. Kevin Smith at Home Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition spanning five decades of the Rochester-based artist’s mixedmedia photographs prints and books through July 8, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.

Magical & Real: Henriette Wyeth and Peter Hurd, A Retrospective The Michener Art Museum presents an exhibition of works by Hurd (1904-84) and Wyeth (190797), important contributors to the arts of both the Philadelphia region and the Southwest, through May 6, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215340- 9800. Patricia Urquiola: Between Craft and Industry The work of acclaimed designer Urquiola, who creates cool, innovative objects for the home and office, is on display through March 4 at Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Peking Acrobats The elite dance company makes its Annenberg Center debut March 9-10 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680

Walnut St.; 215898-3900. Ready Steady Yeti Go Azuka Theatre presents the worldpremiere drama about a romance that tries to bloom in the aftermath of a hate crime, through March 11 at Proscenium Theatre at The Drake, 302 S. Hicks St.; 215-5631100. Robocop The 1987 scifi action film is screened 8 p.m. March 5 at Trocadero Theater, 1009 Arch St.; 215922-6888. Sarah McBride One of the first transgender people to work at the White House,

Something Rotten! Broadway Philadelphia presents the musical set during the 1590s in which two brothers are desperate to write a hit play to compete with Shakespeare, through March 4 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-7905800. Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye Arden Theatre Company presents the powerful adaptation exploring the destructive power of racism and the strength of a community attempting to embrace an era of change, through April 1, 40 N. Second St.; 215922-1122. Tony Woods The comedian performs March 8-10 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555.

Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS

March 3 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215606-6555. Drag Wars 9 Mimi Imfurst hosts a brand-new cast of queens competing for the title of Philadelphia’s Next Drag Superstar, 7-11:30 p.m. March 3 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 James St.; 215-735-5772. STILL DEARLY BELOVED…: Prince’s iconic backing band, The Revolution, performs the pioneering and innovative singer’s greatest and most classic songs in concert 9 p.m. March 9 at Sugar House Casino, 1001 N. Delaware Ave. For more information or tickets, call 877-477-3715.

Varujan Boghosian: Master Manipulator Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition featuring works by the artist and collector, who scours antique shops and flea markets for materials to use in his imaginative sculptures and collages, through April 18, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. Virtually Rudy: New Dimensions in Sculpture The Michener Art Museum presents an exhibition of sculptures and their digital representations by Charles Rudy, through April 8, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215340- 9800. Witch Taint: The Black Metal Dialogues Comedian Dave Hill’s real-life attempts to get signed to a Norwegian Black Metal record label with his fictional band Witch Taint are brought to life on stage 10 p.m.

March 2 at Good Good Comedy Theatre, 215 N. 11th St.; 215-3991279.

Music Eric Johnson The virtuoso rock guitarist performs at 8 p.m. March 3 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-5727650. Rachelle Ferrell The R&B/soul singer performs 8 p.m. March 4 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-572-7650. Ladysmith Black Mambazo The acclaimed world-music group performs 8 p.m. March 6 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808. OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) The new-wave/ synthpop group performs 8 p.m. March 7 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215922-1011.

Galactic Empire and Mac Sabbath The Star Warscostumed rock band and the Black Sabbath/ McDonald’s (yeah, you saw us right) tribute band perform 7:30 p.m. March 8 at The Foundry, 39 E. Allen St.; 215-3090150. Cactus The classic-rock band performs 8 p.m. March 8 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215257-5808. The Revolution Prince’s classic backing band performs the songs it helped make famous 9 p.m. March 9 at Sugar House Casino, 1001 N. Delaware Ave.; 877-4773715.

Nightlife Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva Brunch The headliner, along with Bev, Vinchelle, Sutton Fearce and special guests, performs 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Miss Amateur L’Etage Ten queens compere for prizes and bragging rights 8-9:30 p.m. March 4 at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St.; 215592-0656. Treklesque: Star Trek Burlesque Burlesque performers beam down for the scifi themed show 9 p.m. March 9 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.

Outta Town The Sting The classic caper film is screened 1 p.m. March 4 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610917-1228. Kansas The classic-rock band performs 8 p.m. March 9 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. Tiffany Haddish The comedian seen on “Girls Trip” performs 9 p.m. March 9 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000. n

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

Brian Justin Crum: Cast off the shame By Gary L. Day PGN Contributor When Brian Justin Crum first won the hearts of audiences on “America’s Got Talent” in 2016, most people probably didn’t know he was already a seasoned show-business veteran. At the tender age of 17, he left his San Diego home to join the cast of Broadway’s “Wicked” — and has been working steadily since. But it wasn’t just his stellar pipes that won people over. Crum shared his story of coming out at a young age and the resulting bullying he endured. He was touched and heartened by the response. “A lot of people connected with my story,” he said. “I mean, we all have our shit to deal with. We’ve got to use our struggle, use our personal pain, turn it around to make for ourselves the life we want to lead.” As successful as he was before his TV appearance — after “Wicked,” he appeared in such shows as “Altar Boyz,” “Grease,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “The Addams Family” — his stint on “AGT” kicked his career to new levels. Not only has he released some recordings that have done very well, he is constantly criss-crossing the USA, and the world, to perform at various events. “I want to do it all,” he replied, when asked whether he prefers, singing, acting or dancing. And he doesn’t see a need to restrict himself to one aspect of performing. “I’ve always seen myself as an entertainer. I mean, sure, it would be great to someday win a Grammy for my singing, but why restrict yourself to one thing if you don’t have to? We want it all.” O n e aspect of Crum’s popularity as a performer is his sex appeal. He laughs when told this and is quite unapologetic about using that appeal. “There was a lot of shame heaped on [gay people] growing up — especially concerning our sexuality. It’s important to

cast off the shame. It’s important to own our sexuality — to claim it, proudly.” Crum will appear in a show called “Dance to the Movies” at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope. He will join a lineup of faces, bodies and voices from “Dancing With the Stars,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “American Idol” and “The Voice.” Crum is enthusiastic about recreating some iconic moments from classics such as “West Side Story” and “Grease.” In addition, the show will feature new dances set to scores from movies such as “The Godfather” and “Titanic.” Future plans? “I try not to think about the future a whole lot — too much anxiety. I try to focus on the here and now, making the best of things as they happen. What is meant to happen, will happen.” He muses for a moment. “I would like to start some sort of charity operation under my name at some point. There are so many people in need out there, it’s important that we all chip in, to do what we can to make things better.” n Brian Justin Crum appears in “Dance to the Movies” March 7-11 at the Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope. Tickets are $45-$75 and are available at the Playhouse box office (215-862-2121), the New Hope Visitor’s Center, 1 W. Mechanic St. (215-8625030) and at BucksCountyPlayhouse.org.

pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

PORTRAIT from page 23

PGN: Can you give me a brief description of what NGLCC means and what it does? JL: Of course. NGLCC is the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the business voice of the community. We represent America’s 1.4-million LGBT business owners. We are the sole organization in the world that can certify a company as being LGBT-owned, which is something that can open up doors to all kinds of contracting opportunities. We also weigh in as a policy advocate, effecting change at the federal, state and local levels to make sure that every LGBT person has the same rights to get ahead as everyone else. PGN: Do you work with issues like the cake-shop guy who refuses to make wedding cakes for LGBT people? JL: Oh yes, we actively work from the top down pushing back against so-called religious-freedom bills. They’re not only morally wrong, they’re totally destructive for businesses. Just look at North Carolina and the bathroom bill. They lost tens of billions of dollars from corporations who pulled their companies out, small businesses who said, “We won’t work here,” LGBT talent who said, “We’re not going to go to the universities here or move here, and events that were cancelled. We actively voice the dollars-and-cents power and consequences in terms of LGBT rights. It’s important for the community to remember what our dollars can do to effect change.” The LGBT consumer spends over $917 billion each year! That’s a lot of clout. Groups like NGLCC and locally the IBA (Independent Business Association) help to harness that power. We put $1.7 trillion into the economy. If all the LGBT businesses created our own country, we’d be the 10th wealthiest in the world. And also the weather would be perfect and all drinks would be calorie-free! PGN: But of course! JL: It’s really spectacular to think of what we can do when we assert our might in the market. PGN: I used to have a little pink stamp that said, “This is a Gay Dollar” to mark my bills. JL: Yes! One thing that the IBA is doing and that I’m proud to be a part of as a national representative for NGLCC is their work with intersectionality. IBA is leading the way to make sure that Latin, Asian and African-American and disability voices in the LGBT community are empowered and are able to connect within their own community. It’s really powerful and what’s making Philly a truly diverse and connected city. It should be replicated in other cities. PGN: So what do you like to do when you’re not trying to save the world? JL: [Laughing] I don’t know about that, but thank you. I’m a political junkie so I have my daily dose of scouring political blogs and getting into comment-board fights. I try to stay active and healthy so staying fit is important. After living in New York for

10 years, we have a car for the first time so we love to head out and explore nature and there’s so much to do right nearby. I’m a big nerd, so exploring a museum or reading a new book are thrills for me. But I’m happily married to a fellow nerd so we can geek out together! PGN: And your hubby is? JL: Steve Sosna, the incredible meteorologist on NBC10! We were married in October by Jim Obergefell, plaintiff in the Supreme Court marriage-equality case! PGN: Cool. Tell me about the folks? JL: They’re incredible. They’ve been married for over 44 years so I hope I’ve learned a thing or two from them as I enter the fifth month of my marriage. They’re currently professional grandparents, spoiling my nieces and nephews in Florida. My dad was a small-business owner and ran a family business for decades, my mom was a teacher and a banker and inspired both of my sisters to become teachers. I have some pretty fantastic role models. PGN: What kind of small business? JL: He ran clothing lines on the boardwalk in Atlantic City for years, which is how the Jersey shore and Philly were part of the family. PGN: You were with a company called StartOut, a nonprofit empowering LGBT entrepreneurs. What was the most rewarding part? JL: Seeing the journey from that first idea on a cocktail napkin to getting funding to opening a first storefront or business. How great someone would feel hiring their first employee. Seeing people’s lives change and then them changing other people’s lives by giving them opportunities. It was a beautiful thing. PGN: As a reporter, what was a favorite celebrity-red-carpet moment? JL: One of my favorites was with Kathy Lee and Hoda. I think they were both about two chardonnays in at that point. They were starting to muss my hair and fix my tie. They were both pinching my cheeks and telling me how cute I was. It was hysterical. I could barely make it through a question. [Laughing] One of the most awkward interviews was trying to interview the baseball player Kris Humphries. He’s about double my height and they couldn’t get both of us in the frame, so a cameraman from another outlet took pity on me and kicked over his camera box so I could stand on it. PGN: A fashion style you wish would make a comeback? JL: Oh, I wish we all still dressed like Cole Porter and Noel Coward, the greats of the ’30s and ’40s. Men really knew how to dress back then. I miss that class and sophistication. I wish we had it today. PGN: Indeed!

To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol.com.

Q Puzzle Pryor Restraint Across

1. Sistine Chapel figure by Michelangelo 7. Torah at Beth Chayim Chadashim 13. It may include Log Cabin candidates 14. Gaily colored flower 15. Start of a quote from Richard Pryor 17. Where students come together 18. Postlovemaking sighs 21. Departure from life 22. Ice in Ulm 25. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s “Kinky ___” 27. Dude chaser 29. Cut it 30. Back biter 35. Final Foursome org.? 36. More of the quote 39. Luau food 40. Where to find a Pacific Rim job 41. Ship letters 43. Pirate’s hue 45. Heads of trains 47. Treat badly 48. Flynn role in “They Died With

Their Boots On” 49. End of the quote 53. Big name in soft balls 55. Lover of Dali, perhaps 56. Rock Hudson’s “A Farewell to ___” 59. Jump for Adam Rippon 60. Ready for action, for guys 61. Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys 62. ___ Damon (Barbara Grier pen name) 63. Word after “Queer” on Netflix 64. “Saving Private Ryan” event

Down

1. Alec’s _Star Wars_ character 2. Butt 3. Sports car, briefly 4. They may rain on my parade 5. “Zami” author Audre 6. Code of conduct 7. Margaret Mead topic 8. Peter the Great, and more 9. Monaco VIP 10. Stew in Sitges 11. Island necklace 12. Dog or work area

16. Shoshonean tongue 18. “Ellen” network 19. It may arouse a sleeping camper 20. “Two Women” actress 22. Came upon 23. Shout after being blinded by a facial 24. Doo-wop syllable 26. You might tuck it into your jeans 28. “Two Little Girls” singer DiFranco 30. Williams of “Brokeback Mountain” 31. Heed a master 32. Comic actor DeLaria

33. Former Minnesota governor Carlson 34. Condom, in slang 37. Loads of 38. Base-running term 39. Pitchfork-shaped letter 42. Cold War abbr. 44. Drag queen’s petticoat feature 46. ___ Records (Etheridge label) 50. Folk history 51. Hunted animal 52. ___ homo 53. Will to Grace, or Grace to Will 54. Extension on a hard drive 57. “Mamma ___!” 58. Crazy like a fox

PGN

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

Classifieds All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any realestate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law.

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

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Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, February Term, 2018, No. 2015. NOTICE is hereby given that on February 21, 2018, the petition of Louisa Angela Schnalke was filed, praying for a decree to change petitioner’s name to Joshua Pascal Schnalke. The Court has fixed April 13, 2018 at 11:30 AM, in Courtroom No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall as the time and place for the hearing of said petition. All persons interested may appear then and there and show cause, if they have any, why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted. Louisa Ashmead Robinson Esq., Attorney for Petitioner, 7412 Boyer Street, Philadelphia, PA 19119. Tel. 215519-4667. ________________________________________42-07

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NOTICE

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A DRAWING FOR BALLOT POSITION FOR WARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CANDIDATES FOR THE MAY 15, 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018, 11:00 A.M. IN THE CITY COMMISSIONERS 6th FLOOR HEARING ROOM, RIVERVIEW PLACE, COLUMBUS BLVD. & SPRING GARDEN ST.

NOTIFICACIÓN

A QUIEN CORRESPONDA:

POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA QUE EL MIÉRCOLES 14 DE MARZO DE 2018 A LAS 11:00 A.M. SE REALIZARÁ UN SORTEO PARA DETERMINAR LA POSICIÓN EN LAS BOLETAS DE LOS CANDIDATOS AL COMITÉ EJECUTIVO DE DISTRITO PARA LA ELECCIÓN PRIMARIA GENERAL DEL 15 DE MAYO DE 2018 EN LA SALA DE AUDIENCIAS DEL 6to PISO DE COMISIONADOS DE LA CIUDAD, RIVERVIEW PLACE, COLUMBUS BLVD. Y SPRING GARDEN ST. PHILADELPHIA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS JUNTA ELECTORAL DEL CONDADO DE FILADELFIA Lisa M Deeley Chairwoman, City Commissioners Presidente, Comisionados de la Ciudad

Anthony Clark City Commissioner Comisionado de la Ciudad

Al Schmidt Vice Chairman, City Commissioners Vicepresidente, Comisionados de la Ciudad

Kevin A Kelly Acting Supervisor of Elections Supervisor de Elecciones

www.philadelphiavotes.com

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com March 2-8, 2018

Friends Men WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________42-10 Philip C., Bruce A., Michael S., Mark S., Jonathan A., Michael F., Troy, Matt, Mat, Adam, Doug, Little Bruce A. and Craig (“Draco”), You’re Princes of my heart. Please text Theodore Michael Gagnon @ 267-966-5469. 202 Roberts Road. Love Teddy Boy, King of Kings. ________________________________________42-09 GBM Pro. 47, Shave head, 5-10, athletic build 165, NO HOOK-UP, looking for LTR. Text pics & stats to 215350-4997. ________________________________________42-09 MARCH COLORECTAL AWARENESS BM 74 will assist WMs especially over 50, to prepare sphincter for procedure. Expert use of gloved lubricated digit, rubber sphincter expander or penile injector. Call 856-571-9821 for appointments or leave VM before 11 PM. Text picture of sphincter for pre evaluation. _____________________________________________42-10

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