PGN March 20-26 2009 edition by The Philadelphia Gay News

Honesty Integrity Professionalism

Mar. 20 - 26, 2009

Gay man gets life in pornmurder trial

See VERDICT, Page 16

By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer PRIDE ON PARADE: Franny Price (third from left), president of Philly Pride Presents; Steve Glassman (center), chair of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission; and Chuck Volz (third from right), Philly Pride Presents senior adviser, lead guests of the Northeast Regional Pride Conference on a “Rocky” run up the steps of the Art Museum March 14. NERP brought together about 90 gay-pride coordinators from the northeastern section of the country for a weekend of networking, workshops and social outings. Mayor Nutter welcomed NERP attendees to the city on Friday, after which they had the chance to go on VIP tours of the City Hall Tower. Prior to the Art Museum stop, the visitors took part in a series of pride workshops at the William Way LGBT Community Center, went on a gay-history tour of the city and stopped in South Philly for the obligatory cheesesteak before the conference wrapped up with a banquet at the National Liberty Museum later that night. “I think it was very successful,” Price said. “Everything from the welcome at City Hall to the tours to the banquet dinner was just wonderful.” Photo: Scott A. Drake

When other household members and children are included, the number of lowincome same-sex female couples jumps to 22.2 percent, while 20.9 percent of married opposite-sex couples and 14.2 percent of gay-male couples would be considered low-income. M.V. Lee Badgett, a Williams Institute researcher who worked on the study, said several factors could be inﬂuencing the higher rates of poverty among lesbians. “The ﬁrst is gender; two, women’s incomes are on average lower than two males or a male and a female added together, so I think that’s a big piece out of it,” Badgett said. “And the other reasons are a little more speculative, such as the possibility of being hurt by not having access to marriage, being vulnerable to employment discrimination, the possibility of losing a job or not getting health insurance for your family.” There were also stark differences along racial lines. About 21.1 percent of AfricanAmerican same-sex female couples are

About 250 people gathered at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg March 17 to show their support for HB 300, legislation that would ban discrimination against LGBT individuals in Pennsylvania. The “Rock the Dome” rally and lobbying day, sponsored by the Value All Families Coalition, drew a barrage of LGBT and ally supporters from around the state, as well as several lawmakers who are backing the bill. HB 300, which was voted out of the House State Government Committee March 11, would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination against individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in employment, housing and public accommodations. Buses carrying about 100 LGBT and ally individuals departed Philadelphia at about 9 a.m. March 17 and met the 150 people who had boarded buses from Pittsburgh at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Harrisburg. Jake Kaskey, policy and outreach coordinator at Equality Advocates Pennsylvania, said the participants had lunch together and then attended a training session on how to most effectively lobby for HB 300 before heading to the Rotunda for the rally. Rally speakers included Pennsylvania Reps. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.), Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist.), Ron Waters (D-191st Dist.), Tony Payton (D-179th Dist.), Peter Daley (D49th Dist.) and Cherelle Parker (D-200th Dist.); Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17th Dist.); openly gay Harrisburg City Councilman Dan Miller; the Rev. Timothy Safford, rector of Christ Church; Steve Glassman, chair of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission; Diane Topakian, political programs coordinator of the Service Employees International Union Pennsylvania State Council; Andy Hoover, legislative director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania; and Kaskey. “I think the rally was very wonderful, very positive,” said the Rev. Jeffrey Jordan of the

See POVERTY, Page 15

See RALLY, Page 16

Study ﬁnds poverty highest among lesbians By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer A report being released today found that lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans struggle with poverty just as much as, if not more than, heterosexuals. The Williams Institute’s “Poverty in the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community” revealed that all factions of the LGB community face ﬁnancial hardships, with lesbians and African Americans experiencing poverty at much higher rates than other communities. The U.S. Census Bureau analyzes rates of poverty along numerous lines, such as race, age and sex, but doesn’t include statistics about the LGB community, one of the main motivating factors for the Williams Institute, which conducts research on an array of LGBT issues. Researchers gathered information from the 2000 U.S. Census, the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth and the 2003 and 2005 California Health Interview Surveys to analyze LGB poverty, using the federal poverty standard as a guide. The study found that, among

Vol. 33 No. 12

Advocates rally for equality in Harrisburg

By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer A jury in Luzerne County found Harlow Cuadra guilty last week in the stabbing death of a Pennsylvania gay-porn producer and a judge sentenced him this week to two consecutive life terms. Cuadra, 27, was accused of killing Cobra Video owner Bryan Kocis, 44. Cuadra’s former partner, Joseph Kerekes, 35, was also implicated in the murder but pleaded guilty in December and is serving a life sentence. Firefighters found Kocis’ body Jan. 24, 2007, after Cuadra and Kerekes stabbed him nearly 30 times and set his Dallas Township house on fire. After 12 days of testimony, the jury of eight men and four women deliberated for three-anda-half hours March 12 before returning their verdict that Cuadra was guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, two counts of arson, robbery, theft, tampering with evidence, abuse of corpse and four other conspiracy charges.

us lo bu 27 Fa e & g t pa Fi – t r es eve gg bi tion ur c O se

Philadelphia Gay News

heterosexual and LGB men and women age 18-44, women — in particular those who identify as lesbian or bisexual — experience much higher poverty rates than males. The study found that approximately 24 percent of lesbians and bisexual women are poor, while 19 percent of heterosexual women experience poverty. About 15 percent of gay and bisexual men fall below the poverty line, compared to 13 percent of heterosexual males. Lesbian couples also face poverty at a higher rate than heterosexual married couples or gay-male couples, with 6.9 percent of lesbian couples falling below the poverty line, compared with 5.4 percent of opposite-sex couples and 4 percent of gay-male couples. Similar proportions of same-sex female couples and heterosexual married couples are considered low-income — having an income that is 200 percent or less than the federal-poverty line — with 17.7 percent of married couples and 17.4 percent of lesbian and bisexual female couples falling into this category. About 11 percent of gay-male couples are low-income.

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MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

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MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

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Editorial 10 International News 18 Letters/Feedback 11 11 Mark My Words 7 Media Trail 5 News Briefing 7 National News 10 Other Views 5 Regional News 11 Street Talk

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Sally Tyre Scholarship fundraiser nets $1,350

Performers take stage for NJ Diversity Weekend

Members participating in the scholarship event sought to honor many of Philadelphia’s former lesbian bars and clubs, as well as their patrons.

GABLES will host its second-annual Diversity Weekend April 3-4 at various locations throughout Cape May.

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Publisher

Mark Segal (ext. 204)

Detour Comics Diversions Meeting Place Portraits Q Puzzle Scene In Philly Worth Watching

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Writer-at-Large Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208)

Family Portraits:

Andy Samberg (left) plays Paul Rudd’s gay brother in “I Love You, Man”

Sandy Beach

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Graphic Artist Sean Dorn (ext. 211) sean@epgn.com Photographer/Graphic Artist Scott A. Drake (ext. 216) scott@epgn.com Advertising Manager Nick Forte (ext. 209) nick@epgn.com Assistant Advertising Manager Greg Dennis (ext. 201) greg@epgn.com

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Editor Sarah Blazucki (ext. 206) sarah@epgn.com

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Newly renamed Philadelphia Film Festival “Cinefest” offers some worthwhile LGBT ﬁlms to hold you over until this summer’s “Q-Fest.” Page 20

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Spring: warm weather and skinrevealing clothes

Reunions, blind dates and baby talk

Andrew Suvalsky takes you on a musical ride

Morrissey and “Years of Refusal”

Bahstun, Hahvad Yahd and the Chahles Rivah

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Poll results from our online survey ending Mar. 18: What is the surest sign that spring has arrived in Philadelphia? ADOPTION CORNER: Dora

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0% The ﬁrst robin 33% Daffodils and cherry blossoms 17% Phillies home opener 17% No more snow forecasts 33% Guys with their shirts off

Go to www.philagaynews.com to weigh in on this week’s question: Should violence against antigay protesters be considered a hate crime?

National Advertising Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Office Manager/Classifieds Don Pignolet (ext. 200) don@epgn.com Executive Assistant Credit/Billing Manager Carol Giunta (ext. 202) carol@epgn.com Philadelphia Gay News is a member of: The Associated Press National Gay Newspaper Guild Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 2009 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155 The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” column. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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News Briefing

Regional

Panel to discuss LGBT finances Lambda Legal, the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund and Merrill Lynch will host a free symposium on life- and financialplanning strategies for the LGBT community at 6 p.m. March 24 at the 1352 Lofts, 1352 South St., Suite 400. Panelists will include attorney Tiffany Palmer, of Jerner & Palmer, P.C.; Ken Schaefer, financial adviser with Merrill Lynch; Perry Monastero, DVLF executive director; and Christopher Bells, deputy director of development for Lambda Legal. The speakers will discuss the steps LGBT individuals can take to protect their finances and their families. Registration is required. To RSVP, contact Jeff Souva at jsouva@lambdalegal. org or (312) 663-4413 ext. 335. TRYING OUT THE TRIAL: The COLOURS Organization Inc. invited community members to Ms. Tootsie’s on March 12 to learn more about an HIV-vaccine trial that will take place in Philadelphia. Speakers included Louis Bonilla, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian AIDS Education Initiative (from left); Lee Carson, president of the Black Gay Men’s Leadership Council; Kaijson Noilmar, Legacy Project coordinator at the HIV Vaccine Trials Network; and David Metzger, director of the HIV Prevention Research Division at the University of Pennsylvania. The trial, sponsored by a partnership between the HIV Vaccine Trials Network and Penn, is geared toward HIV-negative gay men of color. Photo: Scott A. Drake

Penn celebrates LGBT-awareness week By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Students, faculty and staff at the University of Pennsylvania will take part in a series of LGBT-awareness events next week, continuing a tradition that dates back more than 25 years. QPenn Week, March 22-29, will feature lectures, activities and social gatherings that heighten the visibility and inﬂuence of the university’s very active, but often underrecognized, LGBT community. Marianne Mondt, Penn senior and publicity chair for QPenn Week, said the theme of this year’s event, “Embrace the Rainbow,” a takeoff on Skittles’ motto “Taste the Rainbow,” exempliﬁes the diversity of the LGBT community. “We thought that with ‘Embrace the Rainbow,’ we could show that there are seven different colors to the rainbow itself and that shows the whole spectrum of differences that exist within our own community,” Mondt said. Mondt said QPenn Week strives to give a voice and a face to Penn’s LGBT community. “Since we’re a minority on campus and the LGBT community is usually considered an invisible minority, we use QPenn week to show our presence,” she said. “We want to raise awareness and also just have fun.” The fun will kick off with a QPenn Week

launch party at 6 p.m. March 22 at the Fox Art Gallery, 249 S. 36th St. The next night, the community can meet with Dr. Suzanne Dibble, adjunct professor at the University of California’s Institute for Health & Aging who specializes in LGBT health issues, at 6 p.m. at Penn’s LGBT Center, 3907 Spruce St. Out comedian Kate Clinton is the keynote speaker for QPenn Week and will take the stage at 8 p.m. March 23 in the Harrison Auditorium. “She’ll be performing stand-up for about 45 minutes and also talking about some of the issues that the LGBT community is facing,” Mondt said. “We’re expecting a great turnout for that event. Everyone’s really excited to get the chance to see her.” Tickets for the event are $10 and can be purchased at Penn’s LGBT Center as well as at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St. Penn’s nine LGBT student organizations will spearhead more than a dozen other events throughout the week, including a presentation by mtvU vice president of marketing Chris McCarthy; the screening of “Beyond Beats & Rhymes,” which looks at homophobia in hip-hop culture, with ﬁlmmaker Byron Hurt; a queer cooking series and a Quizzo competition. At 7 p.m. March 27, the Queer Student Alliance will present its third-annual drag show at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. The event, which is $7, serves as a fundraiser for

local nonproﬁts, and Mondt said this year the group will split the proceeds between two area organizations. Half of the money will be donated to Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance, which provides meals to individuals with life-threatening illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, and the other portion will beneﬁt the Vivek A. Patel Foundation. Patel, who graduated from Penn last year and died last month, was active in the school’s LGBT community and, before he graduated, organized a university-wide gala that raised $8,000 for HIV/AIDS causes. “He was a big advocate on campus, and we wanted to honor his memory with this,” Mondt said. While the QPenn Week events are usually dominated by LGBT students, faculty and staff, the organizers are also hoping the activities draw a contingent of allies so they can learn more about Penn’s vibrant LGBT community, Mondt said. “Every year a large proportion of the activities are attended by the LGBT community, but also heterosexual people come and attend. Part of the rainbow is the heterosexual allies; without them it’d be even harder to get our presence across.” For more information on QPenn Week, visit www.dolphin.upenn.edu/lambdaal/ qpenn/Home.html. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

Citywide spring cleaning Mayor Nutter is encouraging Philadelphians to roll up their sleeves and pitch in for the city’s second-annual Spring Cleanup. The event will take place at various locations throughout the city from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 4. Volunteers can register as individuals or in teams to help beautify 25 designated areas throughout the city. Last year’s event succeeded in removing more than 2.5-million pounds of trash and 48,000 pounds of recyclable materials from city streets and parks. This year’s clean-up locations and registration form can be found at www. phillycleanup.com. You can also sign up by phone by calling 311.

Travelers needed to ‘Explore PA’ “Explore PA,” a travel series produced by WITF-TV in Harrisburg and broadcast on Pennsylvania Public Television Network stations, is looking for a diverse group of singles, couples and families to be featured on upcoming shows. “Explore PA” documents the experiences of Pennsylvania travelers as they are introduced to the Keystone State on three- to ﬁve-day getaways. Interested individuals should send a short description of themselves, with ideas, photos and contact information, to explorepa@witf.org. Entries can also be sent to Explore PA, P.O. Box 2954, Harrisburg, PA 17105. For more information, visit www. explorepatv.com. ■ — Jen Colletta

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group for transgender and questioning youth ages 12-23, will meet from 7:30-9 p.m. at The Attic Youth Center. PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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Wednesday, Jan. 9 A support group for HIV-positive women will meet from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Arch Street United Licensed Psychologist Methodist Church, Broad and Arch streets;By (215) 387-6055. Timothy Cwiek � The Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS PGN Writer-at-Large Gay Men’s Groups Education Initiative will offer free, focusing on intimacy issues. on-site walk-in HIV testing William F. Smithson says from he’s 3-6 p.m.a atlifetime 1233 Locust St.; (215) Please call for further information. facing in prison not 985-3382.he strangled to death a because � The library and reading room will coworker during a rape attempt Located Near Rittenhouse Square be open 3-9 p.m. 1326 Spruce Street — but from because he’sat the the William victim General & Aesthetic Dentistry Way Community Center. Philadelphia, PA 19107 Now Accepting New Patients of circumstantial evidence and a � Project Teach, a peer-education homophobic prosecution. Early Morning Appointments Available and empowerment program for Last week, Smithson spoke to 248 South 21st St., Phila, PA 19103 people living with HIV/AIDS, will PGN during an hour-long meet from 3-5 p.m. at theinterview William 215.732.3350 at the George Correctional Way Community Hill Center. www.yourphillydentist.com Facility in Thornbury,support wheregroup he’s � A smoking-cessation being housed before he’s relocated for sexual minorities, conducted by to state prison. thea Mazzoni Center, will meet at Anthony Petchalonis, D.M.D Smithson, spoke out about 5:30 p.m. at 44, the Washington West Featuring One Hour Teeth Whitening the September 2006St.; strangulation Project, 1201 Locust (215) 563death of242. his coworker, Jason 0663 ext. Shephard, inside Smithson’s � AIDS Services in Asian Communities’ weekly volunteer Tanguy Road home in Thornbury work groupDelaware will meet County. from 6-8 p.m. Township, at Throughout 1201 Chestnutthe St., Suite 501; interview, (215) 563-2424 ext. 10. Smithson maintained his innocence � Coming Out, a support group for and said authorities haven’t looked gay, bisexual or atquestioning men, closely enough the actions of will meet man from 6-7:30 at AIDS another in his p.m. house that Delaware,F.Suite 100 W. 10th evening, Bruce315, Covington. St.,“Let’s Wilmington; (800) 292-0429. not forget the fact that � A gay-friendly Scrabble Club will there were three people in my Registered Master Plumber meet from 6-11 p.m. in the P.I.C. house that night,” Smithson said. License No. 3647 Building, 42nd and Locust streets; But Smithson stopped short of (215) 382-0789. Repairs, Renovations and accusing Covington of murder. � The LGBT Discussion Group will New Construction Covington, 58, ata theNarberth meet from 6-8 p.m. United attorney, couldn’t reached Church of Christ, 300 be E. Main St., P.O. Box 31697 for comment. Authorities Newark, Del.; (800) 292-0429. Philadelphia, PA 19147 say had night no direct � A Covington meeting/activity will involvement in Shephard’s death. be held for gay, lesbian, bisexual, But he’s and been charged youth with transgender questioning bringing and their drugs friendsinto fromSmithson’s 6-8 p.m. home a few Room hours before at the Rainbow of Planned PINK PENNY AWARDS Shephard’s Parenthood death, in Doylestown; (215) including crystal 348-0558 ext. 65. methamphetamine, and with � A men’s support grouptofor those making false statements police. will meet from His HIV/AIDS attorney, Steven C. Leach, Are YOU a PGN favorite? with 6-7:30hep.m. atno Mercer County said had comment for PAGE 15 Area Early Intervention Services this story and stated Covington in Trenton, location, call remains freeN.J.onForbail on drug-

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p.m. at the William Way Community Center. � Breaking the Chain, a smokingcessation group,MAR. will meet p.m. 20 - at 26,6 2009 at The Attic Youth Center. � Gay Coffee Hours will be held from 6-9 p.m. at Joe Coffee, 1100 Walnut St.; (215) 592-7384. � Peer counseling services will be available from 6-9 p.m. at the William Way Community Center; (215) 732-8255. � A support group for formerly incarcerated sexual minorities will meet from 6-8 p.m. at Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues, 1217 Spring Garden St.; (215) 769-3561. � 40 Acres of Change, a discussion group for youth of color, will meet from 6:30-9 p.m. at 1201 Chestnut St., 15th oor; (215) 496-0330. � Twenty Times, a group for men and women of color ages 20-29, will meet at 6:30 p.m. at 1201 Chestnut WILLIAM SMITHSON St., 15th oor; (215) 496-0330. � Diversity, an HIV/AIDS support Smithson of first-degree murder group for all infected or affected, but spared sentence. meets fromhim 7-9 the p.m.death at Arch Street Smithson, upset with the guilty United Methodist Church, Broad verdict, said he wascall grateful and Arch streets; Zak, jurors (215) spared himorcapital punishment. 848-4380, Paul, (215) 307-0347. jurors influenced � He The said Men’s Peerwere Support Group by “homophobic” prosecution will ameet for topical discussion at that of New his 7 p.m.emphasized at The Prideaspects Center of sexual Jersey. orientation in a lurid and inflammatory � Rainbow manner. Adult Children of “I was portrayed monster,” Alcoholics and as aAlcoholics Anonymous holdwere a 12-step he said. “Thewill jurors shown meeting p.m.aids at [from] Limestone sex toys at and7 sex my Presbyterian 3201 house, as if they Church, had something to Limestone Road,death.” Wilmington, Del.; do with Jason’s (302) 456-9129. also Smithson blasted � The Humboldt a gay and prosecutors for Society, questioning his lesbian naturalist club,about will meet character witnesses their at 7:30 orientation, p.m. at the apparently William Way sexual to Community Center. diminish their credibility. � Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, He said he regrets not testifying a 12-step program, will meet at 7:30 during the guilt phase of the trial, p.m. at All Saints Church, 18 Olive but his attorneys him Ave.,said Rehoboth Beach,advised Del.; (302) against doing so. 542-3279. If he had testified, he said, � The Women’s Peer Support Group prosecutors call will meet at had 7:30 threatened p.m. at ThetoPride as a witness a jailhouse informer Center of New Jersey. who claimed Smithson confessed � The Bisexual/Gay/Lesbian to killing Shephard — with Alliance at Rutgers University will Covington’s help in—Murray duringHall, an meet at 9:30 p.m. argument with Room 211, 13Shephard. George St., New SmithsonN.J.; denied making such �a Brunswick, (732) 932-1306.

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support group for sexual-minority women of color ages 16-24, will meet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 1201 Chestnut St., 15th oor; (215) 4960330. � You’re Not Alone, a support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Rehoboth Library, 226 Rehoboth in the course of trying rape him. Ave., Rehoboth, Del.; to(800) 810Smithson scoffed at the scenario 6776. as “absurd.” He said anydepression drugs he � Pink and Blues, a free shared withsupport Shephard —for and any and bipolar group sexual sex the two men had together — minorities, will meet at 7 p.m. at St. were Luke consensual. and The Epiphany Church, Erica G. Parham, 330 S. 13th St.; (215)a spokesperson 627-0424. for the Delaware � Philadelphia GayCounty Men’s District Chorus will rehearse at 7 p.m. atdeclined the William Attorney’s Ofﬁce, to Way Community Center; (215) 731respond speciﬁcally to Smithson’s 9230. comments. � Smithson The Templesaid University Lambda Shephard was Alliance will meethisfrom 7-8 from p.m. bisexual, though family at The Village outside of theCavalier, Lambda Shephard’s hometown of ce, SAC 205, 1755 N. 13th St.; N.D., probably wouldn’t have (215) 204-6954. known of his orientation. � The Trenton Gay and Lesbian He said Shephard willingly Civic Association’s card and games came to his home on Sept. 18, night will be held from 7-10 p.m. 2006, partly for the purpose of at 986 S. Broad St., Trenton, N.J.; having sex — which the two men (609) 638-7264. had also in the Center day before, � The engaged Women’s of according to Smithson. Montgomery County’s lesbian But Smithson saidmeet he had been support group will from 7tired thatatday, the combination 9 p.m. 101and Washington Lane, of drugs and alcohol caught up Jenkintown; (215) 885-8440. with fell asleep before any � A him. men’sHecoming-out group will sex place p.m. between them, he meettook at 7:30 at The Pride claimed. Center of New Jersey. “The last of thing I remember was � Survivors Suicide Inc. Chester County,elbowing a support me group, meet Jason andwill saying, at 7:30 passing p.m. at out,’” Paoli Memorial ‘You’re Smithson Hospital, Willistown Room, recalled. Medical Ofce Lancaster He said thatBuilding, when he woke Pike,later Paoli; Web up that(215) day, 545-2242; he discovered site: phillysostripod.com. Shephard lying dead in his � Under the Rainbow, a discussion bedroom. and group forI 18-25-year-old “Isocial panicked; thought he gays and lesbians, will meet 7:30I overdosed. All I knew wasatthat p.m. at The Pride Center of New had a young man in my bedroom Jersey. — dead — and I wasn’t thinking � The Gay Married Men’s clearly.” Association support group will Smithson admittedWay he meet at 8 p.m.readily at the William was guilty of misleading authorities Community Center; (610) 626— and Shephard’s family — into 2577. thinking that thecommittee victim wasofsimply � The steering Team aPhiladelphia, missing person for sports two days. a gay league, “I meet take atfull responsibility for will 8 p.m. at the William that,” Smithson said. Way Community Center.

related charges ﬁled against him in both Montgomery and Delaware counties. Smithson said he feels “awful” about the events of Sept. 1819, 2006, which culminated in Shephard’s death, and that he thinks about the tragedy every day. “I’ve wracked my brain thinking, ‘Was I so messed up on drugs that I did it and can’t remember?’” he said. “But I didn’t have a scratch on me, and the prosecution said Jason had defensive wounds. He was 23 years old, much bigger and stronger than me. And I didn’t have a mark on me.” According to the prosecution, Smithson lured Shephard into his home, slipped him the “date-rape” drug gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), then strangled him to death

But he said prosecutors were blinded by the circumstances of the case and ﬁxated on him as the killer without fully examining the actions of Covington. “The prosecutors were more concerned about obtaining a conviction than uncovering the truth,” Smithson maintained. Smithson said statements he made shortly after the incident regretting the calamity were misconstrued by ofﬁcials as admissions of guilt — which he adamantly denies. Two days after his death, Shephard’s body was discovered by police in Smithson’s basement, and Smithson was charged with a variety of offenses, including murder, kidnapping, administering intoxicants and abuse of a corpse. In November, a jury convicted

PGN

confession, but said he preferred that the jurors not be exposed to the witness because of the possible negative connotations. Smithson said his attorneys are planning to ﬁle an extensive appeal on his behalf in the hope the state Superior Court will grant him a new trial. “I want a full investigation, and a fair trial based on the facts, not based on someone’s opinion of my sexual orientation,” he concluded. “I hope your readers can sympathize with me regarding the homophobic overtones and prejudices that were prevalent throughout my trial. I’ve got to remain positive and optimistic.” ■ Timothy Cwiek can be reached at (215) 625-8501 ext. 208.

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

National

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Media Trail Gay hate crimes increase in Calif.

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD: Beth (from left), Cyndi and Ricky (right) enjoyed an evening at Sisters March 15 that reunited about 130 area women from all generations who’ve been active in Philadelphia’s LGBT community over the past several decades. Denise Cohen (center), Sisters manager, and Irene Benedetti (second from right) helped organize the Reunion Party, which served as a fundraiser for the Sally Tyre Scholarship Fund and sought to honor many of Philadelphia’s former lesbian bars and clubs, as well as their patrons. Benedetti said the event raised about $1,350 for the scholarship fund. “People seemed to have a really good time, and I think for the first event it went pretty well,” she said. Benedetti noted the scholarship committee is looking to have similar events in the future. Photo: Scott A. Drake

‘Provider-conscience’ rule reconsidered By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer The Department of Health and Human Services began the process last week to overturn former President George Bush’s lastminute regulation that expanded employment protections for healthcare workers who refuse care because of their moral or religious positions. HHS opened a 30-day public-comment period on the regulation March 10, which will close April 9. Bush signed the rule Dec. 19 along with numerous other “midnight regulations” before his term ended. The provider-conscience regulation went into effect Jan. 20, the day President Barack Obama took ofﬁce. There are already several laws that ban hospitals and clinics that receive HHS funding from discriminating against workers who refuse service based on their personal views, but the Bush regulation further stipulated that any healthcare institutions that receive any federal funding cannot discriminate against workers who refuse care based on moral objections. Critics of the rule argue it is written so broadly that it could infringe upon a woman’s right to an abortion or birth control and could impede the level of care that is administered to LGBT individuals, other minorities and people with HIV/AIDS. “These ill-conceived regulations sacriﬁce patients’ right to medical care,” said Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese. ”A patient’s access to healthcare services should not depend on their sexual orientation

or gender identity.” Jessica Arons, director of the Center for American Progress’ women’s health and rights program, posited that the wide-reaching nature of the regulation could lead to vast failures in healthcare. “It goes well beyond doctors and nurses to include almost anyone who works in the healthcare sector,” Arons said. “It allows people to withhold relevant medical information and not inform patients about all their options.” The recent HHS proposal states the department is looking to “rescind in its entirety” Bush’s rule. “It is important that the department have the opportunity to review this regulation to ensure its consistency with current administration policy,” the proposal states. “Accordingly, we believe it would beneﬁt the department to review this rule, accept further comments and reevaluate the necessity for regulations implementing the statutory requirement.” The Bush administration proposed the regulation in August 2008 and opened the issue for a 30-day public-comment period, during which 200,000 people registered comments against the expansion of the provider-conscience rules. The American Medical Association, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and Planned Parenthood have all expressed opposition to the regulation. Maggie Groff, vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, said the regulation “creates chaos in an already-stressed healthcare system.”

“Patients deserve access to complete and accurate healthcare information and services,” Groff said. “This rule would undermine that by allowing health-insurance companies, hospitals, doctors and healthcare professionals of any kind to deny patients vital healthcare information without the patient even knowing it necessarily.” After the comment period ends next month, Obama could either completely revoke the rule or replace it with one that clariﬁes existing laws that protect healthcare providers. In the 1970s, Congress approved the Church Amendments, which in part prohibited healthcare institutions that receive HHS funding from discriminating against workers who refuse service based on their moral views. In 1996, Congress passed Section 245 of the Public Health Service Act to ban federal, state and local governments that receive federal funding from discriminating against such healthcare providers. The 2005 Weldon Amendment prohibited HHS funding from being dispersed to agencies or organizations that discriminate against workers who evoke provider-conscience rules. To comment, visit www.regulations.gov and enter 0991-AB49 in the search box or send an e-mail to proposedrecission@hhs. gov. Comments can also be accepted by mail, with one original and two copies sent to Ofﬁce of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: Recission Proposal Comments, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave., SW, Room 716G, Washington, DC 20201. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

San Jose’s Mercury News reports a three-fold spike in homophobic hate crimes in Santa Clara County over the past year, and many believe it’s because of the fallout over Proposition 8. Antigay incidents accounted for 56 percent of hate crimes reported in the county south of San Francisco in 2008. The year before, they accounted for 15 percent. “Marriage equality and Prop. 8 have been in the news, and we have seen an increase in gay-bashing,” said Deputy District Attorney Jay Boyarsky, who monitors hate crimes for the District Attorney’s ofﬁce. Statistics from other California counties have not been released.

Girl wins right to wear tux to prom The Indianapolis Star reports the school district in Lebanon, Ind., has reversed a policy that barred a female student from wearing a tuxedo to her school’s prom. The unidentiﬁed 17-year-old Lebanon High School senior had recently ﬁled a lawsuit that said the school violated her right to express herself and discriminated against her because of her gender. Superintendent Robert L. Taylor said formal attire will be required at the prom, but the requirements won’t be “genderbased.” American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana legal director Ken Falk, who was the girl’s attorney, said the teen is pleased with the decision and will attend the April prom in a tuxedo.

HIV rates rise in D.C. The Washington Blade reports that two new studies show the national HIV epidemic is growing — and the numbers are especially bad in Washington, D.C., for men who have sex with men. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said D.C. has the highest HIV death rate in the country, at 37.1 per 100,000 people. The second highest is Florida at 9.8. The nation as a whole averages 4.2. Justin Goforth, head of the WhitmanWalker Clinic’s medical adherence unit, said the data show that “here in D.C., we have an epidemic that’s out of control.” According to the report, there was a 26percent increase from 2004-07 in estimated annual HIV/AIDS diagnoses among men who have sex with men. ■ — Larry Nichols

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 9

New CBLSL women’s official Triangle Medical General Practice heads full swing into season party for our closing day that year, and we decided to do a fundraiser for the teams to go to different tournaments,” she said. “He noticed that I was really good with numbers, and he recommended me to the board, which then appointed me as the replacement for the treasurer who was leaving.” Her one-year term as treasurer began in November 2007: Harris noted that although the transition from player to head of the division was a quick one, she’s up to the job.

created the nonprofit Amateur Sports Alliance of North America to specifically support women’s softball. Although spring has just begun, But the CBLSL is committed members of the City of Brotherly to keeping its men’s and women’s Love Softball League have been teams in close association. eagerly looking forward to the “One thing I asked the other warmer weather, which will bring board members when I was elected the first swing of the season during is what they’d like to see me do, next month’s opening games. and they said they’d like to see The gay slow-pitch softball the women and men’s divisions league is ushering in the new become more unified. Just because season with a new head of the they’re split on the national level women’s division. doesn’t mean they should be split The CBLSL board elected on a local level,” Cathy Harris she said. as the women’s Harris added commissioner that CBLSL is in November looking to host 2008, and she the 2011 ASANA has spent the World Series last few months and is currently organizing and designing a bid solidifying plans proposal that will for the upcoming season. be presented at Harris, a former the organization’s team manager and week-long board member, tournament in has been involved Las Vegas next with CBLSL for February. 12 years. Jeff Sotland, A native of C B L S L South Jersey c o m m i s s i o n e r, and graduate of said Harris will Trenton State CBLSL COMMISSIONER JEFF SOTLAND AND WOMEN’S be integral in College, now COMMISSIONER CATHY HARRIS securing the bid. “With Cathy’s The College “It seems like a fast rise to the help, we are now working on the of New Jersey, Harris moved to Philadelphia in 2000. top but I am up for the challenge,” bid for the 2011 ASANA World She said she was one of the few she said. “I think that people look Series that will bring over 1,000 openly gay students on her college to me as a leader no matter what. women to Philadelphia for a campus, and she welcomed the Even when I was the treasurer, week of softball and Philadelphia diversity when she moved to her people used to ask me questions life,” Sotland said. “Cathy is a East Falls home. about the league. I think people dynamic person who has picked Harris, a finance major in who know my character know that up where our last two women’s college, currently works for The I’m fair and nonbiased and won’t commissioners left off.” LLB Group, an account-software show any favoritism to my team Harris said she’s eager to design company. or to any other team, and I think spearhead the effort to have She played softball on her high- they’re looking for someone like CBLSL host the tournament and school team and recreationally in that.” heighten the visibility of the Philly There are currently 16 teams in league, as well as among other college, and started playing on CBLSL’s Woody’s women’s team CBLSL’s women’s division, and LGBT teams across the nation. in 1997. Harris said membership is on the “These players, their family She joined the V.I.P. team, rise. and friends would all be staying For next year, she said, the in Philadelphia and bringing which is sponsored by the Venture Inn, for its inaugural 2007 season, league is looking into instituting great revenue to our city and to and became manager that year the Amateur Softball Association’s our sponsors, not to mention the — a role she calls one of the most policy that all batters will begin fabulous parties we would have all challenging in the league. play with a one-ball, one-strike week long. It is an exciting time to Harris said the CBLSL board count, which will cut down on the be part of CBLSL.” CBLSL’s season opens April 19. approached her about taking on length of games and free up fields For more information, visit www. another leadership position after for more teams. Harris said the North American cblsl.org. ■ learning of her number-crunching skills. Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance, “I had worked with one of the which oversees LGBT sports Jen Colletta can be reached at other board members on a block leagues like CBLSL, recently jen@epgn.com. By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer

Progressive HIV Care MARK T. WATKINS, DO JOHN DEL ROSSI, PA-C

(215) 829-0170 253 S. 10th St. First Floor Philadelphia

PAGE 10

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Editorial Undoing the Bush legacy In President Obama’s first 60 days, he’s made some great strides toward undoing some of the damage left by eight years of President Bush. The first bill he signed was the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, undoing a Supreme Court decision and allowing for equal-pay protection. In his first week, he lifted the “global gag rule,” which barred international family-planning groups that receive federal funds from providing abortion information or services. He’s also created a White House Council on Women and Girls, lifted the ban on stem-cell research, appointed openly gay and lesbian staff to head federal agencies and designated a point person for LGBT media contacts. Last week, he set to work on undoing the overly broad “provider-conscience” rule that Bush instituted shortly before he left office, which allows alreadyprotected healthcare providers to refuse service on moral grounds, with potentially devastating effects on access to information and services for women’s reproductive health and LGBT healthcare. This week, the administration announced it would endorse a United Nations declaration calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality, which Bush had previously refused to sign. (In December, the U.S. was the only Western government that had refused to do so.) And earlier this month, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on openly gay servicemembers. While the media coverage seems to focus on federal bailouts, executive bonuses and who’s leading the Republican Party these days (thanks, Michael Steele, for your tepid support of gays and partner rights!), the Obama administration seems to be taking steps to expand rights and freedoms and promote equality. To be sure, the LGBT community shouldn’t expect Obama to implement all of his campaign promises in the first 100 days. Several, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, will need bipartisan support and, in the case of the latter, military buy-in. Considering the current state of the economy, the heat Obama is taking for his economic stimulus, his efforts to begin healthcare reform and changes in troop deployments and strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s notable that the administration has taken time to consider LGBT issues, make progress on them and push for change. Frankly, it speaks to a team effort and a leader who can delegate tasks and trust his advisors to make decisions that reflect and support his stated positions. As the post-election bipartisan honeymoon is over and party bickering has returned in full force, it will take political skill to move on some LGBT issues. Let’s hope the president still has the political capital. ■

Glenn Lash (glennlash@yahoo.com)

Other Views

Les Robinson

Well-suited for prom and policy At this time of year, the thoughts of high-school seniors all across America turn toward the prom. How do I rent a tux? Can Mom afford that dress I want? Is the guy I like going to be a total jerk and ask a freshman instead? Will I win my lawsuit? OK, that last one isn’t so common. But it was a concern for a 17-yearold lesbian student at Lebanon High School in Indiana. The senior sued the school district for the right to wear a tuxedo to prom. The school district reversed its policy this week, stating: “All attendees shall wear appropriate formal attire with no gender-based attire requirements imposed.” Wow. The closest I came to a prom-related legal struggle was considering charging my date, his convertible and the wind with a wrongful assault on my coif. This youngster in Indiana, whose name wasn’t revealed, knows herself a lot better than I did at her age. Her school principal told her she couldn’t wear a tux to the prom, that she must wear a dress. She responded by calling in the American Civil Liberties Union. By God and Calvin Klein, she’s ﬁghting for what she wants! Indystar.com reported that court papers say the blossoming lesbian

doesn’t wear dresses because she feels they express a sexual identity she doesn’t embrace. I wonder if such sentiments caused a collective Hoosier heart attack. After all, the school district’s longstanding policy on prom attire — only boys may wear tuxedos and girls must wear dresses — had never been challenged before. The ACLU of Indiana argued the policy violated the federal Title IX law prohibiting gender-based discrimination in schools. The group also claimed the policy violated the student’s constitutional right of free speech. “From a First Amendment standpoint, wearing a tuxedo makes an affirmative statement about her own sexuality,” said her lawyer. It can look pretty hot, too, but I doubt anybody mentioned that in the court filings. The head of the American Family Association of Indiana said he supports the old policy because it reflected the community’s standards. No doubt. In those rigid standards lies the problem. As unfortunate as a stinkweed corsage. “I don’t think we should allow kids to act out certain impulses,” said the AFA guy. “A girl in a tuxedo doing this as a sexual statement, that’s something the school should draw

the line at.” Maybe if she said she was doing this as a fashion statement, he’d approve. She could claim bow ties are slimming. This isn’t Indiana’s ﬁrst rumpus over prom garb. In 1999 a male high-school senior in Indianapolis successfully sued to wear a dress to the event. In 2006 a transgender student in Gary was denied entry to the prom for wearing an evening gown; Kevin “K.K.” Logan’s lawsuit is pending. None of the accounts I read of the Lebanon High School senior’s battle mentioned whether she has a date for the prom. Does she have a girlfriend? Is she planning to ask someone to accompany her? Is she expecting to go alone or with friends? Thankfully, the district changed its policy this week: The prom is April 25. The girls have precious little time to coordinate colors! Personally, I’ve come to agree with the school district that not just anybody can wear a tux. I say an individual who wants to wear one must ﬁrst be able to spell “cummerbund.” ■ Leslie Robinson hasn’t a clue how to put on a bow tie. E-mail her at LesRobinsn@aol.com.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Mark My Words

Street Talk

Mark Segal

Of senators and district attorneys Sen. Arlen Specter is a Republican: He’s not 100 percent on LGBT issues, but he’s close. All the others running for his Senate seat in both parties are either anti-LGBT or have few achievements to show. And at this point in time, we deserve more than just lip service. Arlen’s a guy who has a long record on LGBT issues, going back to the 1970s. He also believes in a woman’s right to choose. He believes in stem-cell research and evolution. And the magic-bullet theory. (Just couldn’t help myself, had to toss that in.) So what the hell is he doing in the Republican Party? Specter says he’s running for reelection. To do that, he must first win the primary. He barely won last time when a right-winger went after him. Now, most of the Pennsylvania Republican moderates have changed parties. The Republicans are in free fall in Pennsylvania with nothing but the rightwingers remaining. Not a good sign for Specter. On the other hand, he could switch to the Democratic Party, where he would be welcomed with open arms. He’d still have a primary fight, but it would be among like-minded moderates. He would be the front-runner since he is very well known in the five-county Philadelphia area and has seniority — nothing his competitors could compete with. Then there’s the point of that seniority. He has it as a Republican, but as a new Democrat, where would he fit in? The Democratic Senate leadership would move mountains to achieve that magic number of 60 seats. Senator, test the waters. On to another (former) senator, Vince Fumo. He was the strongest ally of this community

PAGE 11

in Harrisburg. Yes, way stronger than even our governor. While all men and women have their frailties, I’d like to remember him for his emotional speech on the Senate floor calling for gay marriage. No other elected state figure has done so to this date. His help in killing the antigaymarriage legislation last year was invaluable, as was his assuring the funding of dozens of LGBT organizations. This community will undoubtedly feel his absence in office. The jury has spoken, but a friend is a friend in good times and bad. Last item: district attorney’s race. There are three Democratic candidates vying for the opportunity to replace Lynne Abraham as our DA. Only one has a negative record on gay rights: former City Councilman Dan McElhatton, who was opposed to domestic-partner legislation. He called me the other day to tell me he’s had a change of heart and supports civil unions. Dan, you were behind the times on domestic partners and you seem to be behind the times on civil unions. These days the issue is gay marriage, not civil unions. You might want to take note that in the last mayoral election, all of the Democratic candidates supported gay marriage. While not a city issue, it is a litmus test of sorts, since it tells us how a candidate really feels about us as individuals and if he or she understands that LGBT people should have equal rights. So I called the other candidates, Dan McCaffery and Seth Williams, to get their position on samesex marriage. McCaffery responded: “It shouldn’t even be an issue, all people should be treated with fairness. Of course I support marriage equality.” Williams stated: “I believe the state should offer civil unions to all, and it is up to each religion to perform marriages.” ■

Should Gov. Rendell actively advocate for a statewide LGBT nondiscrimination law?

Fallyn Blanks accountant South Philadelphia

Emma Burkhart librarian Washington Square West

“Yes, he should be pushing for gay rights. It would be a start. It’s the least he can do. The issue is so misunderstood. It’s going to be an uphill battle to get a bill passed. Gov. Rendell should do what he can to help gay people get a fair shake.”

“Yes. I think LGBT rights are a lot more important than casinos or slot parlors. I’m not criticizing what Gov. Rendell has pushed for in the past. But moving forward, he should be promoting equal rights for the LGBT community."

Kevin French insurance salesperson Graduate Hospital area

Tucker Schade saxophonist Washington Square West

“Absolutely. A fundamental American principle is equal rights for all. Regardless of the other issues Rendell is involved in, he should be advocating for LGBT rights. It’s of the utmost importance. Even if the economy improves, what will it mean if the LGBT community feels like second-class citizens?”

“Not right now. First things first. All politicians are up to their necks on the economy. If they don’t make improvements, we could end up with a second Great Depression. I don’t think anyone will be feeling very gay if we have another Depression.”

Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.

Letters and Feedback Regarding “Gay man kills partner, self in New Hope,” March 13-19

Regarding “Peer recovery program reaches into local gay community,” Feb. 27-March 5

I guess it goes to show that gay couples can have the same problems as straight couples, including domestic violence.

In my honest opinion, the Mazzoni Center is a joke. They let me go without any notice because I’m too sick. They don’t deserve the $2 million.

— Mike Haines Sounds like the police should have kept him in custody until he was sober — he was arrested because he was a threat (driving while intoxicated), so why would he be released if still a threat? — C. A. Thomas

— Edward J. Callahan

and every year it just died in the committee. I wonder it may be the same outcome this year for they just introduce the same bill this year. — Adcaeton

Tell us what you think

Send letters and opinion column submissions to: Regarding “New gay pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth immigration bill introduced,” St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; Feb. 20-26 fax: (215) 925-6437. Please include a daytime phone Hope that the bill can pass this number. Letters may be edited for year. However, the fact is that bill clarity, style and space considerhas been introduced since 2000, ations.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 12

Adoption Corner Name: Dora Breed: Thought to be a Dalmatian-Pit Bull mix Age: 9-12 months old Sex: Female (will be spayed for adoption) Health: Excellent Other information: Dora will get a microchip as part of the adoption agreement so other shelters and veterinarians with microchip reading equipment or the SPCA can identify her. History: Dora was found as a lost or abandoned stray in Philadelphia’s Tacony

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Scott A. Drake section on March 13 and brought directly to PAWS. She does not seem to have been abused or neglected. Dora is a very happy, sweet and lovable dog that still has the enthusiasm of a big puppy. She is very energetic and likes to chase after thrown toys and bring them back. Dora understands the command “sit” and seems to learn quickly. Dora would probably do well with other dogs, but might be better off as a single pet with an owner who has a similar high-energy level, as well as a ﬁrm hand toward obedience. Dora adores being petted, is very fond of giving kisses and thinks she is a lap dog.

Update: Flex, the Dumpster cat and long-term PAWS resident, found himself an adoptive home on March 13. PAWS reported that multiple requests for Flex came in after our Feb. 20 listing and expressed thanks to all adopters who continue to take in other

lonely pets. The Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society is dedicated to promoting public welfare and to saving the lives of Philadelphia’s homeless, abandoned and unwanted animals and has a nokill policy. ■

PAWS 100 N. Second St. (215) 238-9901 Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. w w w. p h i l l y p a w s . org

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Performers take stage for NJ diversity weekend By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer With spring upon us and summer approaching, what better way to celebrate the warm weather than with a trip to the Jersey shore? One New Jersey organization is inviting LGBT communities from around the region to the shore next month for a weekend of comedy and cabaret. GABLES, a Cape May LGBT organization, will host its secondannual Diversity Weekend April 34 at various locations throughout the South Jersey shore town. The weekend will feature an array of entertainment options, with proceeds beneﬁting GABLES, which has served the area’s LGBT community since 1995.

LGBT and ally communities. “Last year our emcee Adam Sank said to me shortly before he went on stage, ‘OK, so this is going to be an all-gay crowd?’ and I said, ‘No, it’s going to be about 50/50, and even the gay audience will be half gay men and half lesbians,’” he said. “He was very impressed that a small town like Cape May was able to provide an audience with such diversity. Even in New York at gay functions, you usually just see a gay crowd, but that’s not what it was here. All of the performers last year were very impressed with that.” At 2 p.m. Saturday, GABLES members and supporters will attend a performance of openly gay Cape May native Bradley Vile’s play “Fostered Ideal” at Cape May Stage’s Robert

and just be out there, be visible and be a presence,” Raniszewski said. “Whatever we can make is welcome, but we’re thrilled just to have the visibility and continue the work that we’re doing.” GABLES is gearing up to publish its annual LGBT directory in May, which provides extensive resources for New Jersey’s LGBT community. The organization hosts a monthly social and will hold its 14th annual charity auction for the South Jersey AIDS Alliance and Volunteers in Medicine tonight at 7 at Congress Hall, 251 Beach Ave. Raniszewski encouraged Philadelphians to make the lessthan-two-hour trip to Cape May for Diversity Weekend to not only take in the sights and sounds of the performances but also to relish in

PAGE 13 A Loving Family of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Catholics & our allies invites you to celebrate

Sunday Mass, 7:00 PM Social immediately following Mass

Please Join Us! - Services are held at St. Luke & the Epiphany 330 S. 13th Street, between Spruce and Pine streets, Philadelphia, PA Communion in the form of Consecrated bread, wine and grape juice. Gluten-free communion available upon request. Information: 215-546-2093 www.dignityphila.org www.dignityusa.org

Fi r st Ba p t i st C h u r c h SERVICES: Wednesdays Noontime Sundays 11a.m.

17TH & SANSOM STREETS PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

215.563.3853

Contemporary Service: Last Sunday of month Breathing Room Wednesdays 7 p.m.

Pastor Jerry deJesus

www.fbcphila1698.org

CONGREGATION BETH AHAVAH

at Rodeph Shalom

A GLBT synagogue welcoming people of all gender and sexual identities since 1975

JOIN US TWICE MONTHLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES AT 8:00 PM Coffee, cake & conversation at the oneg following services

Friday, March 27: Synaplex at Rodeph Shalom: 5:45 PM, Pre-Oneg; 6:15 PM, Shabbat Service; 7:15-8:00 PM, choose from one of the following options: More Than Matzah: Passover Cooking with Lynn Buono of “Feast Your Eyes Catering”; or Israel Teen Trip Slide Show with Rabbi Holzman; 8:00--9:30 PM, Dinner. Reservations are needed for dinner: $25/adult; $10/child. Please RSVP to Catherine Fischer at 215-627-6747 x46 or cfischer@rodephshalom.org. Saturday, April 11: Passover Cafe, 6:30 PM. Join us for a meal of traditional Passover foods, followed by the reading of some Passover-related stories. Share your own joyful and entertaining Passover memories. $15/person, payable at the door. Please reserve by April 7, 2009 by calling the BA phone, (215)923-2003. Friday, May 1: Equality Forum Shabbat Service, 8:00 PM. Guest speaker: Malcolm Lazin. Beth Ahavah and Rodeph Shalom are affiliated in spirit and share a sacred home.. In July 2007 Beth Ahavah affiliated with Rodeph Shalom. Beth Ahavah retains its congregational status within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and proudly offers its congregation dual membership at both synagogues. Visit www.bethahavah.org for additional information, programming and directions

615 North Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123-2495 Phone: 215.923.2003 E-mail: BethAhavah@rodephshalom.org

CYNTHIA CRANE (FROM LEFT), BRAD LOEKLE AND JOE SCHMITZ

Drag performer Joe Schmitz will emcee the Friday-night cabaret show at Carney’s bar as his drag alter-ego Joanna, welcoming performances by Jay Rogers, openly gay star of off-Broadway hit “When Pigs Fly”; New York City jazz singer Cynthia Crane; pianist Paul Greenwood and out comedian Brad Loekle of TruTV’s “Smoking Gun.” Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show kicks off at 8:30, with an after-party until 2 a.m. GABLES member Tommy Raniszewski, who coordinated the entertainment for the event, noted that not all of the performers are LGBT and that last year’s audience represented a wide range of the

Shackleton Playhouse. Following the production, the organization will sponsor the screening of the short ﬁlm “Kali Ma,” the story of an Indian mother’s efforts to protect her gay son. Although Diversity Weekend is billed as a fundraiser, Raniszewski said the inaugural Diversity Weekend was more of an “effort of love” as opposed to a major fundraising opportunity, and that while the group is looking to raise as much as it can during the upcoming event, it’s more focused on uniting the regional LGBT and ally communities. “Our goal is ﬁrst and foremost to present the diversity of the community, both gay and straight,

the tranquility of the town before the summer season hits. “We have a lot of visitors from the Philadelphia area who vacation here in the summer, and this is a great time for people to come down here. The summer crowds haven’t arrived yet, but it’s spring now, so everything’s starting to open up and Cape May is just one of the prettiest seashore towns in New Jersey.” Tickets to the Diversity Weekend Cabaret are $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.gablescapemay. com. ■ Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

Collenbrook United Church 5290 Township Line Road Drexel Hill, PA 19026 www.collenbrook.org Scott L. Barton, Minister (610) 789-9590

FREE Food, Fun, and Live Music Had enough of winter? Ready to welcome Spring? We at Collenbrook United Church in Drexel Hill are having our ﬁrst annual “Spring Thing,” to be held Saturday, March 28th. We are an Open and Afﬁrming/More Light congregation welcoming persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities. There will be an Open House from 3:00-6:00 p.m. All are welcome to relax and enjoy FREE food, camaraderie, and live music. The church is located at 5290 Township Line Road, in Drexel Hill. Please see our website for directions, www.collenbrook.org.

PAGE 14

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 15

Rainbow flag stolen, vandalized By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer A gay couple in Bucks County was the target of vandalism earlier this month that they believe was motivated by their sexual orientation. Mary Shafer and Shelly Sickbert, of Ferndale in Nockamixon Township, awoke March 7 to find the rainbow flag they fly in front of their house missing. The following day, the 3-by5-foot flag was thrown on the front lawn, torn, spraypainted and smelling of urine. Shafer said when she noticed the flag was missing the previous day, she immediately called police, whom she said were hesitant to investigate the theft as a hate crime. Once the flag resurfaced, she contacted a reporter she knows at The Intelligencer, hoping media attention would encourage police to take the incident seriously.

POVERTY From Page 1 living in poverty, compared to 14.4 percent of gay-male AfricanAmerican couples and 9.3 percent of African Americans in oppositesex marriages. Approximately 4.3 percent of same-sex female couples who identify as Caucasian are considered poor, while 4.1 percent of white, married opposite-sex couples and 2.7 of white gay-male couples experience poverty. The study also found that children of same-sex couples are twice as likely as children of heterosexual married couples to live in poverty. About one in ﬁve children under the age of 18 living in a same-sex household is poor, while one in 10 children living in homes led by opposite-sex married couples faces poverty. Badgett said the report can be used as an effective resource to

The paper published a story about the incident on March 10, and local television-news stations picked it up later that day. “I went to a wake for a friend of mine and then stopped a few places in Doylestown, and when I got home there were two news trucks sitting in the driveway,” Shafer said. “It was like that the whole day. It was pretty surreal.” She said she decided to contact state police again that day to inform them of the situation. Investigators came to the house to retrieve the flag, and ultimately forwarded the case to Bucks County District Attorney Michelle Henry. Shafer said Henry’s office told her the DA plans to investigate the vandalism as a violation of the Ethnic Intimidation Act. Messages left at Henry’s office were not returned by press time. Shafer said she doesn’t think the perpetrator was someone who lived nearby. “I don’t believe at all that this was

one of our neighbors. It could have been one of the number of people who own property here but only come up on weekends to vacation or do some hunting, but our neighbors have been really supportive.” Shafer noted that she and Sickbert, who will have lived in the house for 10 years in May, did experience harassment — such as people throwing hot dogs and eggs at their house and yelling homophobic slurs at them — when they first moved in, but that she thought it had ended. “People realized we weren’t going away and got as bored with it as we did and stopped,” she said. Shafer said the flag incident did not intimidate her, but rather just angered her — and she’s already ordered 10 more rainbow flags. “Every time one gets pulled down, five more are going to go up.” ■

dispel the stereotypical myth that the LGB community is a wealthy, stabilized one. “Part of this was just about further education of the public and even the gay community itself about who’s really part of this community; we’re not an affluent, elite group of people who don’t need protection from discrimination or don’t need legal status like marriage,” she said. She added the results of the study are particularly significant in light of the current economic conditions. “There’s an assumption that there are no gay people in food pantries or welfare offices or unemployment offices, but that’s simply wrong,” Badgett said. “It’s hard enough for people to go out and seek assistance, and it’s even harder if they feel like they’re going to be treated differently.” ■

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VERDICT From Page 1 Because the jury found him guilty of the arson and robbery charges, both of which are felonies, Cuadra faced the death penalty. After deliberating for nearly six hours March 16, however, the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on whether Cuadra deserved the death penalty and,

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per Pennsylvania law, Judge Peter Paul Olszewski had to sentence Cuadra to a life sentence without parole. Cuadra received a second life sentence for conspiracy to commit criminal homicide. “I certainly hope that a day does not go by for the rest of your life that you do not remember the tragic, the grief, the pain, the endless pain that you have caused that family,” Olszewski told Cuadra after the sentencing. After ﬁnding Cuadra guilty,

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MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

the jurors had to weigh the aggravating factors — the arson and robbery charges — against the mitigating circumstances the defense presented, such as Cuadra’s broken childhood home, sexual abuse he suffered, time in the Navy and his clean criminal record. The jury returned to the courtroom March 16 after threeand-a-half hours of deliberating the sentencing and told the judge they had discounted the validity of one of the aggravating factors but couldn’t come to a unanimous decision on the other; Olszewski instructed the jury to continue their deliberations. The jury foreman did not say which factor they’d eliminated. Cuadra was the only witness who testiﬁed in his defense, and he pinned the murder on Kerekes. Cuadra said he’d met with Kocis to discuss acting in his ﬁlms when Kerekes stormed the house and began stabbing Kocis.

Kerekes was set to take the stand in Cuadra’s defense but decided at the last minute not to testify. Cuadra attorney Joseph D’Andrea said Kerekes was going to testify that Cuadra had nothing to do with the murder. “We were taken aback,” D’Andrea told the Times Leader this week. “It again showed Joseph Kerekes trying to control Harlow Cuadra’s life. Joe Kerekes controlled Harlow for one last time.” Throughout Cuadra’s testimony and the cross-examination of some of the 86 prosecution witnesses, the defense attempted to characterize Kerekes as domineering, arguing that he manipulated Cuadra into staying silent about the murder. District Attorney Michael Melnick, the lead prosecutor in the case, noted that had Kerekes taken the stand, he would have “pointblank commit[ted] perjury,” as in his plea agreement he stated that Cuadra was the one responsible

for the actual murder. The prosecution presented numerous pieces of evidence to establish that Cuadra knew about the murder prior to the meeting, such as video surveillance of the pair purchasing a handgun and knife prior to leaving Virginia Beach, Va., where the two operated their own gay-porn and escort businesses, for Pennsylvania. The jury also listened to hours of recorded conversations between Cuadra and Kerekes and porn star Sean Lockhart and his partner Grant Roy, in which Cuadra made several incriminating statements about the murder. Prosecutors argued that Cuadra and Kerekes killed Kocis because they wanted to work with Lockhart, a former Kocis employee who was locked in a legal battle with him over the rights to Lockhart’s stage name, Brent Corrigan. ■

RALLY

committee. Frankel introduced HB 300 on March 5 with 79 cosponsors, the highest level of legislative support a pro-LGBT bill has ever been introduced with. Although ﬁve legislators have dropped their cosponsorship, advocates are still conﬁdent the bill will successfully make it through a full House vote. “Something that we heard from everyone who spoke at the rally was that they’re sure that the bill is going to get passed,” Jordan said. “But they all said that this isn’t a time for us to sit back and watch that happen. People need to talk to their legislators and make sure they know that this is something that we are concerned about and that we do need to get passed.” “Rock the Dome” participants took the opportunity to do that this week and, after the rally, dispersed throughout the Capitol complex

to speak with representatives and legislative staffs about HB 300. “Everyone saw their own representatives to either thank them for being a cosponsor or to ask for their support,” Kaskey said. Kaskey said the lobbyists tried to put the most pressure on legislators from the ﬁve-county Greater Philadelphia area, whom he said would be integral in the passage of the bill. Kaskey said he expects the bill will come before the full House for a vote in the next few months. ■

From Page 1 Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia. “There were a great number of representatives at the rally who were very enthused about passing the bill, so I’m hopeful that they’ll be able to do that.” Kaskey noted that the rally helped to educate lawmakers who weren’t yet cosponsoring the bill about the necessity for such legislation. “Our voices rang throughout the entire Capitol building,” Kaskey said. “A lot of legislators came up and asked what was happening. The power of our collective voices will be able to see this bill move farther forward than it ever has before.” Three previous versions of the nondiscrimination bill died in

Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

To ﬁnd out who your representatives are, visit www.legis.state.pa.us or call (717) 787-2372 or (800) 8687672. Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

International News Israeli granted maternity leave Israel’s National Insurance Institute authorized the country’s ﬁrst-ever maternity leave for a male couple on March 12. Yonatan Gher, director of the Open House Pride and Tolerance organization in Jerusalem, received approval for a 64-day leave from work after the birth of his biological son. Gher and his partner of seven years, who will attempt to adopt the child, sought a surrogate mother in India two years ago, when they realized that formal adoption by a single man or two gay men was not an option in Israel. “What we have here is the establishment taking responsibility for a process that had been forced upon us,” Gher said. “We have no legal possibility of having a child with a surrogate mother in Israel. Because it won’t allow that, the state is obliged to share with us the costs of the alternative, by the very fact of recognizing the maternity leave.” Now approved for leave, Gher awaits an answer from NII to his request for reimbursement of hospitalization costs. Recently a family court in Tel Aviv recognized the right of a gay-male couple to adopt their foster son, a ﬁrst for a country that previously only acknowledged adoption by female same-sex couples.

Gay candidate vies for mayor Mexico received its ﬁrst openly gay mayoral candidate on March 13, when the minority Social Democratic Party (PSD) selected Miguel Antonio Galán to run for ofﬁce in Guadalajara, the second most populous city in the country. Galán, 31, will contend on July 5 to lead the city, which is the capital

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of Jalisco state, an economic hub in the Western-Pacific area of Mexico famous for tequila and mariachi bands. Galán has downplayed his sexuality as a factor in the election. “Proposals have to be made, beyond what the candidate’s [bedroom activities] are,” he said. The progressive positions of the PSD are just as likely as his sexual orientation to be a challenge for Galán in Guadalajara, a conservative city led by the National Action Party of President Felipe Calderón and strongly influenced by the Catholic Church. The PSD supports the legalization of drugs and the decriminalization of abortion. Although Galán is the first openly gay mayoral candidate in Mexico, there have been at least three openly gay state and federal lawmakers in the country.

Lesbians face high risk of rape According to a recent ActionAid report, lesbians in South Africa are at high risk of being raped in towns where homosexuality is considered taboo and gangs of men view rape as a “cure” for lesbianism. According to the report, “Hate Crimes: The Rise of Corrective Rape in South Africa,” the country logs approximately half a million rapes per year, and nearly all of the accused rapists go unpunished. “So-called ‘corrective’rape is yet another grotesque manifestation of violence against women, the most widespread human-rights violation in the world today,” ActionAid’s Zanele Twala said in a statement. “These crimes continue unabated and with impunity, while governments simply turn a blind eye.” “Here in South Africa you have judges sending women to jail for stealing a loaf of bread to feed her baby, but men who gang-rape

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

DAD’S MATERNITY LEAVE: Yonatan Gher (left) who heads an Israeli gay-rights organization, and his partner Omer Gher play with their month-old son Evyatar Gher in Mumbai, India, Nov. 16, 2008. Yonatan received the country’s first-ever maternity leave for a male couple on March 12. AP Photo/Hindustan Times, Manoj Patil

women, who murder lesbians ... they walk the streets as free men,” Tsidi, a hate-crime survivor in Cape Town, said in a statement. At least 31 known lesbians have been murdered in homophobic attacks over the last decade. However, since South Africa does not recognize sexual orientation when classifying hate crimes, the actual number is likely much higher. Among these cases, only two of the men went to trial, and just one was convicted.

U.S. helps Guyana lower AIDS rate Guyana has claimed a U.S.funded AIDS-prevention program has helped slash the HIV-infection rate in the South American country from nearly 3 percent to about 1 percent. Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy said the program, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development, “is a huge success story.” The $20-million publicawareness and prevention program was launched ﬁve years ago. Some of the grant aid went to non-governmental organizations that staged skits to warn of the dangers of promiscuous behavior and the effects of the virus. Ramsammy said the government has tracked the decline of the virus by testing nearly half the population over the past three years.

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Police accused of failing to protect murdered trans Human-rights groups are claiming the recent murder of a Turkish transwoman could have been prevented by police, who didn’t take her pleas for help seriously. Ebru Soykan, a prominent transgender human-rights activist, was found stabbed to death in her Istanbul home on March 10. Soykan was a member of the gay-rights organization Lambda Istanbul. The group said the police had refused several times to issue an order of protection from a man who had beaten Soykan and threatened to kill her on several occasions. Police questioned the man after Soykan insisted to authorities her life was in danger. He was released after questioning several days

before the murder. Police arrested the man following the murder, but charges have yet to be ﬁled. Lambda Istanbul and Human Rights Watch accused police of not taking threats against Turkey’s LGBT citizens seriously. “The Turkish police have a duty to respond to all credible threats of violence, whoever the victim,” said Juliana Cano Nieto, researcher in the LGBT-rights program at Human Rights Watch. This was the second killing of a member of Lambda Istanbul in the past year. In July 2008, an unknown person shot and killed 26-year-old Ahmet Yildiz as he was leaving a café near the Bosporus. No one has been charged in his murder. “Until an antidiscrimination law is in place to protect the LGBT community and the police take seriously their duty to protect everyone, these murders will continue,” Nieto said. “Turkey cannot continue to ignore its obligations when lives are at stake.”

PAGE 19

image, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy. “I made an error of judgment and apologize to any colleagues at Radio France that were offended by it,” Cluzel said. “Friends of mine suggested I pose for a calendar about the diverse range of people with tattoos, the proﬁts of which would go to the ﬁght

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French radio head apologizes for photo The 62-year-old, openly gay president of Radio France has apologized for appearing shirtless and wearing a wrestler’s mask with his boyfriend in a photo for a charity calendar for AIDS activism. Jean-Paul Cluzel showed his tattooed chest in a photo, to beneﬁt the AIDS activist group ACT UP, in a 2009 calendar. But now Cluzel has apologized for the photo, as a number of high-ranking ofﬁcials have reportedly taken issue with the

against AIDS. I didn’t want to appear in my capacity as head of Radio France, so I posed in a colored cloth mask.” He said ACT UP is responsible for revealing his name and job title to the press. ■

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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A departure from the ordinary

Scene stealers

“THE COUNTRY TEACHER” (FROM TOP), “CHEF’S SPECIAL,” “TRAINING RULES” AND “MOMMY IS AT THE HAIRDRESSER”

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 21

Queer films featured in newly branded CineFest By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor The Philadelphia Film Festival: CineFest 09 runs March 26-April 6. While the program of more than 200 international features and shorts contains a handful of LGBT titles, all of this year’s queer entries are worthwhile. Here’s a rundown of what to watch: A lovely, elegiac memory piece, “Of Time and the City” is a beautifully constructed ode to gay filmmaker Terence Davies’ (“Distant Voices, Still Lives”) birthplace, Liverpool. Davies’ strong, crisp narration and excellent use of archival photos and images are extraordinary, as is his shrewd use of music, which alternates from poignant to uplifting. Davies describes his sexual coming of age — which includes the illicit pleasures of a wrestler’s body heat and some Catholic guilt — and declares his contempt for The “Betty Windsor” Coronation, not in the least by detailing her gift list. Davies is a fussy old gay man who projects a righteous anger at all he finds wrong with the world. He laments the rise of rock ’n’ roll signified by the Beatles and denounces the sterility of municipal architecture. Yet his descriptions of family life and his hometown — which he alternately loves and hates — are both insular and universal. Even for viewers who don’t get every obscure, Anglophilic reference, “Of Time and the City” is still tremendously affecting.

(9:30 p.m. April 2 at Ritz East, 125 S. Second St.; 5 p.m. April 5 at The Bridge, 4012 Walnut St.) A fun and very funny Spanish farce, “Chef’s Special” features gay restaurant owner Maxi (Javier Cámara of “Talk to Her”) dealing with a host of problems. For appetizers, his oversexed maitre d’ Alex (Lola Dueñas) is drunk after being jilted; he is led to believe a Michelin inspector contemplating a make-or-break review is eating in his prized establishment; and Maxi’s ex-wife dies, leaving their two children — neither of whom he’s seen in years — in his care.

Of course things quickly go from bad to worse: Maxi’s troubled teenage son has issues with his dad for leaving him long ago and for being queer. His business is in deep debt, and Horacio (Benjamín Vicuña), the hunky Argentine soccer player he ﬁxes Alex up with, puts the moves on him instead. (OK, so maybe that’s not a terrible problem, but it does strain his relationship with Alex.) “Chef’s Special” gets sillier as it goes along, with secrets and lies spilling out and doors being frantically slammed. These elements are all part of the ﬁlm’s charm, but the secret ingredient to the farce’s success is Cámara’s pitch-perfect portrayal of the high-strung drama queen Maxi. Broad but never offensive, the actor puts a contrived moment of searing a bratty customer’s raw tuna tableside deliciously over the top. Cámara’s gestures, expressions and body language are

frequently amusing — especially when he gets into a grudge-match soccer game against his son while his boyfriend referees. Yet the character remains lovable even when he mistreats his kids, his lover and his staff, which is often. Nimbly directed by Nacho G. Velilla, the film may predictably resolve its subplots, but “Chef’s Special” is a delightful film and quite special indeed. (2:15 p.m. March 28 at Ritz East; 7:45 p.m. April 4 at The Bridge; 4:45 p.m. April 6 at Ritz East) “The Country Teacher” is a sensitively made Czech film about Petr (Pavil Liska), a gay man who wants to be alone. He initiates this by leaving the city and taking a job teaching science in rural Czechoslovakia. In the country, he befriends Marie (Zuzana Bydzovska), a widow who runs a farm along with her teenage son Lada (Ladislav Sedivy). Marie likes having Petr around, and she hopes for a romance with this supposedly eligible bachelor. However, Petr has an unrequited attraction to Lada, and one night, after he makes his intentions clear, all hell breaks loose.

While some viewers may cringe at Petr’s weak (e.g., self-hating) character, and the scene in which he “molests” Lada is sure to provoke responses, “The Country Teacher” is absorbing in its depiction of the characters and how they suppress or express their feelings. As the relationship between Petr and Marie changes, both come to some interesting realizations. Director Bohdan Sláma coaxes fantastic performances from both Liska and Bydzovska as Petr and Marie, and they allow their characters to transform in subtle ways that engage viewers. Sláma also provides viewers with an incredible sense of time and place. If the inclusion of some calf-birthing scenes to reﬂect the characters’ sense of selfworth is heavyhanded, there are several portentous moments — a water well being “OF TIME AND THE CITY” improved, or

“THE COUNTRY TEACHER”

a TV crashing — that suggest much about the characters’ lives. “A Country Teacher” may not be subtle, but the ﬁlm’s messages about tolerance and forgiveness are still worthwhile. (9:15 p.m. March 27 at Ritz 5, 214 Walnut St.; 2:15 p.m. March 29 at Ritz 5) “A Beautiful Person” is Christophe Honoré’s loose adaptation of Madame de Lafayette’s novel “La Princesse de Clèvess,” set in a contemporary French high school. Junie (Lea Seydoux) is a new student who provokes infatuation from both a classmate (Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet) and her teacher (Louis Garrell). This watchable ﬁlm is mostly a talky affair — though the adorable Leprince-Ringuet sings a love song in one hypnotic sequence. While viewers may have trouble initially keeping track of the various characters and their (unrequited) loves, “A Beautiful Person” gets considerably more interesting and involving when a subplot about a secret queer relationship is revealed. Soon, blackmail, heartbreak and other nasty goingson liven up the central drama of this well-acted morality play. (4:15 p.m. April 4 at The Prince, 1412 Chestnut St.; 9:15 p.m. April 5 at Ritz 5)

Lesbian filmmaker Leá Pool’s “Mommy Is at the Hairdresser” is a perspicacious coming-ofage story/domestic drama about a Canadian family coming apart at the seams. It is 1966 and Elise (Marianne Fortier), her older brother Coco (Elie Dupuis) and her younger brother Benoit (Hugo St-Onge-Paquin) are home for the summer. Elise is a barefoot tomboy who often watches over Benoit, who is learning-disabled. She wants to learn to fish, and doesn’t want to go to boarding school in the fall. Her life is mostly idyllic — and Pool beautifully captures this carefree existence — until she confirms her suspicions that her father (Laurent Lucas) is See FILMS, Page 22

“A BEAUTIFUL PERSON”

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 22

SCENES From Page 21 having an affair with one of his golf buddies. When she provides evidence of this to her mother (Celine Bonnier), Mom reacts by taking a job in London, leaving dad to fend for himself. (The title refers to what the family tells outsiders who ask, “Where is your mother?”) Pool’s domestic drama hits all of the expected notes — Dad can’t cook or care for the kids; the children yearn for their mother’s return and eventually learn to cope on their own — but the ﬁlm never suffers for being cliché. This is perhaps because each of the families in the neighborhood is equally troubled. A comic highlight has a boy discovering something he would rather not know about his father — with all the other neighborhood kids watching. Pool artfully uses color — the fashions in particular are fabulous — and music, as when bubblegum pop plays on the TV during a tense phone call from Mom. But

what makes “Mommy Is at the Hairdresser” notable is that the filmmaker allows viewers to fill in the blanks for scenes and conversations that take place off screen. The notable exception has Elise describing what it means to be different to Benoit. As she explains how a boy with red hair or a local deaf man is distinctive, she also comes to realize that she, too, is special. This just may be the most touching moment in this gem of a film. (7 p.m. March 27 at Ritz 5; 2:30 p.m. March 28 at Ritz 5; 5 p.m. March 29 at The Bridge) The inspirational documentary

“Training Rules” addresses the

issue of homophobia in women’s sports — in particular, the “training rules” of Penn State women’s basketball coach Rene Portland, who tells student athletes: “No drinking, no drugs, no lesbians” or they are off the team. In player Jennifer Harris’ mind, it was time to call Coach Portland on her discrimination.

Out ﬁlmmaker Dee Mosbacher interviews various players

from the past 30 years whose passion for the game ended with Portland dismissing them on the basis of their supposed sexual orientation. They discuss the fear, anguish, psychological abuse and shame they experienced as members of Portland’s team in pained interviews. These women also complain — with righteous outrage that is palpable — about how Portland’s tactics would likely end any chances of them playing for the WNBA. While Portland declined to be interviewed for the film, the testimonies of the athletes are quite telling and often heartbreaking. “Training Rules” is a fine and very moving documentary. (7 p.m. April 4 at Ritz East; 12:15 p.m. April 5 at The Bridge. Note: This is the film’s world premiere. Following the April 4 screening, there will be a conversation with Mosbacher.) Another documentary of note is

“Not Quite Hollywood,” about

the various exploitation ﬁlms that

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

“TRAINING RULES” were made in Australia since the 1970s. This film will appeal to queer audiences looking for a chance to see Barry Humphries in and out of his Dame Edna drag. Humphries talks about the naughty sex films produced in his country and has some hilarious one-liners in film clips and interviews. Although the laughs stop when the documentary segues into the thriller and other genre films, “Not Quite Hollywood” still provides a fun look at a brand of cinema rarely screened in the States.

(10 p.m. March 28, at The Bridge; 9:30 p.m. March 29 at Ritz 5)

Culkin stars as Scott Bartlett, a teen who has been smitten with Adrianna (Emma Roberts) for years. His father Mickey (Alec Baldwin) is a real-estate developer who begins an affair with Melissa (lesbian actor Cynthia Nixon), his coworker and Adrianna’s mother. The film boasts excellent period detail, a fair share of squirminducing moments and a terrific supporting turn by Timothy Hutton as Melissa’s husband, a man stricken with Lyme disease. It may not be a happy film, but “Lymelife” is a compelling one.

(7:15 p.m. April 6 at The Prince. Note: The ﬁlm will be preceded by the festival awards ceremony.)

drama about two suburban Long Island families falling apart. Rory

Happy moviegoing! See you at the festival! ■

Closing

out

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“Lymelife,” an intense domestic

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MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PAGE 23

Jazz singer adds pop and other genres to his scat By Larry Nichols PGN Staff Writer Jazz singer Andrew Suvalsky swings more than one way. (No, not like that. We’re talking about music here.) The openly gay singer may revere traditions of jazz but he is by no means a slave to it, as much regarded for his forays into classic-pop music as he is for his jazz works, including recordings such as 2006’s “Vintage Pop and the Jazz Side” and 2008’s “A World that Swings.” “It’s fun for me and I think that my audience has come to expect it or look for it,” Suvalsky said of his repertoire. “It’s my calling card. You’ll come to a show of mine and I’m not going to necessarily be singing to a bunch of hardcore jazz aﬁcionados. I’m singing to people who really like songs, music and good lyrics. I like to mix things up. I ﬁgure that’s what I can give that’s unique from the next person. I’ll take you on a ride musically by doing that.” The 40-year-old Milwaukeeborn musician said his appreciation for a variety of musical styles

began at an early age. “My very first musical memories were 1970s music,” he said. “One of my older sisters was really into popular music so through her I would always hear — and inherited a love for — a lot of the great singer-songwriters from that era: everyone from Carole King and Stevie Wonder to James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. Also I liked some of the flashier 1970s groups like The Fifth Dimension. I generally like music a lot. If I can sing along to it, I consider that an influence.” It wasn’t long before Suvalsky became enamored with the works of some of the great jazz voices. “As I got older, I really learned about the American songbook and older singers that have endured,” he said. “I would put Ella Fitzgerald at the top of my list as an influence, just because she mastered how to make the most of a song and find pretty much any angle you could eek out of a song. I hear a lot of things in her delivery that I wish I could do. That’s really inspiring to me. I listen to a lot of Frank Sinatra but I don’t like to imitate

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him because that is clichéd. I just like his honesty and how he approaches songs. He’s easy to listen to.” Suvalsky began his musical career as part of the Jackie Allen Jazz improvisational group in Chicago before graduating to regular performances at some of the city’s best jazz venues. He moved to New York City in 1998 and went on to produce and star in his one-man show, “All I Want,” followed by two other original shows, “My American Songbook” and “Closer to My Own Age.” Suvalsky definitely pushes at the boundaries of the genre with his pop flirtations and said he doesn’t mind terribly if jazz purists find fault with that. “I’m more about the music,” he said. “I really swing hard. I scat and do a lot of things that some jazz singers don’t do anymore. I don’t mind if anyone critiques me. At least they’re paying

ANDREW SUVALSKY

of gay musicians in the world of jazz, Suvalsky said he knows of only a few. “I know some,” he said. “I’ve never taken any pains to celebrate or hide [my sexuality]. Certain lyrics I sing, I don’t change them if it’s to a man or to a woman. I just stay true to the lyrics of the song as they were written. I’d kind of like to think, in a very healthy way, it’s a non-issue. If somebody ﬁnds it interesting that I’m a jazz singer who is gay, that’s ﬁne too because, as an entertainer, I’m a big believer that if you’re true to yourself, any angle you have that is of interest to somebody is worth exploring.” Suvalsky will perform at 8:30 p.m. March 21 at Harlans Cabaret, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope. For more information, visit www.andrewsuvalsky.com or call (215) 862-5225. ■

attention and listening.” When it comes to the visibility

Larry Nichols can be reached at larry@epgn.com.

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MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Ms. Behavior Meryl Cohn In defense of childlessness, love-spy revelation Dear Ms. Behavior: I received an invitation for a reunion for my old softball team. I was close to several women back then and, although I haven’t seen them for over two decades, I am curious about how their lives have turned out. But I’m apprehensive about questions people might ask, so I’m not sure if I should go. I don’t know how to respond to questions about why my girlfriend and I don’t have children. I’ve found that my quick brush-off about it not being “meant to be” doesn’t work anymore and I often end up with a well-meaning person

reassuring me that it’s not too late and I should keep trying. This is unbearably awkward because my partner and I don’t want to “try.” We are in our 40s and actually childless by choice. I don’t want to be judged as a loser. If I choose to go to the reunion, how should I respond to nosy questions about my fertility? Or should I just stay home to avoid the issue? — Babyless Dear Babyless: Reunions are terrifying events, designed to make everyone feel inferior. Just imagine how many of your former teammates feel acutely self-conscious about their fourth divorce, their 40th unsuccessful rehab attempt or their mortifying appearance on “The Jerry Springer Show.” Right now, most of them are

undoubtedly standing in front of their mirrors with whitening strips on their teeth, grasping the real or imaginary fat around their middle, wondering how many ounces they can lose in the days that remain until the big event. The point is that reunions activate self-doubt. Your feelings are normal, but unwarranted because most people are self-centered and unlikely to ask more than a question or two. The baby issue is annoying. You may long for the days when lesbians were viewed as earnest, sexless, softball-playing spinsters. But the fact that Rosie and Kelly have eight or nine babies doesn’t mean you need to follow suit. And you don’t need to explain your choice to anyone. The fact that most lesbians (or even most women) can have babies doesn’t mean they all

should. Some people are better suited to raise Dalmatians or hairless felines. Others prefer to drink vodka and write sonnets; a regular feeding schedule and sore nipples would be too dire a distraction. There are those, too, who are happier alone or in a calm little dyad, who don’t have the energy or desire to feed, educate and comfort clingy little creatures for two or more decades. People who prefer a lifestyle that allows for spontaneous travel to exotic countries or service to disadvantaged neighbors are better left to such pursuits. Dear Ms. Behavior: My friend Laurel is smart and interesting, but also single and lonely, so I set her up on blind dates with three different women. Apparently all of the dates went fairly well, at least at ﬁrst. The problem is that none of the women agreed to see her again after the second or third time. Laurel was really discouraged and felt like she was doing something wrong, so she asked me if I could ﬁnd out why they’d all cooled off. I said I thought it was too awkward but Laurel

begged, so I finally consented. One of the dates refused to tell me what happened. The others both said that Laurel talked in a baby voice during sex and that they were embarrassed by it. Now I’m in an awkward position: Do I tell Laurel what I’ve learned or do I protect her dignity by telling her that I couldn’t find out? — Laurel’s Friend Dear Laurel’s Friend: Now that you’ve accepted your special mission as Laurel’s love spy, it’s your duty to tell her the mortifying truth without embarrassing her. First, tell her something weird about yourself. Say whichever one might apply: “I have hairy buttocks.” “I long to be peed on.” “I wear a silicone butt plug to work.” Then, once you’ve disclosed your own nasty little secret, you can switch gears and tell her that she needs to clam up during sex. ■ Meryl Cohn is the author of “‘Do What I Say’: Ms. Behavior’s Guide to Gay and Lesbian Etiquette” (Houghton Mifflin). E-mail her at MsBehavior@aol.com or visit www.msbehavior.com.

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MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Bromance shines on the big screen By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor In the droll and often laughout-loud comedy “I Love You, Man,” Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is looking for a boy friend. Not a “boyfriend,” but a guy he can ask to be his best man. Engaged to Zooey (Rashida Jones), Peter is charming to women, but does not have any male pals or best-man prospects. Cataloguing the guys he knows — a smarmy coworker, and an ornery fencing opponent — he silently agrees with Zooey’s BFF Hailey (Sarah Burns) that it is impossible to ﬁnd a good man. Surely, some gay viewers will agree. Peter takes steps to ﬁnd a bud he can befriend, even going on “man dates” set up by his mother (Jane Curtin) and his gay brother Robbie (Andy Samberg). One of these “dates” — with a guy named Doug (Thomas Lennon, Lt. Dangle on “Reno 911”) — even ends with a French kiss, which is more than straight-man Peter anticipates or appreciates. “I Love You, Man” chronicles how challenging it is for straight guys to become friends as they grow older. “Hooking up is easy. Platonic friends, not so much,” one character bemoans. And

again, queer The comedy may viewers might be crude, but the laugh at — or message behind with — these it is actually observations, quite poignant. depending The relationship on their own that develops friendship/ between Peter relationship and Sydney is status. more tender and The film loving than that creates both of Peter and his comedy and fiancée. “I Love drama as Peter You, Man” develops a shows how these “bromance” guys need each (two men sharing other, while a non-sexual deliberately r e l a t i o n s h i p ) Robbie Klaven (Andy Samberg, left) and his brother Peter taking Peter with Sydney Fife (Paul Rudd) Photos: Dreamworks Pictures/Scott Garfield and Zooey’s (Jason Segel). relationship for Sydney is honest where Peter is quite hit it off. Perhaps it was his granted. Thankfully, Rudd’s Peter is an polite. Sydney is carefree where public speech about her not giving Peter is uptight. And Sydney is Peter enough oral sex that set her adorable, bumbling neurotic. The actor endears because he is sweet straight and single where Peter is teeth on edge. Such uncomfortably funny and insecure, often simultaneously. engaged. This odd couple makes a perfect match. After beers and moments occur throughout “I His efforts to put on an accent for fish tacos, hanging out in Sydney’s Love You, Man,” which frequently comic effect, or give Sydney a cool “man cave” and playing some stoops low for a joke. The naughty nickname, fail ridiculously. Rudd Rush songs, it’s full-on man-love, screenplay by director John is wonderfully self-deprecating Hamburg and Larry Levin manages and a master at being flummoxed just without the kissing or sex. All would be well except comic several pubic-hair references in and flustered in these scenes. His complications, of course, ensue. the first reel, as well as lengthy performance makes viewers care Although Zooey is pleased that discussions about blowjobs, farts about him getting the guy and the Peter has a new BFF, when she and masturbation habits. There gal. In contrast, Sydney may be meets Sydney at the couple’s are even two episodes of projectile engagement party, they do not vomiting — both quite hilarious. an overgrown child, but he

reads people well, and Segel is immensely likable in the role. His gentle-giant approach provides an appropriate comic foil for Rudd’s Peter. These two guys have an appealing rapport. As he teaches the un-selfconfident Peter how to become empowered — taking him under a bridge on the beach to teach him to scream — Sydney makes Peter not just more of a man, but a better man. Their brotherly love is deep without ever being intense, which Zooey appreciates even if she doesn’t always understand it. Incidentally, the gay Doug neither appreciates nor understands it, as his snarky comments prove whenever he runs into Peter and Sydney hugging or touching in public. Perhaps the weakest element in “I Love You, Man” is the inclusion of the gay brother character, Robbie. Despite Samdberg’s enthusiasm, his role is sadly underwritten and almost superfluous. For a film about men falling in love, albeit platonically, it’s a shame the queer characters are not allowed more screen time, or even romantic happiness. That said, queer viewers will most likely enjoy “I Love You, Man.” They may even love it, man. ■

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Fabulous

FIT

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Get-healthy helpers target body and beauty (and booty...) 110over70 110over70, the newly opened energizing fitness facility located in the Marine Club at 1100 S. Broad St., features studios for yoga, Pilates, group exercises, spinning and personal training. With over 25 years of experience, the team at 110over70 is devoted to helping members exceed their fitness goals. The personalized attention and outstanding customer service make for an unforgettable experience. 110over70 is also recognized for its commitment to the community and its ability to work into the fabric of the neighborhood. 110over70 is devoted to enhancing the lives of everyone in the Philadelphia community. See the difference in yourself for yourself. The dedicated staff members at 110over70 have their finger on your pulse. For more information, call (215) 790-1025. 12th Street Gym 12th Street Gym, 204 S. 12th St., is a fitness and personal-care complex like no other in the world. Located in the heart of Center City, it covers 120,000 square feet on eight levels spread over a full city block. 12th Street offers more than

60 group-ﬁtness classes a week, ranging from Pilates and yoga to cardio-dance and striptease aerobics. The gym also features the most comprehensive selection of strength-training equipment in the Philadelphia region, a beautiful pool and an expansive, landscaped sundeck for warmweather relaxing. SOLEIL at 12th Street provides spotless tanning service in eight tanning beds and booths at the lowest prices in Center City. A gym membership is not required. The Camac Center, at 201 S. Camac St., features personalcare services including spinning classes, hair and nail care, massage therapy, counseling, a private Pilates studio, medicalgrade skincare and age-defying services, as well as the largest kids’ ﬁtness center in the metro region. 12th Street also features the largest group of quality personal trainers in the United States. These independent professionals work directly for their members, so a member’s entire training fee goes to his or her trainer. Membership at 12th Street is amazingly inexpensive, beginning at less than $33 a month. New members get one or more free training sessions depending on membership choice.

For more information, visit www.12streetgym.com or call (215) 985-4092. Any Lab Test Now Any Lab Test Now® is a healthcare lab-testing facility contracted with nationally accredited labs to provide medical lab testing to clients in a professional, convenient and cost-effective way. Any Lab Test Now is perfect if you’re paying out of pocket, uninsured or a high-deductible account holder. The company provides thousands of tests, such as HIV, viral load, T-helper cell, wellness, diabetes, comprehensive STD panels, male-health profiles, drug screens and advanced nutritional testing. No appointment is necessary, and all services are confidential and anonymous. Most results are available in 24-48 hours. Any Lab Test Now is located in the Springfield Shopping Center, 131 S. State Road in Springfield. For more information, visit www.anylabtestnowphilly.com or call (610) 543-2211. Bicycle Therapy Bicycle Therapy, 2211 South St., has been serving Philadelphia’s commuters and cycling enthusiasts for nearly 20 years. A frequent “Best Of”

winner, Bicycle Therapy caters to everyone from area students to Triple Crown pros looking to conquer the Manayunk Wall. The shop provides outstanding service and offers a large selection of bicycles and equipment. Bicycle Therapy is also active in the Philadelphia community, sponsoring many area road and mountain-bike teams and providing the staff’s mechanical expertise for area charity rides. For more information, visit www.bicycletherapy.com or call (215) 735-7849. The Body Electric School The Body Electric School has spent 25 years helping people across the country to become more comfortable with their own bodies. Body Electric seeks to help people experience their potential as fully integrated, loving and self-aware beings through a series of workshops that focus on movement, breath, touch and personal growth in order to honor the wisdom of the body. “We all yearn to be part of something so much bigger than ourselves,” said school director Bob Findle. “Our work is about helping people reach a part of themselves that may have gotten lost. The workshops can also

provide tools for making you a better lover through creating intentions and developing consciousness around erotic energy.” A Celebrating the Body Erotic for Men series will be held in Philadelphia April 4-5. For more information, visit www.thebodyelectricschool.com, e-mail info@thebodyelectricschool.com or call (215) 844-6537. Dr. Ken Cirka, DMD Philadelphia dentist Dr. Ken Cirka’s reﬁned clinical artistry and welcoming personality ensure you get the ultimate in quality dental care. Cirka’s Center City practice, at 1601 Walnut St., Suite 1203, was voted the “Best Dental Ofﬁce” by City Paper in 2006. Cirka offers service that goes beyond what you need to keep healthy teeth, providing you with the beautiful smile you’ve always dreamed of. Available treatments include teeth whitening, dental implants, InvisAlign teeth straightening, aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry and an array of preventative-care services. “Free New Patient Exams,” valued at $170, include a complete dental exam, gumdisease and oral-cancer screening, X-rays, bite analysis, a jaw-joint exam and color evaluation.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

For more information, visit www.phillydentistry.com or call (215) 568-6222. Cut Hair & Skin Studio Cut, 204 S. 13th St., can help you look great from head to toe. The gay-owned-and-operated salon, situated in the heart of the Gayborhood, offers a variety of hair- and skincare services, bodyhair removal and massages at prices that will fit in your budget. Cut’s experienced and friendly staff will ensure that you receive top-quality service and a hot new look this spring. For more information, call (215) 545-3930. Ettoré Ettoré, 1201 Market St., is offering Spa Week Specials that will help get you fit and fabulous this spring without breaking the bank. From April 13-19, the spa will offer a variety of services for just $50, including aromatherapy massages, Malaysian silk pedicures and green-tea facials. Ettoré staff members believe their guests are the highest priority and work to fulfill all of your beauty needs with the quality of service you deserve. The spa is open daily from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information, visit www.ettorespa.com or call (215) 928-9010.

Hair Club for Men If you could choose between having a full head of hair or a bald scalp, the choice would be obvious. Unfortunately for many, genetics will play a big part in making that choice. That is where Hair Club can help. At Hair Club, you can take control of your image. Many people wait an average of seven years before they do anything about their hair loss. Why wait? Take action now and reclaim that full, healthy-looking head of hair with a complete line of products and services customized to your unique situation. The company’s goal is to give you the look you thought you’d never have again. So what are you waiting for? Call now for a free private consultation and microscopic hair and scalp analysis. For more information, call (800) 365-0508. King’s Collar King’s Collar Custom Shirtmakers, located in Ardmore, is a premier custom-shirt company and has been serving local customers for more than 30 years. King’s Collar is owned by Nancy Gold, a nationally recognized custom-shirt designer, distinguished as the nation’s ﬁrst woman to enter the ﬁeld as both a shirt and patternmaker. Gold started the company in

1978 in Haddonﬁeld, N.J., and relocated to Rittenhouse Row in Center City in 1986, then moved to Ardmore’s Main Line in 2000. Gold makes shirts for both men and women and offers these services within the comfortable ambiance of her artistic and intimate studio setting. All work is either done in Ardmore or in the company’s New Jersey workroom. Gold’s clients include national political leaders, media personalities and numerous corporate leaders. For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.kingscollar.com, e-mail nancy@kingscollar.com or call (610) 642-9910. Level 1 Fitness Situated on a quiet cobblestone street in Old City, Level 1 Fitness, 113 N. Bread St., offers an alternative to the typical gym experience. Our goal is to promote healthy lifestyles and wellness through proper diet, See FIT & FABULOUS, Page 31

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

The King’s Collar Custom Shirtmakers Ardmore, PA 19003 Phone: 610-642-9910 • Fax: 610-642-9909 Email: nancy@Kingscollar.com By appointment only “With hundreds of shirts in just your size, isn’t it time YOU considered Custom Made?”

LOOK BETTER NAKED! Jared Carter, CSCS MOVE FORWARD FITNESS Center City’s Newest Personal Training Studio

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

FIT & FABULOUS From Page 29 nutrition and exercise. Engage both your body and mind with Kinesis and improve your functional strength, balance and core stability in one 30minute, full-body workout. We may not be the largest, but we aim to be the best fitness center in Philadelphia. We have gone all out to bring you the most advanced fitness equipment available today in a setting that is second to none. We have some of the best trainers in the city, each with a unique specialty to deliver a great workout experience combined with a high level of personal service. If this sounds like the place for you, please pay us a visit! For more information, call (215) 925-0215 or visit www. level1fitness.net. Mazzoni Center Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia’s LGBT health center, now offers laser treatments for hair removal, skin rejuvenation and spider-vein reduction at 809 Locust St., so you can look as good as you feel. Mazzoni’s health professionals, social workers, HIV specialists, counselors, educators and volunteers are leading a revolution in LGBT healthcare. For more information, visit www.mazzonicenter.org or call (215) 275-4125. Move Forward Fitness Are you frustrated by your inability to lose your extra fat? Have you gained back the weight you lost on your last diet? Do you want to feel better, look better and be healthier? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, Move Forward Fitness, 1616 Walnut St., is here to help. The training studio, operated by Jared Carter, is committed to helping everyone achieve the results they seek to change their lives. Carter is so confident in Move Forward’s success that he backs all of his services with a 100percent money-back guarantee. For more information, visit www.moveforwardfitness.com, email jared@moveforwardfitness. com or call (215) 399-3541. Petchalonis Dental & Associates Dr. Anthony Petchalonis’ practice, 248 S. 21st St., provides high-quality, state-of-the-art services so that patients can achieve optimal dental health and

maintain a beautiful smile and healthier gums and teeth. Petchalonis offers comprehensive oral care in the conveniently located Rittenhouse office. Services include emergency care, diagnostics, hygiene, restorative dentistry, implants and Britesmile teeth whitening. Petchalonis’ team takes the time to explain treatment options and inform patients of additional preventative care to establish a more trusting doctor/patient relationship and relieve the stress of seeing a dentist. The practice takes pride in providing a comfortable office experience where the qualified staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and will do everything possible to ensure a pleasant visit. For more information, visit www.yourphillydentist.com or call (215) 732-3350. 621 Philadelphia Eddie’s Tattoo Haven 621 Philadelphia Eddie’s Tattoo Haven, 621 S. Fourth St., offers studio-quality tattooing in a walkin shop, giving every person her/his money’s worth ... and then some! The store’s namesake, Philadelphia Eddie, instilled a good work ethic and love of people in all the artists that staff the shop, which is committed to embracing new styles, themes, techniques and ideas. The artists are friendly, talented, professional, awardwinning, world-class characters. All styles of tattoo are available, and the store specializes in portraits, sleeve and body, custom and cover-ups. Tattooing has become a way for people to express, enjoy and adorn themselves, and Philadelphia Eddie’s is happy to make these ideas come true. Come down and bring your ideas, art, pictures, pals, family and friends and get tattooed. The shop is open from noonmidnight every day. For more information, visit www.philadelphiaeddiestattoo. com or call (215) 922-7384. Dr. Phillip R. Reeves Dr. Phillip R. Reeves is a wellknown psychiatrist with extensive experience in treating LGBT individuals. Dr. Reeves also specializes in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. Dr. Reeves has offices in both See FIT & FABULOUS, Page 33

THIRD ANNUAL PINK PENNY AWARDS APRIL 3 Are YOU a PGN favorite?

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

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Dr. Ira Sheres (right) with his life partner and their children

PGN

THIRD ANNUAL PINK PENNY AWARDS APRIL 3 Are YOU a PGN favorite?

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

FIT & FABULOUS From Page 31 Center City, at 1600 Walnut St., Suite 1128, and in Montgomery County and offers convenient evening hours. For more information, call (215) 740-4311. Salon @ 5th Salon @ 5th, 316 S. Fifth St., has a staff of highly trained stylists who can meet all your hair-care needs. The stylists, who receive training every six months to keep up with the latest innovations, provide everything from fashionable cuts and waxing to eye-catching highlights. The salon offers services for people with all types of hair, such as its new Keratin treatment, which is an excellent service for people with dry, frizzy or curly hair. Salon @ 5th caters to a clientele that spans all races, genders, colors and ages. The friendly, unpretentious staff and clean, inviting environment will make your next hair-care experience a memorable one. Salon @ 5th gives complimentary consultations to new customers. For more information, call (215) 873-8090.

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Dr. Ira Sheres Dr. Ira Sheres, at 248 S. 21st St., fuses his education and experience to provide patients with high-quality dental care. Sheres studied at the prestigious Cornell University, where he received his bachelor’s degree, and then moved on to the University of Penn School of Dental Medicine, ﬁnishing up his residency at Temple University. Sheres performs general and specialized dentistry as well as cosmetic dentistry. The practice offers both earlymorning and evening hours to accommodate your busy schedule. For more information, call (215) 546-6111. South Moon Under Offering handpicked, premiumquality clothing, accessories, jewelry and home goods, South Moon Under, 1731 Chestnut St.,

strives to inspire self-expression through the art of fashion. In addition to its Philadelphia shop, South Moon Under has locations throughout the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., areas, as well as in Richmond, Va.; Ocean City, Md.; and Rehoboth Beach, Del., and is the Mid-Atlantic area’s premier destination for fashion-forward clothing. The store offers a constantly changing selection of highquality apparel in price points that suit the times. Find all of your favorites, like Hugo Boss, RVCA, Juicy Couture, Seven for All Mankind and Joe’s Jeans, arriving daily. The fashionable staff is eager to help in any way, from personal styling to a friendly smile. You can expect the unexpected with every visit. For more information, visit www.southmoonunder.com or

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call (215) 563-2298. The Sporting Club at The Bellevue The Sporting Club at The Bellevue, 224 S. Broad St., is the city’s premier fitness facility and has been for 20 years. More than 90,000 square feet in all, it has the widest array of fitness, health and recreational activities anywhere, along with spa and massage services. Members choose from more than 100 group-fitness classes, run on an indoor track, play on a fullsize NBA basketball court, swim laps, play squash and racquetball and even box. The club offers outstanding personal trainers, an executive locker room with sauna, whirlpool and steam room, nutrition counseling and SportsFit Assessment, all in a great Center City location. In addition to being a fitness

facility, it’s also a club where the city’s leading arts, political, ﬁnancial and legal leaders sweat out the details of their stressful lives. Join them now and cut down on your own ﬁnancial stress by not having to pay dues until May 1. For more information, call (215) 985-2160. Drs. Wortman, Biscardi and Associates, P.C. Drs. Wortman, Biscardi and Associates, at 1420 Walnut St., Suite 600, have 25 years of eye-care experience, which aids them in providing the most comprehensive and trusted care possible for area residents. The practice accepts most vision plans and prides itself on the personal relationships forged between the doctors and their patients. For more information, call (215) 735-6300. ■

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

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Family Portraits At 6-foot-3 with steely blue eyes, he looks like he could be a bouncer or WWF wrestler, but mere minutes into our interview, I realized that Sandy Beach is an old softy. The former child model, singer/dancer and drag impresario is taking a little time off, but will reemerge April 5 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of “In Bed with Butch.” PGN: From where do you hail? SB: I’m from Atlantic City, but over the years I’ve lived in Margate, Chicago, Florida, New York City and back to Atlantic City. I moved to Philadelphia 14 years ago and have been here ever since. But I spent most of my time in A.C. As a kid, I always worked at the Steel Pier. Ed Hurst, who ran the Steel Pier show, famous for the diving horses, also had a popular television dance show named “Summertime on the Pier.” As a featured dancer on the show, I was a little teen idol kicking up my heels and spinning the records on the turntable. One day I saw a sign asking for “Person to work with trained animals.” I just thought I’d be feeding and caring for the dolphins and sea lions, but three weeks into it, the girl that was doing the show got hurt. It was my “All About Eve” moment. I told them I knew the show and could do it and, the next thing you knew, there were advertisements all over town featuring me. At the time, the show “Flipper” was really popular. Because I was young and had blond hair, they promoted me as the real “Sandy” [Flipper’s human pal on the show]. It was the best job of my life, except that it was grueling. Eight shows a day, 16 on Saturdays. They didn’t want a lot of people handling the dolphins, so there were only two of us to cover all the shows. We were on for a half-hour then off for a half. We had several dolphins, so they didn’t get overworked — just the trainers! PGN: Who was a favorite star? SB: There were so many. I think two of the nicest were Liza Minnelli and Frank Sinatra. Dean Martin was another one who was very kind. I’ll tell you a story: My mother was a singer/dancer and her best friend was Bettyjane D’Amato, who was married to Paul “Skinny” D’Amato. He owned the notorious 500 Club, the place in Atlantic City where Dean

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Suzi Nash Martin and Jerry Lewis became a team and where Sammy Davis Jr. got his start. Frank Sinatra played there all the time, too, and he knew who my mom was. She had developed cancer and I sent his secretary a note, saying that she couldn’t come to see his show, could he possibly send her an autographed picture. [Tearing up.] I’m sorry, I get emotional. He remembered that her nickname was Nancy and sent her a beautiful note and framed picture. In the picture, he was wearing a suit with an orange handkerchief in the pocket and in the package with the note, he included the same handkerchief. It was such a sweet gesture. PGN: And the worst? SB: Diana Ross! What a nightmare. I was in her video for the song “Chain Reaction.” It was freezing out and she kept us waiting and waiting. It was about 30 degrees out and we weren’t wearing coats so that we’d be ready when she showed. When she finally was ready, she would only consent to do two takes for the director, so we had to scramble to get it done. If you look closely in the video, you’ll see my ass stuck in the air. I had to climb a fence and I got stuck and there were no retakes. PGN: Tell me about your family. SB: My dad ran hotels. He ran the Ambassador, the Traymore and, eventually, was the vice president of sales and marketing for Resorts Hotel and Casino. My mother was a dancer. It was one of those “love at first sight, I’ll love you forever” marriages. I had five brothers and sisters. We’ve been through some rough times. As I mentioned, my mother had cancer that eventually took her life. She died while I was on stage at the Golden Nugget. They told me as I was coming off stage and I went straight to the hospital. [Laughs.] My sister looked at me in my glitter tuxedo and said, “You could have changed.” Later my sister Cathy lost her husband. He was a bartender and he was murdered, shot. Then my dad died of pancreatic cancer. Three weeks after my dad died, Cathy was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with liver failure and she died within 24 hours, leaving behind her 7-year-old son, Robbie. The poor kid lost a father,

then lost his pop-pop and then his mother and he was a wreck. Luckily we were able to step in. My sister Donna would take him during the school year and I would have him for the summers. That was pretty exciting for a kid. He’s now 20-something years old and just had a son named Rocco. He’s the new love of our lives. Robbie and Rocco. PGN: So he’s all grown up, but I understand that you’re a new father too. SB: Yes, eight times over. I have a Corgie down at my shore house. I was walking her down in Margate and I saw a little black lab huddled in a baseball dugout in the park. I put up signs around town but no one claimed him. So I named him Kia, after my brother’s car, and kept him. Apparently, my Corgie took a shine to him too, because just last week she gave me a litter of little Corgidors! PGN: What did you do here in Philly? SB: I’d done stand-up comedy before. In A.C., I worked with an improv group called Eddie and the Enemas. We later were renamed Unorganized Crime and we appeared at Comedy Stop at the Trop, and did a 30-city college tour as the opening act for Robert Hazzard and the Heroes and for the Hooters. When I came to Philadelphia, I started creating “Sandy Beach” as a drag character and toured all over the area. The Sandy Beach U.S.O. Show was Philly’s longest-running cabaret show. I also had a monthly show in A.C. at the Sands. As the host of Red Ribbon Bingo, and director/writer of the annual Miss’d America Show for 13 years, we raised over $300,000 for the South Jersey AIDS Alliance. I decided to take a break from show biz for a quick breather, but I’m proud to say I won the 2007 Rainbow Award Cabaret Performer of the Year and the 2008 Rainbow Award as Entertainer of the Year. And I’ve appeared onstage at Philly Pride on Penn’s Landing 10 times! PGN: So how did you get started? SB: When I was 4 years old, I had severe pigeon toes. I had to wear orthopedic shoes, so my mother put me in dance class to help straighten my feet. I really

SANDY BEACH Photo: Suzi Nash took to entertaining. My aunt owned a modeling agency and I think my first gig was as a model for children’s clothing. They had a line of kids’ clothes based on the Western TV show “Bat Masterson” starring Gene Barry. I was one of the runway models for the line. And then, oh I hate to admit it, but I was also “Speedy Alka Seltzer.” They’d dress me up in this costume and I’d walk around the Convention Center greeting people. My mother would drop me off and say, “I’ll meet you later at the end of aisle C” and I’d just toddle around dressed as a giant antacid tablet! PGN: Craziest stunt? SB: My grandfather, whom I’ve never met, was a trapeze artist. So when I was at Steel Pier, I would work with the family that did the trapeze act. I would hang from the high wire on the bottom of a motorcycle. It actually was very safe: It looks scary, but everything was bolted so that if anything happened, you were still safe. PGN: Any stage disasters? SB: Not really. I usually am pretty ritualistic about knocking wood and blessing myself and doing that sort of thing to ward off bad luck. I’m also a stickler for being prepared, so I don’t have too many disasters, but there was one bad incident. I was doing a show called “The Hunchdrag of Not’a’dame” and, in the opening

scene, I was ringing the bell about 15 feet in the air. As I was coming down, the ladder broke and I fell. The show was prerecorded so I kept going and just lip-synched. My hand was swelling and as soon as I could get off stage I had someone get me ice. When it came time to go back onstage, I tossed it aside and went back in. Unfortunately when I came off for the next costume change, I slipped on the melted ice and fell again. PGN: Give me a taste of your acting career. SB: Oh my, I’ve done quite a bit, especially musicals. I’ve been Tony in “West Side Story,” Paul in “Company,” Smokey in “Damn Yankees,” Tom in “The Glass Menagerie,” Abner in “Little Abner,” even the lion in “The Wizard of Oz.” I played a recurring character in the television series “ Big Shamus Little Shamus” on CBS, which sadly was cancelled after three episodes. I’ve been Andrew in “Beyond Therapy,” ZaZa in “La Cage aux Folles,” Captain Hook in “Peter Pan.” And had the male lead in the “Roaring in the 20s” cruise ship revue. I’ve been a featured solo performer and stand-up singer/comedian at a number of places including Bally’s Grand Casino. As I mentioned, I’ve done a lot of work with various comedy troupes. See PORTRAITS, Page 40

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Q Puzzle More Bang for the Buck Across 1. Reeves of “My Own Private Idaho” 6. Dublin dances 10. Comes out on the beach 14. “Howl” author Ginsberg 15. One way to run 16. Penetrate slowly 17. Hayes formerly of “South Park” 18. Threesome who went to see Mary 19. Shed item 20. She kissed Julianne Moore in “The Hours” 23. Star Wars abbr. 26. Suffix with Paul 27. “Stone Butch Blues” novelist Feinberg 28. 20-Across had a gay brother in this movie (with 54-Across) 30. Ridge on Melissa’s neck 32. UFO pilots 33. A number of books 34. Like stories of Simon Sheppard 36. 20-Across plays Buck, a male biker in this TV show (with 48Across) 42. Met men 43. Prevent from scoring, with “out” 44. Communications corp. 47. Right in the head 48. See 36-Across 50. Sword case 52. Boy in a Johnny Cash song 53. Came out on top 54. See 28-Across 58. Pro foe 59. Comedienne Martha 60. Fish with one’s rod 64. “Glen or Glenda: ___ Two Lives” 65. Former Cub Sandberg

MILK is on dvd at $29.98 NOAH’S ARC;

JUMPING THE BROOM still only $24.95 dvd MON. - SAT. 11:30 - 7p.m. SUNDAY 1:00 - 7p.m. email: giovannis_room@verizon.net

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

66. 67. 68. 69.

Way to serve your meat Instrument for a perjurer? Belgian border river Triangular desert

Down 1. And in Athens 2. Chicago trains 3. Home st. of Jim Nabors 4. Straight, in a bar 5. Go straight? 6. Billy Elliot portrayer Bell 7. Inedible Apple 8. Part of many a disco name 9. Some of Feniger’s pans 10. Rob of “Melrose Place” 11. Retro car 12. Song about loving yourself? 13. Abercrombie & Fitch buying binges 21. U-turn from SSW 22. “___ Be” 23. Narrow opening 24. Gossip 25. “How can ___?” 29. Threaded fastener

30. Brest bro 31. Poet McKuen and others 34. Alfred Douglas’ school 35. “Hairspray” list 37. Homes for Nigel Finch and Hart Crane? 38. Hauling ass 39. Winter break 40. Prefix with peein’? 41. Suffix with Hindu or Afghani 44. Merchant of films 45. How some things are veiled 46. It takes testees to do his job 48. Aye, in Versailles 49. Producer-director Bailey 51. Broadway whisper 52. Showing skin, in a way 55. Thumbs-down votes 56. Since, to James M. Barrie 57. Sea flier 61. Small group? 62. Ingredient in some cakes 63. “Little Miss Evil” writer Raphael

SOLUTION, Page 37

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Leather Lookout

Jim Kiley-Zufelt

You give me fever – spring fever! Nothing screws up the shine on a pair of boots faster than snow, ice, sand and salt. I love winter, but I’m so glad spring is right around the corner. After all, boots go great with tanks and camo shorts, too! But the warm weather brings out more than just skin-revealing wardrobes. People are looking for any excuse to get out of the house, and luckily there are loads of things to do in the next few weeks to help you shake those winter cobwebs out of your head.

THIRD ANNUAL PINK PENNY AWARDS APRIL 3 Are YOU a PGN favorite?

SUPER-SIZE ME! The monthly Get Out Get Laid party at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St., has been pulling in great crowds on ﬁrst Thursdays. It’s been doing so well that next month it’s getting super-sized! MidAtlantic LeatherSIR 2008 Andy Liu and MidAtlantic Leatherboy Steve “boyshark” Mercer will host their usual party on April 2, then on April 4, they’re moving on up to the third ﬂoor and pulling out all the stops as they welcome CLAW Nation’s 2009 tour to Philly. In addition to the usual hot guys, cheap beer, cool rock and dance music and crazy videos, this special edition of Get Out Get Laid will feature live wrestling demos by the Spartans Wrestling Club, Lip Synch for Your Life performances and super-hot fantasy performances — just like the ones you’d see in a leather contest, but without the distracting contest! And if that weren’t enough, a bus from Washington, D.C., with over 30 leathermen and women crammed into it will arrive at the bar around 11 p.m. They’re on the Capitol City Bus Crawl, a fundraising excursion that crashes the D.C. Eagle at 4:30, sideswipes the Baltimore Eagle around 7, then screeches to a halt in front of The Bike Stop around 11. Those D.C. types are a lot of fun, so don’t miss your chance to

meet these hot and crazy men and women! Don’t worry, their bus leaves right after last call, so you won’t even have to make them breakfast! All proceeds from the special Get Out Get Laid/CLAW Nation event will be donated to the Jonathan Lax Treatment Center at Philadelphia FIGHT. Sponsors are CLAW Nation, Recon.com, Square Peg, Touche, Folsom Street Fair, The Bike Stop, Liberty Bears, Keystone boys of Leather and Philadelphians MC. Um ... CLAW? I can already hear you thinking to yourself, “But what the hell is this ‘CLAW’ thing anyway?” Based in Cleveland, Ohio, CLAW stands for Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend. The heart of CLAW is an extremely popular weekend run at the end of April. CLAW is 100-percent nonprofit and has donated over $140,000 to community charities over the past eight years. CLAW was so successful as a weekend run that, a few years ago, the organizers looked for a way to extend the brand and take it on the road, which gave birth to CLAW Nation. CLAW Nation is a way for CLAW to support fundraising efforts in other communities while promoting CLAW and its sponsors. Everybody wins: CLAW gets good press, while local organizers of CLAW Nation events get the final say on where all the proceeds of their events get donated. Some donate a portion to CLAW charities, while others donate all the money to their own local charities. CLAW 8 will be held from April 23-26 in Cleveland. It will feature skills workshops where you can learn BDSM techniques from community experts in bondage, suspension, flogging, corporal punishment, piercing and fetish play (or you can just sit back and enjoy the classroom demos). There will also be a variety of field trips to places like the Cleveland Police Museum, the Cleveland Orchestra, a trolley tour, a Cleveland Indians game (that’s a baseball team) and, of course, the Rock and Roll Hall

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

CENTAUR MC BAR NIGHT

— 9 p.m. April 10 at The Bike Stop. www.centaurmc.com

HIGHWAYMEN TNT BAR NIGHT — 9 p.m. April 11 at

The Bike Stop, with signature shot “Chocolate Spooge!” www. trashandtravel.com

Quarter Night

LIBERTY BEARS FOURTH ANNUAL ART SHOW — 7-10

Questions? Comments? Ideas for how to do more on less sleep? Contact Jim at LeatherLookout@gmail.com.

p.m. April 24-25 at The Bike Stop. $5 admission beneﬁts Calcutta House and Dooley House. ■

PAGE 37

Albert’s 2nd Story – the newest gay club

of Fame and Museum. There will also be an art show, a silent auction, a vendor mart, cocktail parties, dance parties, brunches, lunches and a formal dinner. Pretty amazing for one weekend! CLAW is also sponsoring a drawing to win a 1984 Honda Magna V65 1100 motorcycle. Raffle tickets are $25 each, or five for $100. Proceeds benefit BEHIV (Better Existence with HIV) and other CLAW charities. The winner will be responsible for taxes and transporting the bike from Chicago to their hometown. The bike is described as well-maintained and under 12,000 original miles. The drawing will be held in April at CLAW 8. To register for CLAW or to enter the bike raffle, punch up www.clawinfo.org.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

r y t u esd

Hosted by Lisa Lisa

Call for guest bartender position: Cash prizes! Blaze’s Famous Mojitos Friday Happy Hour 5-9 w/ specials March 20th: Mecale St. John & Tina Montgomery March 27th: Joey Joseph Quarter Night every Tuesday $10 cover Quarter drink 9-12 followed by a show! April 3: Victoria Porkchop Parker, seen on Rupaul’s Drag Race and the movie “ Pageant” : $5 cover Open every Friday & Saturday Night 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Visit alberts2ndstory@aol.com for more info 3180 Grant Avenue (at Academy Road), Philadelphia, PA 19114

267 339 1579

Victoria Porkchop Parker

Coming April 3rd

UPCOMING EVENTS WOOF! PHILLY — Every

Sunday at 5 p.m. at 200 S. 12th St. Now with brand-new pool tables in the basement! www.woofphilly. com or www.myspace.com/ woofphilly

GET OUT GET LAID — 9

p.m.-1 a.m. April 2, main ﬂoor at The Bike Stop.

CHARITY TRIVIA — 7-11 p.m. April 3 at The Pit Stop at The Bike Stop. See www.queeropinion.com/ charitytrivia

LIBERTY BEARS LOCK UP SOCIAL — 6-10 p.m. April 4,

main ﬂoor at The Bike Stop. www. libertybears.net

CLAW NATION — 10 p.m.-2

a.m. April 4, third ﬂoor at The Bike Stop

CAPITOL BUS CRAWL — 11 p.m.-2 a.m. April 4-5 at The Bike Stop. www.capitolbuscrawl.com

SOLUTION From Page 35

What do you think? E-mail feedback at pgn@epgn.com www.epgn.com and www.philagaynews.com

PGN

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 38

NAKED SPRING PARTY Outward Bound Sun., March 22nd 3 PM until 9 PM Guys of all ages (21 and over), sizes, shapes, ethnic backgrounds, etc., are very welcome

Sansom Street Gym 2020 Sansom Street PANG Box 42691, Philadelphia, PA 19101 215-978-PANG • www.PhillyNakedGuys.org

Dance Or Just Meet New Guys & Chat This is a MALE-ONLY Nude Event

PGN

News for your lifestyle.

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Jason Smith

Boston: New England hospitality For a change of scenery with not too terribly long of a drive, Boston could be just the thing. New England’s largest city is a walkable, manageable place with plenty of gay-friendly atmosphere to go around. If you hop in your car, the scoot up the freeway is just under six hours (or you can ﬂy from Philadelphia to Boston’s Logan Airport for around $250). Either way, it’s cool to watch through the window as the Mid-Atlantic gives way to New England. For the gay and lesbian traveler, Boston is simply a fun place to be yourself. You can scope out the gay area in the South End or go for a stroll along the Charles River in Cambridge, taking in the skyline along the way. If you have the desire to go window shopping or to plot your next shopping conquest, do it at the ultra high-end Copley Place mall, at 2 Copley Place in the Back Bay. This buyer’s paradise features a Barney’s New York, Louis Vuitton and Burberry, among others, all under one roof. But don’t forget the famous Newbury Street and the street corners of the North End. Do your nerves (and wallet) a

favor if you drive: Park somewhere safe and take public transportation, known as The T. Most tourists don’t know this, but you can get the plastic “Charlie Card” by asking the station attendant, as you won’t be able to get it from the automated machine. Rides without the card are normally $2, but when you’ve got Charlie in your pocket, the fare drops to $1.70, saving you 15 percent. Be careful to leave enough time between each of your trips, as the trains are really just small streetcars that ﬁll up fast. Oftentimes they are so overﬂowing with passengers that riders must wait for the next one. To help your dollar travel even further, consider getting the MassValuePass before you leave Philadelphia. It’s a free savings card that offers dining discounts, buy-one-get-one-free deals at Boston hotels and reduced museum admissions. Check it out at www.massvacation.com. The lobster roll is a delicious way to savor a taste of New England. A self-described “lobster roll fan” (OK, it’s my boyfriend) said it’s all right to treat yourself to a bit more of an expensive roll than the ones found at Boston

food courts. The $25 version at B&G Oysters, 550 Tremont St., was “generously ﬁlled with large chunks of lobster” and was well complemented with lemon aioli and chives. The bun was slightly warmed and “perfectly buttery,” he reports. And for the daredevil lobster lover, try the B.L.T. with lobster. [www.bandgoysters.com]

B&G OYSTERS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 39

CHARLES RIVER (LEFT) AND CAMBRIDGE Photos: Jason Smith

For a break from seafood, the charming Mamma Maria in the North End offers regional Italian cuisine including pappardelle with rabbit and braised short ribs. It’s a good idea to call ahead for reservations and ask for the petite second-ﬂoor private room for two that overlooks a cobblestone square if you want something extra cozy and romantic. [3 North Square; (617) 523-0077; www. mammamaria.com] After dinner, stay in the neighborhood and indulge in some genuine Italian ﬂights of fancy at one of the most-packed bakeries you’ll ever see. Don’t let the big crowd scare you at Mike’s Pastry at 300 Hanover St. They have fast service as the clerks call out cheerily to help the next customer and tidily wrap up the goodies with string dangling from a contraption in the ceiling. The regular cannolis are

terriﬁc. But for something slightly different, go for the light and delicate chocolate-mousse cannoli. You can gobble them down right there if you’re lucky enough to get one of the window tables. [www.mikespastry.com] Although Philadelphia certainly has more than its fair share of universities, nothing compares to Boston and its neighbor, Cambridge. Two of the country’s biggest names in higher education — Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — are here. There are more IQ points per square block here than quite possibly anywhere else. You can soak in some of the brainy atmosphere starting at the Harvard Square Station. See the monument to the school’s namesake, John Harvard, in Harvard Yard. Go ahead, don’t be shy, pronounce it like a local while you’re waiting in line to get

JOHN HARVARD STATUE

your picture taken in front of his seated statue: “Haahvahd Yaahd.” For a place to rest your head at night, the winsome Encore Bed and Breakfast awaits your visit. This South End cozy inn is run by a real husband-and-husband team (same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts). Encore is located in a 19th-century townhouse and features highly personalized rooms and an intimate atmosphere. “I really like the mixture of the people we get,” Reinhold Mahler says. “Very, very seldom do we get boring people.” Mahler says the one condition his partner had to agree to

when he moved from his native Germany years ago was that they had to live in the South End. The two then proceeded to design their dream establishment that today comprises rooms inspired by such names as Bernstein, Robbins and Sondheim. “I think the South End is a very tolerant neighborhood where you ﬁnd everything. Gays and straight families ... I think that’s all part of the South End that it represents the country as a big melting pot. It has everything and it’s very open,” says Mahler. “A man can walk around the streets holding hands and nobody even cares

— it’s great.” [Encore Bed and Breakfast, 116 W. Newton St.; www.encorebandb.com.] Boston’s welcoming atmosphere is echoed by Bill Svetz, the general manager at Fritz, Boston’s only gay sports bar. He suggests stopping by the neighborhood pub on a warm night, when he opens the windows so customers can enjoy the breeze. Ask for Bill; he’ll show you around the place. You might just catch a jock or two, as the bar sponsors two gay softball teams. “Everyone’s looking for new faces,” he says with a chuckle. [Fritz, 26 Chandler St.; (617) 482-4428] ■

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 40

PORTRAITS From Page 34 PGN: Do you do any arts and crafts? SB: I wear about 12-15 costumes in my act and I make them all myself, a lot of fun, flashy stuff. PGN: So did you play with or make clothes for your G.I. Joes?

SB: Actually, I’d blow them up! I didn’t have G.I. Joes, but I had those little green plastic army men and I’d put them in an old Maxwell House coffee can with a bunch of firecrackers. Until I set the field behind our house on fire and the fire department had to be called to put it out. It, unfortunately, wasn’t the first time I set the lot on fire. Previously, I

had seen someone on TV twirling flaming batons and thought I’d give it a try. I was trying out for “The Music Man” so I thought it would be useful. I took a baton and wrapped it in gauze, which I then dipped in gasoline. It was going all right until I threw it into the air and the gauze went flying off. It hit the ground and set the grass aflame.

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PGN: And how did you come out? SB: Well, I remember doing swimsuit ads when I was a kid and checking out the men changing into their suits. My first kiss was during an audition. It was for “Boys in the Band” and they wanted to see if actors could handle kissing a man. It was scary at first but then I got into it! I sort of came out to my family at Thanksgiving. I’d told my sister and when we were gathered at the table she kept saying, “Don’t you have something to tell everyone?” It was my birthday, too, and I told her that it wasn’t the time for it. She kept pushing me and I finally shouted, “All right, I’m gay!” My father was carving the turkey with an electric knife that stopped in mid-air and he stated, “Can’t we have just one peaceful Thanksgiving dinner?” My grandmother asked someone what I’d said and when they told

her she replied, “Oh, I’m happy too, I love Thanksgiving!” We all just started laughing and that was the end of it. PGN: And what’s up with you these days? SB: I’ve been having a ball bartending at Camac, Philly’s newest hot spot. I love being around the people and the folks I work with are great. I’ve also been talking to some of the entertainers that I used to do comedy with in A.C. and we’re starting to think about getting the troupe back together. You can catch up with Sandy most happy hours at Camac, 1305 Locust St.; (215) 545-2040. ■ To suggest a community member for “Family Portraits,” write to: Family Portraits, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 or portraits05@aol.com.

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

worth watching: SATURDAY My Mums Used to Be Men Louise is the 12-year-old daughter of two transgender parents living in Great Britain. When she ﬁnds herself the subject of media frenzy, she reaches out to families similar to her own. 8 a.m. on Logo.

Desperate Housewives Will Susan keep playing the bicurious ﬁeld? Will Dave kill Edie before he leaves? And where is gay Andrew? 9 p.m. on ABC. Brothers & Sisters Tommy is now a fugitive, sending the Walker clan into high hysteria. 10 p.m. on ABC.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show “Just a sweet transvestite, from Transylvania ... ” The genderbending cult-classic musical stars Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and Tim Curry. 1 p.m. on Logo.

The United States of Tara Dr. Ocean terminates her treatment of Tara, throwing Tara into a total meltdown. One of Tara’s alters betrays gay son Marshall. 10 p.m. on Showtime.

SUNDAY Amazing Race Gay activist Dr. Mel White and his gay son, Mike, escaped elimination again. 8 p.m. on CBS.

MONDAY House Hepatitis C is the disease of the night — and provides some interesting commentary from House. 8 p.m. on FOX.

Queer TV you can always see: All My Children

Remember when Bianca was the nicest lesbian ever? Those days are over. Reese — the woman who was Bianca’s soul mate just a few weeks ago, and with whom she spent a year and a half and had a baby — has been blinded in a serious accident. But Bianca just sent her a letter — a letter to a blind woman. No phone call, no visit, not even an expression of love. Spoiler alert: Eden Riegel is signed to make more appearances in Pine Valley. Monday-Friday, 1 p.m. on ABC.

RuPaul’s Drag Race Grand ﬁnale. The last three queens face their ﬁnal challenge while shooting the music video for RuPaul’s new single. Out artist Cazwell stops by. Followed at 11 p.m. by a reunion special. 10 p.m. on Logo. TUESDAY The Lost Tribe After denouncing the Mormon faith, Sue-Ann Post (a lesbian, comedian and a Mormon) was excommunicated. Follow Post as she travels to Utah to speak for

the Affirmation. 7 a.m. on Logo. WEDNESDAY America’s Next Top Model The female and TG models get dressed down by Tyra Banks. 8 p.m. on the CW. Chopping Block Another reality show with a queer chef. 8 p.m. on NBC. New Adventures of Old Christine Lesbian comedian Wanda Sykes. 8 p.m. on CBS. Better Off Ted This new sitcom is funnier than “The Office” and stars Portia de Rossi. 8:30 p.m. on ABC. The Real World: Brooklyn Bisexual Sarah, transgender Katelynn and gay boy J.D. 10 p.m. on MTV. THURSDAY Ugly Betty Naomi Campbell and Lindsay Lohan guest star. 8 p.m. on ABC. Grey’s Anatomy Arizona asked Callie out. Can Meredith fix what’s wrong at Seattle Grace? 9 p.m. on ABC. Hell’s Kitchen The lesbian chef, LA, is now out to get Andrea, who put her up for elimination. 9 p.m. on FOX.

As the World Turns

Luke and Noah are very much back on track, kissing in Old Town again. This week Noah is going to propose — that the couple live together. MondayFriday, 2 p.m. on CBS. Ellen

Portia de Rossi, Ellen’s wife, guests Monday. MondayFriday, 3 p.m. on NBC. The Rachel Maddow Show

Monday-Friday, 9 p.m. on MSNBC.

FLIGHT CLUB: Who doesn’t like to see two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster kick bad-guy ass? This week she stars in the suspense-thriller “Flightplan,” as a frantic but intelligent mother in the middle of a trans-Atlantic trip, trying to find her missing young daughter on an airplane, at 8 p.m. March 21 on ABC. Photo: Touchstone Pictures/Ron Batzdorff

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Q on the tube: Orientation or option? By Victoria A. Brownworth PGN Contributor Female characters on the tube are turning bi-curious at a rate that must be making the heads of the religious right spin like Linda Blair’s in “The Exorcist.” But are these depictions realistic or just a new ratings grab for sweeps? No one disputes the reality of bisexuality. But that is not what these characterizations are about. “House’s” Thirteen (Olivia Wilde) was purportedly bisexual. She talked about it a lot. In a few episodes she was seen having softporn sex with one-night stands — all women. But when it came to having a “real” (more than just sex) relationship, Thirteen had an affair with a fellow (male) doctor. On “Grey’s Anatomy,” Callie (Sara Ramirez) has been playing the field at Seattle Grace, but the sex scenes we’ve witnessed have all been with men. That may change with her latest crush, Arizona, but she still talks sex with Mark Sloan on a regular basis. TV’s longest-running soap opera, “Guiding Light,” recently began exploring the lesbian side of Olivia Spencer (Crystal Chappell). Olivia is both the sexiest and previously most vampishly heterosexual woman on the show — so what turned her into an other-woman-kissing lesbian wannabe? Hard to say. It could have been her close relationship with Natalia (Jessica Leccia). It could have been the sparring with Doris the D.A. (Orlagh Cassidy). Perhaps she just ran through all the men in Springfield and only women are left. Susan (Terri Hatcher) on “Desperate Housewives” has made more than a few mistakes with men over the years. So was it time to give women a try, or was Swoosie Kurtz simply irresistible? The fact is, some women and men do realize they have latent queer tendencies as adults. But those realizations tend to come as they did with Brian (Laurence Lau) on “As the World Turns” — as a continually repressed desire that becomes more difficult to shut down over time. Where “ATWT” carefully explored Brian’s conflicted bisexual feelings, “House” and “Grey’s Anatomy” totally glossed over those conflicts. On “House,” Thirteen shrugs off the shift in partners as if she were choosing an ice-cream flavor (her words). On “GL,” there’s no explanation for Olivia’s changing sexuality. It’s as if she’s taken a new job — lesbian. On “DH,” Susan just falls into the arms of another woman with no thought whatsoever. In real life, true heterosexuals don’t experiment with same-sex relationships. That’s not how sexuality works. We are attracted to one gender — or both — pretty consistently. And TV is one-sided in these sexuality switcheroos. No show is presenting men having crushes on or flings with other men. In fact, gay-male characters on TV have been nearly neutered. While TV shows may think they are breaking ground with all this bi-curious sex play among women, the fact is, they are undercutting real queer relationships. The fluidity of these women’s sexuality solidifies the stereotype that queer sex is a phase, not a true sexual orientation. Because in nearly every circumstance, the women involved revert to their “true” sexuality — hetero — after dabbling in same-sex dalliance. Sexual orientation is just that — an innate orientation — whether it is heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual. Homosexuality is not a “lifestyle choice.” Rather, it is as definitive for queers as being attracted to the opposite sex is for heterosexuals. If TV shows really want to break ground, they will show the full expanse of lesbian, gay and bisexual relationships instead of ignoring gaymale sexuality altogether and using lesbian sexuality as a ratings grab. True sexuality is a lifelong orientation, not a casual option or lifestyle choice, like Jimmy Choos or Manolo Blahniks. ■

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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

Diversions

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Your guide to arts and entertainment

Theater

Born Yesterday The Walnut Street Theatre presents one of America’s original screwball comedies, about a business tycoon who goes to Washington, D.C., trying to break into the “specialinterest” business with an ethically challenged senator, through April 26, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 5743550. The Berenstain Bears’ Family Matters

If you have small children and want to teach them stuff without actually having to talk to them, point their cherub-like faces at this show based on the successful book characters, through April 4 at the Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550. Bus Stop The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater presents William Inge’s classic romantic comedy about an unlikely group of characters thrown together in Grace’s small-town diner during a howling snowstorm, through March 28, 614 Fairview Ave., Swarthmore; (866) 8114111. Defiance Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the Philadelphiaarea premiere of the second play in Pulitzer Prize winner John Patrick Shanley’s trilogy, which began with “Doubt,” March 24-April 12, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol; (215) 785-0100. The Irish and How They Got That Way The Kimmel Center presents an irreverent but affectionate history of the Irish in America that mingles laughter and sentiment in a tapestry of

classical songs and stories as told by Pulitzer Prizewinning author Frank McCourt, through March 29 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

PGN

Pick

Iron Kisses The heartfelt and often funny exploration of the relationships between parents runs through April 5 at Act II Playhouse, 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler; (215) 654-0200.

The Prisoner of Second Avenue The Walnut Street Theatre and Isis productions present the Neil Simon comedy, through March 29 at Studio 5, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.

farewell tour at 7:30 p.m. March 21 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1710.

Music classical

The Fab Faux The Beatles tribute band performs “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” at 8 p.m. March 21 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.

The Firebird The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Charles Dutoit bringing together a mixture of French and Russian sounds, 8 p.m. March 21 and 24 and 2 p.m. March 22 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

The Karma Cookie 1812 Productions presents a comedy following two British brothers around the globe on their quest for enlightenment ... sort of, through March 29 at The Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 5929560. Ladies in Retirement The Stagecrafters in Chestnut Hill present the psychological mysterythriller by Edward Percy and Reginald Denham, through March 21, 8130 Germantown Ave.; (215) 247-8881.

A Year with Frog and Toad Arden Theatre Company presents the revival of the smash-hit musical based on the Newberyand Caldecott-honored children’s books by Arnold Lobel, through April 19 at 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.

Gil Shaham Returns The Philadelphia Orchestra celebrates the beginning of spring with special concerts at 8 p.m. March 26-28 and 2 p.m. March 29 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847. Hello. My name is Morrissey. You might remember me as the singer from a band called The Smiths, whose music was probably the soundtrack of many hours of cigarette smoking, self-pitying and drama-club parties during your awkward and lonely years in high school and/or college. Good times. Please stop asking for a reunion, as I am just content enough releasing solo albums and beating my fans over the head with my beliefs about animal rights and vegetarianism while keeping my sexuality a closely guarded secret on par with the formula for Coca-Cola, KFC’s original recipe and the blueprints for a suitcase nuke. Please buy my new record, “Years of Refusal.” It is huge in the U.K. Then come see me perform at 8 p.m. March 22 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. I might sneer in your general direction. React accordingly or I will pout. Call this number for tickets: (215) 790-5847. Why am I holding this baby? My name is Morrissey and I approve this message. Photo: Jake Walters

Scorched The Wilma Theater presents the East Coast premiere of the epic drama/mystery by acclaimed LebaneseCanadian playwright Wajdi Mouawad, through March 29, 265 S. Broad St.; (215) homophobia, homelessness, obsession with status and 546-7824. relationships between parents and children, Six Degrees of through March 22 at TriSeparation County Performing Arts The dark and witty play explores themes of the New Center, 245 E. High St., Pottstown; (610) 970-1199. York elite, racial tensions,

William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead Shakespeare ﬁghts zombies in the East Coast premiere production, through March 28 at Plays and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey Place; (215) 735-0630.

Music other

Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick The old-school hip-hop acts unite at 8 p.m. March 20 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 9225483. That ’80s Show The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus performs a concert featuring some of the decade’s biggest hits, 8 p.m. March 20-21 and 2 p.m. March 21 at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St.; (215) 5699700. Saffire The Uppity Blues Women: Farewell

Tour

The group celebrates its 25th anniversary and

Peek-a-boo Revue Philadelphia’s hardestworking burlesque troupe performs at 10:30 p.m. March 21 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1710.

One Night of Queen The Queen tribute band performs at 8 p.m. March 22 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650. Idina Menzel The Tony Award-winning actress and singer best known for her roles in “Rent” and “Wicked” performs at 8 p.m. March 25 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.

Exhibits

Assembled Abstractions AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of original paintings by Barbara Klein and Michael Smith, through April 25, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250. Impressions of an Age: Ukiyo-e Prints from the Berman Collection The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College presents an exhibition of woodblock print (ukiyo-e) art made popular during Japan’s Edo Period, through April 17, 601 E. Main St., Collegeville; (610) 409-3500.

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Diversions, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147; fax them to (215) 925-6437; or e-mail them to diversions@epgn. com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

sculptural works by the Vancouver-based ceramic artist Dirk Staschke, through April 25, 201 N. Third St.; (215) 923-7030.

at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Japanese Dance Workshop The Many Faces of Kabuki dancer and longStereotypes time Taiko drumming instructor Isaburo Verdadism Art Gallery hosts an exhibition of New Hanayagi conducts York-born artist Soraida’s educational workshops new series of drawings, on various aspects of Japanese performance, through April 30, 220 S. Berlin Road, Lindenwold, 6:30 p.m. March 24 at N.J.; (856) 346-3131. Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St.; (215) 925Sendak on Sendak 9914. The Rosenbach Museum and Library hosts an exhibition exploring the work of gay artist/ Looney Tunes author Maurice Sendak, Ninety minutes of Looney through May 3 at 2008Tunes cartoons from 10 Delancey Place; (215) the Warner Bros. vaults 732-1600. are screened at 2 p.m.

Film

Ion Zupcu: Works on Paper Gallery 339 presents an exhibition of still-life photography, through May Yuichi Hibi: Neco 16, 339 S. 21st St.; (215) Gallery 339 presents 731-1530. Hibi’s photographic exhibition that evokes L’arte d’alluminar the menace, beauty Haverford College Library and mystery of urban Special Collections landscapes at night, presents an exhibition of through May 16, 339 S. illustrations of Dante’s 21st St.; (215) 731-1530. “Divine Comedy,” through April 22, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford; (610) 896-1161. Cinderella Making Arrangements The Pennsylvania Ballet presents the rags-to-riches Wexler Gallery presents a solo exhibition of new story through March 21

Dance

March 21 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 9170223. The Thomas Crown Affair The 1968 caper ﬁlm starring Steve McQueen is screened at 2 p.m. March 22 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 9170223. In a Dream The Philadelphia Jewish

WHAT THE HELL IS NEXT, ‘DRIVING MISS DAISY: THE MUSICAL’?: Please call all your white heterosexual friends and ask them to stop romanticizing the 1950s so we won’t have to keep seeing sugary bullshit productions like “Happy Days: A New Musical” pass through town every six months. Isn’t it bad enough that we have 100 productions of “Grease” in constant rotation? But, whatever. If you’re the type who is nostalgic for the era of time before civil rights and before music and film started to get really good, go see The Fonz and company do their thing March 24-29 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. For tickets, call (215) 790-5847.

Film Festival presents the documentary chronicling the work and life of artist Isaiah Zagar, who has spent the last four decades covering more than 50,000 square feet of Philadelphia with stunning glass mosaic murals, at 8 p.m. March 21 at the Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-1042. Twilight The 2008 teen vampire ﬁlm is screened at 8 p.m. March 23 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-5483.

Books

Sarah Dunn The author of “Secrets to Happiness” hosts a book event at 7:30 p.m. March 23 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 6865322. Germaine Greer The feminist author of “Shakespeare’s Wife” hosts a book event at 7:30 p.m. March 24 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322. Yu Hua The Chinese author of “Brothers” hosts a book event at 6:30 p.m. March

PAGE 43

25 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 6865322. Brian Rafferty The author of “Don’t Stop Believin’: How Karaoke Conquered the World and Changed My Life” talks about his personal karaoke experiences and his visits to karaoke joints around the world, at 7 p.m. March 26 at Easttown Library, 720 First Ave., Berwyn; (610) 644-0138.

Auditions

Frontline Philly’s Dance Review Showcase Frontline Philly is holding informal auditions March 20 and 27 for dancers from all genres for a June 6 showcase to highlight up-andcoming artists, performers and choreographers. For information and locations, contact Frontlinephilly@gmail. com.

Cabaret

Andrew Suvalsky The openly gay awardwinning jazz singer performs at 8:30 p.m. March 21 at Harlans

Cabaret, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225. The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret The raucous cabaret starring the world’s tallest hairy drag queen kicks off at 8 p.m. March 26 at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St.; (215) 592-0656.

Etc.

Greg Fitzsimmons The comic best known for his work on VH1’s “Best Week Ever” performs March 20-21 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; (215) 4969001. Spring Pink Pub Crawl The gay barhopping event, with stops at The Bike Stop, Woody’s and Pure, kicks off at 9 p.m. March 21 at Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St.; (215) 545-0900. Kate Clinton The out comedian and activist performs at 8 p.m. March 23 at Harrison Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania Museum, 3260 South St.; (215) 8984000. ■

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

PAGE 44

Meeting Place A community bulletin board of activities, facilities and organizations

Community centers ■ The Attic Youth Center: For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. Groups meet and activities are held from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; case management, HIV testing and smoking cessation are available Monday through Friday. See the Youth section for more events. 255 S. 16th St.; (215) 545-4331 ■ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3907 Spruce St.; (215) 898-5044; center@dolphin.upenn.edu, Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. ■ Rainbow Room — Bucks County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Youth Center: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Doylestown Planned Parenthood, The Atrium, Suite 2E, 301 S. Main St., Doylestown; (215) 348-0558 ext. 65; rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. ■ William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center: 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220; www.waygay.org. Peer counseling: Monday through Friday, 6-9 p.m. Library hours: Mondays 3-6 p.m., Tuesdays 3-6 p.m., Wednesdays 3-9 p.m., Thursdays 3-9 p.m., Fridays 3-6 p.m., Saturdays noon-6 p.m. Volunteers: New Orientation: First Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.; Volunteer Velada, third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

Health Anonymous, free, confidential HIV testing Spanish/English counselors offer testing 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 166 W. Lehigh Ave.; (215) 763-8870 ext. 6000. AIDS Services In Asian Communities Provides HIV-related services to Asians and Pacific Islanders at 340 N. 12th St., suite 205; (2215) 536-2424. Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative Free, anonymous HIV testing from 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays at 1207 Chestnut St., fifth floor; (215) 851-1822 or (866) 2223871. Spanish/English. HIV testing Free, anonymous testing and counseling is offered from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment at AIDS Resource, 520 W. Fourth St., suite 2A, Williamsport;

Key numbers ■ AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania: (215) 587-9377 ■ AIDS Law Project of Southern New Jersey: (856) 933-9500 ext. 221 ■ AIDS Library: (215) 985-4851

(570) 322-8448. HIV treatment Free HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment for Philadelphia residents are available from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays and 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad St.; (215) 685-1803. HIV health insurance help Access to free medications, conﬁdential HIV testing available at 17 MacDade Blvd., suite 108, Collingdale; Medical Ofﬁce Building, 722 Church Lane, Yeadon; and 630 S. 60th St.; (610) 586-9077. Mazzoni Center Free, anonymous HIV testing; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, case management and support groups; 1201 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-0652. www.mazzonicenter.org. Washington West Project Free, anonymous HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 1201 Locust St.; (215) 985-9206. Gloria Casarez, (215) 686-2194; Gloria. Casarez@phila.gov; Fax: (215) 686-2555 ■ Mazzoni Center: (215) 563-0652; www.mazzonicenter.org ■ Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine: (215) 563-0658

■ ACLU of Pennsylvania: (215) 5921513

■ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): (215) 572-1833

■ AIDS Treatment hot line: (215) 5452212

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

■ Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library: (215) 685-1633 ■ The COLOURS Organization Inc. 112 N. Broad St., 11th floor; (215) 4960330. ■ Equality Advocates Pennsylvania: (215) 731-1447; (866) LGBTLAW ■ Equality Forum: (215) 732-3378 ■ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Peer Counseling Services: (215) 732-TALK ■ Mayor’s liaison to LGBT communities:

■ Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force: (215) 772-2000 ■ Philadelphia Police Department liaison — Chief Inspector James Tiano: (215) 685-3655 ■ Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: (215) 494-LGBT; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com ■ Philly Pride Presents: (215) 875-9288 ■ SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: (717) 920-9537 ■ Transgender Health Action Coalition: (215) 732-1207 (staffed 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

Religion/Spirituality Arch Street United Methodist Church Services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. at Broad and Arch streets; (215) 568-6250. Bethlehem-Judah Ministries Open and affirming congregation holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 3847 N. Dupont Hwy., Kent Plaza Suite #2, Dover, Del.; (302) 734-9350. BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church Hold services at 10:15 a.m. at 2040 Street Road, Warrington; (215) 343-0406. Calvary United Methodist Church Reconciling, welcoming and affirming church holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays at 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue; (215) 724-1702. Central Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services at 10:45 a.m. Sundays at 106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; (610) 688-0664. Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church Services at 11 a.m. and Spirit at Play, an artsbased Sunday school for children, at 9:30 a.m. at 8812 Germantown Ave.; (215) 242-9321. Church of the Crucifixion Inclusive Episcopal community holds services at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sundays at Eighth and Bainbridge streets; (215) 922-1128. Church of the Trinity Lutheran Reconciling in Christ parish holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 18th and Wolf streets; (215) 334-6656. Dignity Jersey Shore An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets first Saturday of the month in Asbury Park. For time and location, call (732) 502-0305. Dignity Metro NJ An organization for sexual-minority Catholics meets at 4 p.m. Sundays at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, N.J.; (973) 857-4040. Dignity Philadelphia Holds Mass at 7 p.m. Sundays at 330 S. 13th St.; (215) 546-2093; dignityphila@aol.com. Drexel Hill Baptist Church Non-judgmental Christian congregation affiliated with American Baptist Churches of the USA holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays at Childs Avenue and State Road, Drexel Hill; (610) 259-2356; www. adhbaptist.com. Emanuel Lutheran Church Reconciling in Christ congregation meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at New and Kirkpatrick streets, New Brunswick, N.J.; (732) 545-2673; www. emmanuelnb.org. Episcopal Church of St. Paul Welcoming and inclusive church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 89 Pinewood Drive, Levittown; (215) 945-2886; www.saint-pauls-levittown.org. Evangelicals Concerned Lesbian and gay Christian group meets at 2 p.m. the second and fourth Sundays of the month; (215) 860-7445. First Baptist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays at 123 S. 17th St.; (215) 563-3853. First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne Welcoming church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 140 N. Lansdowne Ave.; (610) 6220800; www.lansdownepresbyterian.org. First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia A liberal, welcoming and diverse congregation that affirms the dignity of all. Sunday services at 10 a.m. at 2125 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-3980; www. firstuu-philly.org. The First United Church of Germantown A sexual-minority-affirming congregation holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays at 6023 Germantown Ave.; lunch follows; (215) 438-3677.

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009 First United Methodist Church of Philadelphia Inclusive, welcoming and progressive congregation worships at 11 a.m. Sundays at 6023 Germantown Ave. Lunch follows; childcare is provided; (215) 438-3677. Gay Christian Singles Philly Burbs Provides support and fellowship for GLBT singles through discussion groups and social events; (610) 457-2081; gcsphillyburbs@aol.com. Global Heart Spiritual Center Holds services at 10:30 a.m. at 1812 HaddonfieldBerlin Road, Cherry Hill, N.J.; (609) 868-2372. Grace Epiphany Church A welcoming and diverse Episcopal congregation in Mt. Airy, holds services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays, at 224 E. Gowen Ave., Mt. Airy; (215) 248-2950; www.grace-epi.org. Holy Communion Lutheran Church (ELCA) Reconciling in Christ congregation worships Sundays at 9 a.m. at 2111 Sansom St. and 11 a.m. at 2110 Chestnut St.; (215) 569-1840; www. centercitylutheran.org. Hope Ministry Family Fellowship Affirming Christ-centered church meets at 11 a.m. Sundays in Allentown; (610) 791-0716; hmff2001@aol.com. Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church Sexual-minority congregation worships at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 1223 Middletown Road (Route 352), Glen Mills; (610) 358-1716; www. ImagoDeiMCC.org. Interweave Organization of LGBT Unitarians and allies meets monthly at Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill, N.J., 401 N. Kings Highway; (856) 667-3618; www.uucinch.org. LC/NA Delaware Valley chapter A group for Lutherans who are not out in their own congregations meets at 7 p.m. fourth Sunday of the month at University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St.; (215) 387-2885. Kol Tzedek Reconstructionist Synagogue committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community meets at Calvary Center, 801 S. 48th St.; (215) 764-6364; www.kol-tzedek.org. Mainline Unitarian Church Holds services at 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays at 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon; (610) 688-8332; www. mluc.org. Maple Shade Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ Affirming congregation open to all sexual orientations and gender identities holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 45 N. Forklanding Road, Maple Shade, N.J.; (856) 779-7739; mapleshadeucc.org. Metropolitan Community Church Holds services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays preceded by a 9:30 a.m. Bible study at The Pride Center of New Jersey. Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia Holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays at the William Way Center, 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 735-MCC3; www.mccphiladelphia.com. New Thought Spiritual Community Nondenominational service is offered at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at Cradle of Liberty Council, 1485 Valley Forge Road, Wayne; (610) 962-9923. Old First Reformed Church Open and affirming United Church worships at 11 a.m. Sundays September through June, and 10 a.m. June through August at 151 N. Fourth St.; (215) 922-4566; www.oldfirstucc.org. Penns Park United Methodist Church Welcoming and affirming church holds services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 2394 Second Street Pike, Penns Park; (215) 598-7601. Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Group Meets at 5 p.m. Sundays at the William Way Center.

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting worships at 11 a.m. Sundays at 1515 Cherry St.; (215) 2417260; cpmm@afsc.org. Resurrection Lutheran Church Holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 620 Welsh Road, Horsham; (215) 646-2597. Silverside Church Holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays followed by a group discussion at 2800 Silverside Road, Wilmington, Del.; (302) 478-5921. St. Asaph’s Church Inclusive and progressive Episcopal Church holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays, with a contemplative communion at 8 a.m. at 27 Conshohocken State Road, Bala Cynwyd; (610) 664-0966; www. saintasaphs.org. St. John’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) Reconciling in Christ congregation holds services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 24 N. Ridge Ave., Ambler; (215) 646-2451; www.stjohnsambler.org. St. Luke and The Epiphany Church Open and welcoming church holds liturgy at 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays fall through winter and “Prayer Around the Cross” at 7 p.m. first Friday of the month at 330 S. 13th St.; (215) 732-1918. St. Mary of Grace Parish Inclusive church in the Catholic tradition celebrates Mass at 6 p.m. Sundays in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media; (610) 566-1393; www. inclusivecatholics.org. St. Mary’s Church Diverse and inclusive Episcopal church, with openly gay rector, celebrates Eucharist at 11 a.m. Sundays; adult forum is held at 9:30 a.m.; and evening prayer is at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 3916 Locust Walk; (215) 386-3916; www.stmarysatpenn.org. Tabernacle United Church Open and affirming congregation holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays at 3700 Chestnut St.; (215) 386-4100. Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County Welcoming congregation holds services at 10:30 a.m. at 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media. Children’s program (pre-8th) 10:30 a.m.; youth programming 6 p.m. Sunday; (610) 566-4853; www.uucdc.org. Unitarian Society of Germantown Welcoming congregation holds services 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 6511 Lincoln Drive (West Mt. Airy); (215) 844-1158; www.usguu.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill Holds services at 10:15 a.m. at 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.; (856) 667-3618. Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration, Mt. Airy Welcoming congregation holds services at 11 a.m. Sundays September through June at 6900 Stenton Ave.; (215) 836-1812; www.uurestoration.us. Unitarian Universalist Congregation, South Jersey Shore Holds services at 10 a.m. Sundays in Galloway Township, N.J.; (609) 926-8890; www.uucsjs.org. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown Holds services at 10 a.m. at 1565 S. Keim St., Pottstown; (610) 327-2662. United Christian Church Open, affirming and welcoming congregation holds servies at 11 a.m. Sundays at 8525 New Falls Road, Levittown; (215) 946-6800. Unity Fellowship Church of Philadelphia Diverse, affirming GLBT congregation holds services at 2 p.m. Sundays at Broad and Arch streets; (215) 222-3180. University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation Welcoming congregation holds services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 3637 Chestnut St. preceded by “Adult Forum: Sundays” at 9:30 discussing religious alienation and struggles of faith; (215) 387-2885.

Send submissions to pgn@epgn.com or fax (215) 925-6437 PGN Meeting Place, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147

Meeting Place is a public service. Submissions must include a phone number for publication.

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

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Household net worth plunges by record amount By Martin Crutsinger The Associated Press The net worth of American households fell by the largest amount in more than a half-century of record keeping during the fourth quarter of last year, reﬂecting the blow U.S. families are taking from a plunging stock market and dwindling home prices. The Federal Reserve said last Thursday that household net worth dropped by a record 9 percent in 2008’s October-December period compared to the third quarter. That was the biggest decline on records that go back to 1951. The drop represented a loss of $5.1 trillion in family net worth, leaving the total at $51.48 trillion at the end of the year. Net worth represents total assets such as homes and checking accounts minus liabilities like mortgages and creditcard debt. The big blow to the family balance sheet in the fourth quarter

came from the plunging stock market, which the Fed estimated slashed Americans’ stock holdings by 23.2 percent. While the Fed employs a slightly different methodology, that estimate was nearly identical to the 23.5percent stock loss in the Wilshire 5000, which tracks the value of publicly traded common stocks. Since peaking in October 2007, the Wilshire 5000 has shed 53 percent of its value. Another big blow to net worth in the fourth quarter came from the continued fall in housing prices, the biggest asset held by most American families. Household real-estate holdings declined by 3.8 percent in the fourth quarter, compared to the July-September period, according to the Fed’s calculations. That estimate was identical to the 3.8-percent decline in home prices for the fourth quarter in the CaseShiller national home-price index, a closely watched private-sector gauge of home prices.

Since peaking in the ﬁrst three months of 2006, home prices have fallen by 25 percent, with many economists expecting they will keep falling by probably another 20 percent before the deep slump in housing stabilizes. The decline in net worth in the fourth quarter represented the sixthstraight quarterly drop in net worth and underscored the battering that U.S. families are undergoing amid a steep recession that has led to surging unemployment and plunging home and investment values. The plunge in net worth has sent families scrambling to tighten their belts by cutting back on spending. The government also reported last week that retail sales posted a smaller-than-expected 0.1 percent decline in February and the January performance was revised sharply higher. However, economists said it is too early to proclaim the deep slide in consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of economic activity,

is coming to an end. They predict further cutbacks in spending in the months ahead as families continue to face the prospect of rising layoffs and the need to repair their tattered household balance sheets. “Families’ cracked nest eggs are going to be a long-term drag on spending,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy. com. “Even when consumers go back to the stores, they will be spending less, particularly highincome families who are ﬁnding they have not saved enough for retirement given the big declines in their net worth.” Family net worth hit an all-time high of $64.36 trillion in the AprilJune quarter of 2007 but has fallen in every quarter since then. The record 9-percent drop in the fourth quarter pushed total net worth down to $51.48 trillion, a level that is 20-percent below the third-quarter 2007 peak. After ﬁve straight years of sharp

increases in home prices, the housing bubble burst with prices peaking in early 2006. Since then they have fallen sharply, a decline that sent shockwaves through the financial system as banks were hit with billions of dollars of losses on mortgages and mortgage-backed securities. As those losses mounted in late 2008, the financial crisis escalated, sending the stock market into a tailspin. The federal government created a $700-billion rescue fund for the financial system last October but, so far, that effort has shown only modest results in terms of getting banks to resume more normal lending patterns. Households have also been battered by the recession that began in December 2007 and is already the longest in a quarter-century. That downturn has sent unemployment soaring to a 25-year high of 8.1 percent in February with 4.4million jobs lost since the downturn began. ■

Location! Location! Location! This week’s featured property

1326 Spruce St., Center City One

Beds: 2 Baths: 2 Square Footage: 1,209 Cost: $435,000 Realtor: Tom Gangemi Real Estate Co: Philadelphia Realty Exchange Phone: 215-545-6111 Direct: 215-645-6117 Web Site: www.philarealtyexchange.com

Check your ad

PLACING ADS Using voicemail? Please be sure to have the following information ready when you call: • Your ad copy • The type of style you want • Desired abbreviations • American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA information • Your name and mailing

One of the best values in Center City, Avenue of the Arts! 2 bedrooms, renovated 2 baths, 29th ﬂoor with spectacular city views, renovated kitchen, hi-end carpet, balcony, w/d, 24-hour doorman building! Compared to other condo buildings Society Hill Towers, Hop House, Wanamaker House Center City One offers excellent value on a per-sq-foot basis.

address • Daytime telephone number Having all this information ready will speed your order and help to avoid errors. Phone calls can only be returned during business hours. For more information, see the coupon page in this section.

Philadelphia Gay News assumes responsibility for errors in classified ads only when notified by noon the Tuesday after the ad first appears. To receive credit for errors, please notify PGN by then. Credit only will be extended in the form of additional advertising space. Any cash refunds, for any reason, are subject to a $10 service charge. PGN will publish no classified ad — in any category — that contains sexually explicit language. Obviously excluded are traditional four-letter words that relate to sexual activity. Other words may be excluded at the discretion of the publisher, who reserves the right to edit or rewrite any ad that, in his opinion, violates this policy or its intent.

CLASSIFIEDS

PAGE 46

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

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

Deadline for Line Advertising is Friday at 3 p.m. for the following Friday’s issue. You may place your ad via our secure voicemail system, fax or e-mail at any time, or on our Web site. Please have the following information ready to place your ad:

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All classified advertising must be in our office by 3 p.m. Friday for the next Friday’s paper. Ads arriving after that time will be held for the next available issue. PGN reserves the right to edit or rewrite ads as needed, to refuse any ad for any reason and to determine the final classification. Ads determined to be in bad taste, directed to or from persons under the legal age of consent or containing racially or sexually discriminatory language will be refused. We need your full name, mailing address and daytime phone number on the insertion order form for you ad. This information is confidential and will not appear in the paper. Any ads received without full information will be destroyed. Sexually explicit language will be edited or refused at the discretion of the management.

PAYMENT AND PLACEMENT

Classified ads may placed online or by mail, fax, e-mail or in person at the PGN offices at 505 S. Fourth St., Phila. Phone, fax and e-mail orders are accepted with credit/debit cards only. A $10 minimum applies to all charges. If you are paying in person with cash, please have the exact change as we cannot make change at the office. All ads must be prepaid for their entire run. NO EXCEPTIONS! DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL; IT’S NOT SAFE AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.

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CANCELLATION POLICY All PGN Classified ads are cancelable and refundable except for “FRIENDS” ads. Deadline for cancellation is 3 p.m. Friday. The balance will be credited to your credit/debit card. Checks take two weeks to process. The date of the first issue the ad appeared in, along with the classification, your name, address and daytime phone number is required to cancel your ad.

Classiﬁeds Liner Insertion Order

Select the TYPE STYLE you want from the examples below, and begin each line under the arrow to the left of the letter representing that style. Write to the end of the line (hyphenate words correctly. Do not stop at any other arrow, as each arrow represents a starting point. Allow one block for each letter, number, punctuation mark and space. Be sure to skip a space between words. PHONE NUMBER MUST INCLUDE AREA CODE. Be sure to circle one of the classiﬁcations and compute the cost of your ad. Liner advertising is on a PREPAY BASIS ONLY, and payment must accompany this form. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL. Type STYLE A Type STYLE B TYPE STYLE C

HEADLINE (24 SPACES PER LINE) FREE WHEN PLACED ONLINE 40 spaces Per Line 36 spaces Per Line 24 SPACES PER LINE

7 point 7 point 7 POINT

NAME ADDRESS CITY PHONE

PLEASE PRINT STATE

ZIP

AMEX • MASTERCARD • VISA • DISCOVER CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION SIGNATURE NAME ON CARD # # #

“A” LINES @ $5.50 - $ “B” LINES @ $7.50 - $ “C” LINES @ $10.00 - $ BOX YOUR AD $5.00 SUBTOTAL

NUMBER OF WEEKS X SUBTOTAL % TERM DISCOUNT AD TOTAL CLASSIFICATION (CIRCLE ONE) REAL ESTATE FOR SALE • REAL ESTATE FOR RENT • ROOMMATES • SEASONAL RENTALS • SERVICES • FINANCIAL SERVICES HELP WANTED • JOBS WANTED • BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES • FOR SALE • AUTOMOTIVE • AUCTIONS • TRAVEL RESORTS ADOPTION • PERSONALS • FRIENDS MEN • FRIENDS BISEXUAL • FRIENDS TV/TS • FRIENDS WOMEN

PGN now offers

FREE online classifieds. Go to www.philagaynews.com for the details. You can also place your print ad through the Web site it’s fast and easy!

TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED

Return form and payment to: Masco Communications 505 S. Fourth St., Phila., PA 19147 or fax: 215-925-6437 or email: don@epgn.com

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

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CLASSIFIEDS

Real Estate

REAL ESTATE

PRIVATE RETREAT IN PAOLI 4 Bed 2 Bath Quiet Private Retreat in Paoli. Get away to your home in this completely redone 4 bed 2 bath home 3 car gagage, private wooded setting like living in a bed and breakfast! To view pictures visit current lisings at http://amy.mazaleski.lnfre.com 215-439-3168 Long and Foster Real Estate, 215-654-5900. _______________________________3313 Sportsmens Paradise: Own land in the PA Wilds bordering State Forest in Clearﬁeld County 30 acres. ONLY $89900. Call for more info 1-866-473-5770. _______________________________33-12

Land For Sale: Cabin Front Creek w/ 5 acres - $299/ month. It’s time to invest in your family! Back to Basics: Campﬁres, quiet walks, sunsets. Call for details. Christmas & Associates 800-229-7843 www.LandandCamps.com 20 % down, 15 yrs. _______________________________33-12 Florida Land Bargain of the Century! 2 acre waterfront homesite only $69,900. (appraised at $169,900) Private, gated community with 2 recreational lakes. Municipal water & sewer. Low taxes. Just 90 minutes Orlando! Excellent ﬁnancing. Call now 1-866-352-2249. FLlandbargains.com _______________________________33-12

SALE

Fabulous!

1129 Spruce Luxury Condos - All New!

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

Thinking of . . .

SELLING your townhouse or condo? BUYING in Center City? OWNING versus renting? INVESTING to generate cash ﬂow or to add to your investment portfolio?

REAL ESTATE

SALE

PHILA. REALTY EXCHANGE Use the MLS listing service, where most agents become aware of properties on the market and can inform their client base. To discuss the above and to get a better overview of the market, please contact:

Now is an excellent time to explore the OPPORTUNITIES that exists in today’s market!

Tom Gangemi at 484-645-6117

Rates are at a 40 year low!

Philadelphia Realty Exchange.

or at

Mortgage Money is available!

All have hardwood ﬂoors, ﬁreplaces, granite, stainless, top-of-the-line everything.

Unit 1 - 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 3 levels, 3000 sq. ft.. Impressive Contemporary Home $929,000 Unit 2 - One bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, bi-level upgraded cutie - best ﬁnishes $319,000 Unit 3 - 2 bedroom, 2 bath with deck, bi-level Bright and roomy! $529,000

Also Wannamaker House - one bedroom plus den on 28th Floor - 2 baths and sep dining room totally unique! $599,000 1424 Lombard - huge 5 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath classic brownstone with large sep dining room 1860’s vintage - new kitchen - 3000 sq. ft. of historic charm. Excellent condition $749,000 1014 Spruce 8-1 - Value! 2 bedroom, 1 bath. North & South views! Hardwood and stainless - only $339,000

Thomas J. Gangemi

Philadelphia Realty Exchange 1608 Spruce St., Phila., PA 19103 215-545-6111 ext. 16., 484-645-6117 cell tomjgangemi@aol.com

I now pronounce you husband and husband ...

Suzanne E. Petruzel, GRI Sales Associate Cell 610-859-8030

Fox & Roach REALTORS®

At the Rittenhouse 210 W. Rittenhouse Sq. Phila, PA 19103 Dir. 215-790-5671 Fax 215-546-3415 Ofﬁce 215-546-0550 suzanne.petruzel@prufoxroach.com

PGN is happy to publish your wedding/civil union/commitment ceremony announcement. E-mail information to editor@epgn.com or fax us at (215) 925-6437.

PAGE 48

REAL ESTATE

SALE

)

pool). 5 hen, Dinm. Living 2nd r-2 n room, & ng room, oom, and 66 after 6

___32-17

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___32-16 adult (55 Delaware, 302-659om ___32-16 $45,000! down, 20 4-8363. ___32-16

CLASSIFIEDS

REAL ESTATE

SALE

215 551 5100 • 3320 South 20th St

PGN

SALE

Let CHRIS CHRIS RISS RISSuse his Experience, Enthusiasm, and Contacts to sell your place or ﬁnd your new beach home. Most Transactions Award

CHRIS RISS makes it happen in Direct: 302-226-6655 REHOBOTH!

Packer Park

(267) 341-1066 Direct Phone 6737 Harbison Avenue (267) 341-1067 Direct Fax Philadelphia, bc@CapozziRealEstate.com PA 19149 Toll Free (800) 559-2514 x1066 (215) 333-5200 Main www.CapozziRealEstate.com Email: mjenofsky@fpms.com (215) 333-6012 Main Fax

REAL ESTATE

SALE

HOMES FROM $10,000! MONTANA LAND BARGAINS Foreclosures for sale! 1-4 bedrooms available! 20AC with Utilities & Country Road was These homes must sell! For Listings Call 800- $99,900 Now $69,900 BLM access. Deer & 706-1762 ext. 6888. elk galore! Call to view 877-229-7840 www. _______________________________32-16 WesternSkiesLand.com ATTENTION OUTDOORMEN _______________________________32-16 NYS Old Scout Camp 15 Ac on Lake- $39,900 GOLF SIDE SC HOME NEW CABINS- $19,900 Fishing & Hunting off Luxury four bedroom, four bath. Fully furnished. limits until now! A sportsman’s dream. Limited Mountain and lake views. $678,000. Call Dave time offer- call now! Christmas & Associates 602-758-9062. 800-229-7843 www.landandcamps.com _______________________________32-16 _______________________________32-16 72 acres along McKean/Potter County line HERKIMER, NY near Shinglehouse. 94.4 Acre dairy farm. 4 bedroom house, 85 Several Style Homesites Available from theMostly low wooded, 300’s some stall cow barn, 4100’ paved road frontage. open area, includes old hunting cabin, in the Community of Packer Park - Philadelphia Great views, open elds. $236,000. www. electric, $199,000. Field and Stream RE. 800-668-8679. helderbergrealty.us 518-861-6541. Very safe, clean, convenient Community _______________________________32-16 _______________________________32-16

Minutes from Whitman Bridge, I - 95, Sports Complex, International Airport, FDR Park Mike Jenofsky (350 acres of open Greenspace with golf, tennis, skateboarding, walking & biking trails) Loan Ofﬁcer We have several luxurious home sites available, many with ten yr tax abatements & Developer Incentives, From the low 300’s - most with GARAGES for your safety and convenience.

PAGE 91

Lingo: Lingo: 302-227-3883 302-227-3883

ChrisRiss@JackLingo.com

www.RehobothBeachHouses.com

Buy or Sell intothe Poconos Time

Rates have D

nance, Close toconsolidate Mt.reﬁ Airy Casino R debt, O & Camel Back. or buy NOW! P

Corners & 44about • Candensis, Ask ourPA 18325 Pof Routes 390 OFFICE: (570) 595-2110 • FAX: (570) 595-7207 E no closing cost CELL: (570) 994-5118

option for buying FRED W. BALDI a home. REALTOR-ASSOCIATE®

fred_baldi@hotmail.com Mike McKeown Email: mike.mckeown@mindspring.com 1-888-533-9890 www.PoconosHomesInfo.com Licesensed by Dept. of Banking/Insurance in NJ, PA, DE and NY

Upscale CC Florist The COOLEST homes Established 30+ yrs. $538K/yr Gross Income. Reduced from $299,000 to $185,000! Call Vincent Tagliente at Coldwell Banker Preferred

in Philadelphia’s 267.238.3514 HOTTEST neighborhoods. Vincent Tagliente

There are easier g l Open Houses Sunday MARCH de enin 22, 2009 o ways to get Mnd Op a Gr noticed...

Coldwell Banker Preferred 267.238.3514 215.689.1584 (fax) � City location vtagliente@cbpref.com

with the finest features of a suburban townhome

Noon - 1:00

�

242 S 13th St Units C/F. Furness Flats. Large 1 and 2 bed, 1 bath. last two units left in this highly desirable building. Low fees and taxes ...................................... .........................................................................................Starting at only $255,000

�

2-3 Bedroom homes with garages (up to 1,710 sq. ft.) from the low $300’s 3 Bedroom homes with garages

P R(up E Fto E3,400 R Rsq. E Dft.) from the mid $500’s 238 S 13th St. Unit G100 “George T. Sale Condo” Unique Garden level 1 bd, 1 ba. unit w/ private entrance.. Low fees & Tax Abatement. Lowest price 1 bd. in • FREE Listings � Deck or balcony with each home Wash. Sq. West ......................................................................................$200,000 by Email...DAILY! 10 year tax abatement Schoolhouse Lane & Ridge Avenue • Negotiable�Commissions! 136-138 N. 2nd St. “MALT HOUSE” condo. This is a very large 1 bd. 1ba. condo East Falls with a big privatge terrace. Good condition and priced to sell. ...............$300,000 Free Center City Shuttle Andy �Mariano 215.844.8888 1:30 - 2:30 1305 Spruce St. TH1A New Listing, Great 2 room condo w/ unique custom Brewerytown Square touches. Gourmet S/S & granite kitchen, marble bath, hi B ceilings, wood ﬂoors R E W E R Y TO W N and low fees. ...........................................................................A Steal @ $225,000

215.765-2800 242 S 13th St Units C/F. Furness Flats. Large 1 and 2 bed, 1 bath. last two units Brand New 2-3 Bedroom left in this highly desirable building. Low fees and taxes ...................................... Townhomes with Garages .........................................................................................Starting at only $255,000 Up to 1,700 sq. ft. 416 S 10th St. NEW LISTING. Large update 4 bd. 2ba. with huge and From thegarden Mid $200’s wonderfully roof deck with city skyline views. .........................................$800,000 Tour our Decorated Models Free Center City Shuttle Search all Philadelphia area listings @ www.thephillyrealtors.com

PGN

Dan Tobey

The Curtis Center 170 W. Independence Mall , Suite L-44 Philadelphia, PA 19106

Direct Line 610-789-0982 Office 610-325-4100 The Arbours at Eagle Pointe The Villas & Regency E-Mail: sold.andy@verizon.net at Packer Park

S O M E R TO N SOUTH PHILADELPHIA 215.698.4540 215.389.9881 A Lifestyle Community for Adults 55 & Better Spacious New One Floor Living & Distinctive Townhomes with Garages From the Mid $300’s Up to 1,686 sq. ft. Broker/Sales Rep. Since 1987 NJAR Circle of Excellence Sales Award 1991- 2007 From the Mid $300’s Weichert President’s & Ambassador’s Clubs Tour our Decorated Models Ofﬁce: 856.227.1950 ext. 124 The Villas are 85% Sold Out! Cell: 609.221.1196 www.conradkuhn.com Realtor856@aol.com

ePersonals westrum.com 215.546.2700 Business • 267.238.1061 Direct 215.432.7151 Cell • 215.546.7728 Fax dtobey@cbpref.com

Conrad Kuhn

Washington Township Ofﬁce 5070 Route 42 Turnersville, NJ 08012

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

CLASSIFIEDS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

REAL ESTATE

SALE

83 E. Greenwood Ave., Lansdowne, PA

Don’t get

Open House - Sunday March 22nd, 2-4pm

stuck

or call Rob Forster to set up an appointment.

1608 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19103

with the

wrong doctor...

Health Directory each week in

PGN

PAGE 49

AVENUE OF THE ARTS 1326 SPRUCE ST #2903 (Center City One)-2br, 2 bth, 29th fl views $435,000 Tom Gangemi BELLA VISTA 738 S. Mildred St-Cute 2 bed/1 bath in Bella Vista, deck off master bedroom, priced to sell!! $300,000 Kera Ritter GRADUATE HOSPITAL 923 S. 17th-Attn Investors!! Triplex renovation started $260,000 Janis Dubin OLD CITY 244-48 N. 3rd, UNIT 3B – Corner unit condo, parking included $225,000 Kera Ritter RITTENHOUSE 2025 CHANCELLOR ST –(Wanamaker House) 3 br, 2.5 bth Townhouse comes w/ rooftop pool, fitness center, deeded parking, hw floors, recessed lighting, stainless steel appliances and 24hr door man, plus much, much more $859,000 Alison Ermilio

www.philarealtyexchange.com

226 W. RITTENHOUSE SQ -2 br/den. 2 bth, newly renovated, with park view, $895,000 Tom Gangemi 1613 LOMBARD ST- Brand new everything, 3 br, 2 bth and working fire place $499,900 Kera Ritter 401 S. 17th St-401 S. 17th: Quaint space, great location, new kitchen, commercial on 1st floor. $499,900. Kera Ritter SPRING GARDEN 1601 SPRING GARDEN ST #419- gorgeous upgraded unit, elevator and secure $179,900 Janis Dubin SOUTH PHILADELPHIA 1904 S. 9th St- 2br home in Bella Vista w/ large living room, $139,900 John Perno UNIVERSITY CITY 209 Saint Marks Sq- 6br,2.5bth porch front w/huge backyard, c/a, w/d, wood floors and high ceilings. $599,000 Janis Dubin

FOR RENT 711 S. 18th ST-2 beds/1.5 baths, backyard, 2 secure parking spaces, great space $2,000 mo Kera Ritter 3512 BARING ST – Studio, utilities included in rent starting at $900 mo Kera Ritter 3722 CALUMET ST- 3bR, landscaped patio, new appliances, c/a, w/d $2,000 mo Janis Dubin 2349 DICKINSON ST- Clean modern 4 bedroom house pet friendly $895 mo Janis Dubin 4030 W. GIRARD AVE-Huge Storefront retail space, $1000 mo Kera Ritter 1613 LOMBARD ST Brand new everything, 3 br, 2 bth and working fp $2500 mo Kera Ritter 2314 REED St- 2 bedrooms- 2 Units-wood ﬂoors, new kit, exposed brick starting $895 mo Janis Dubin 226 W. RITTENHOUSE SQ-2br,den, recently renovated, balcony, view of park $3500 mo Tom Gangemi 1601 SPRING GARDEN ST #419- gorgeous upgraded unit, elevator and secure $1300 mo Janis Dubin 2015 WALNUT ST-Commercial Storefront in Rittenhouse Sq. $2,000 mo Kera Ritter Various 1 and 2 bedroom residential listings-For More Information Please Call The Ofﬁce CAREER OPPORTUNITY FOR FULL TIME SALES AGENT- FOR INTERVIEW CALL OFFICE “WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THOMAS GANGEMI AS A NEW SALES ASSOCIATE”.

PGN

This beautiful turn of the century Victorian was designed by Frank Furness and, constructed with architectural details that highlight the beauty and sophistication of his era. Located in the Henry Albertson National Historic District of Lansdowne this 5 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom Victorian exudes prestige and is in pristine condition inside and out. The home has been updated throughout with upgrades that include two updated bathrooms and one powder room, central air on the second and third floors of the house, updated electrical system, and a newer kitchen with granite counters, tile flooring, and some stainless steel appliances. The grounds outside are professionally landscaped and include a fully functional koi pond with a seating area. Located just fifteen minutes from center city by car and ten minutes by train this historic beauty is a MUST SEE! To view more pictures of this house go to www.theforstergroup.com and click on our listings.

$339,000

Rob Forster • Weichert Realtors - Wayne 610-420-6187 • Rob@theforstergroup.com • www.theforstergroup.com

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CLASSIFIEDS

REAL ESTATE

SALE

Heights of Collingswood

Enjoy all the comforts of home. The Ultimate in Lifestyle. Convenient to Routes 38, 76, 70, I-676 the New Jersey turnpike and 295. Just minutes from robust downtown Philadelphia, Collingswood is rich in historical associations Neighborhood cafes and quaint shops line the streets symbolic of an earlier time. Our newly renovated apartments feature upgraded Kitchens and Bathrooms. We are located across the street from Newton Lake Park and many activities including ﬁshing, boating, and jogging trails. · · · · ·

Free shuttle to PATCO Speed line 24 hour state of the art ﬁtness center On site dry cleaners On site food market Garage parking available

· · · ·

Tennis court/Swim Club Pet Friendly Flexible lease terms Utilities included

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

REAL ESTATE

Does Your House Need A New Coat? We’ve Got Specialists!

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAYBORHOOD Available Immediately. One bedroom apartment with central air conditioning, ample closet space and wall to wall carpet. Great Center City Location for only $900 per month. Please call Tom at Solo Realty Co. to see this space. 215564-7656 ext. 22 or tom@solorealty.com _______________________________33-15 SOMERS POINT TOWNHOUSE 3BR, 3Ba, on the Bay, hdwd ﬂrs, C/A & vac, W/D, newer appls., 50FT boat slip w/dock, min to bch/casinos/shops. 12 mos. lease. $1550/mo + utils. 484-995-3381. _______________________________33-14 ART MUSEUM 2BR house for rent, parking deck Art Museum Area-- off 26th St. (800 N. Bambrey, 19130) Corner house on quiet street, close to public transportation. Newly renovated, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, hardwood ﬂoors, AC, laundry, deck, PARKING, wired. $1600 Call 215-990-4850. Go to www.kratzworks.com for rental app. _______________________________33-14 3 BR HOUSE SOUTH PHILA. Newly Remodeled, Close to Public Transportation, Broad & Porter vicinity. Won’t Last Long! Ready Now! (267) 246-0579 www.postlets. com/rts/1783293 _______________________________33-12

COMMERCIAL BUSINESS SPACE

SALE

PGN Home Improvement Directory

Ofﬁce 856-854-4112 • Fax 856-854-9390

RENT

VACATION

RENTAL SUMMER RENTAL SEA ISLE CITY, NJ More info at www.vacationseaisle.com Monthly / Half Season / Full Season. _______________________________33-16 OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations www.holidayoc.com _______________________________33-16

RENT

Located at 17th and Lombard 1100 Sq Ft. on first floor with full basement. Is fitted as restaurant now, but good for food retail, salon or professional office space also.

Call: 267 544-0260 ROOMMATES PGN WILL NOT PUBLISH RACIAL DISTINCTIONS IN ROOMMATE ADS. SUCH NOTATIONS WILL BE EDITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ___________________________________ GREATER NE PHILA. Have your own bedroom in a beautiful split level home with 2 gay men. House is 4 BR, 2 full baths, W/D, upper and lower decks, use of kitchen. Property is by Welsh & the Boulevard, 1 min. to 58 bus. We ask only that you be at least reasonably neat and employed. Rent is $600 + 1/3 utils. Contact Dave at 215-698-0215. _______________________________33-15 GM sks same share 2 BR apt. 69th U Darby. W/D, cable, sunny. 610-352-1188. _______________________________33-14

VACATION

RENTAL

Vacation Rental Wildwood Crest, NJ

Adorable seashore home in the heart of the Crest. 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, EIK, living room, family room, outdoor shower and only 2 1/2 blocks to the beach! Great front porch and back deck for relaxing. Oﬀ street parking. Well behaved pets allowed. Contact Lisa at 973-492-1532 or iluvpits@msn.com

PGN What’s going on? Check out Diversions.

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s. 1st fgl. St. $650.

___32-16

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___32-18

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___32-18 $45,000! down, 20 4-8363. ___32-16 07/month! 8/month! or listings

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___32-16 dieu, The t. House/ art here! y call 1-

___32-16

SELL AVON! 50% PROFIT. 1-800-AVON-443 (ISR) _______________________________32-20 MAR. 20 - 26, 2009 Banquet Servers Needed Shifts Avail 7days/week $12-14/Hour. Call Today! Best Personnel 1315 Walnut St. Suite 320 215-732-3100 TRAVEL AGENT WANTED _______________________________32-16 Motivated agent for well established travel DIRECTOR agency inOPERATIONS NE Philly specializing in cruises. For 2 successful growing cleaning company. Min years experience. ask for Dave 215Starts P/T, becomes F/T. Must be: exible, 969-8666. hands on, detail oriented, willing to learn and _______________________________33-13 grow. Salary commensurate w/exp. Great HOUSEKEEPER WANTED owners/leadership, great training. By gay couple in Bucks Co.staff, Cleanpaid house, odds Call 856-424-1444. & ends. Live in possible. ksboll@verizon.net _______________________________32-17 _______________________________33-14

HELP WANTED

Jersey Shore Housekeeper/Driver wanted. 40 hours a week. HELP WANTED Valid drivers license and Part-time, home-based Internet business. Earn references required. $500-$1000/month or more. Flexible hours. Training provided. No selling required. FREE Started at $15.6k per year. details. www.K348.com Med. Insurance after 6 mos. _______________________________33-12 HVAC Tech Training! GET TO WORK! Avg. rent Apt. available.) Tech(Low earns $40K/yr. No Exp. Needed. EPA & OSHA Certiﬁed 3.5wks. Local Job Placement and Financing available. 1-877-994-9904. _______________________________33-12

Email: jjs@1616pr.com

Seeking part-time editorial intern The Philadelphia Gay News is seeking a part-time editorial intern. As editorial intern, you will perform a variety of duties in support of the editorial staff. Duties might include writing short articles and weekly event listings, research, fact checking, ling, archiving data and special projects.

CLASSIFIEDS

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The Sky’s The Limit!

@ White Trophy

Intern(s) may also have the opportunity (depending on level of interest and journalistic skills) to attend local events (press conferences, rallies, etc.) and write news and features articles.

TROPHIES - AWARDS - SIGNS IMPRINTED APPAREL PROMOTIONAL ITEMS FOR “ANY” EVENT!

Intern(s) should be highly motivated with strong writing skills. A journalistic background is preferred but not required. Intern(s) must have the ability to stay focused while working independently. Intern(s) must be able to meet deadlines both on a daily and longer-term basis. This is an unpaid internship (academic credit available), 15-20 hours per week. Skills: Computer procient. (Prefer Word, e-mail, In-Design, Excel. Photoshop a plus.) Organized, detail oriented Solid written and verbal communications skills; knowledge of AP style Team player

Nothing’s too BIG or small!

215-638-9134 ��

HELP WANTED

Please send résumé, cover letter and three writing samples to Sarah Blazucki, Editor, Philadelphia Gay News, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147. Or e-mail, editor@epgn.com.

Adver tising Sales Representative PGN, one of the country's most award-winning Gay and Lesbian publications, is looking for a special candidate to fill this position in our advertising sales department. Applicants should have previous advertising sales experience, preferably in a similar environment. You should have a strong work ethic, good communication skills (both written and verbal), and an aggressive desire to sell advertising in this very special niche market. Most important, you should aspire to become an integral part of our successful sales team. We offer a competitive salary plus bonus, as well as Health Insurance. Applicants should call Nick Forte at 215-6258501, ext. 209. Email resume to nick@epgn.com or send resume to: PGN, 505 S. 4th St., Phila. PA. 19147 Attn.: Nick Forte EOE

PAGE 51

AUTOS

FOR SALE

DONATE VEHICLE Receive $1000 Grocery Coupon. Noah’s Arc Support No Kill Shelters. Research to Advance Veterinary Treatments. Free Towing, Tax Deductible, Non-Runners accepted 1-866-912-GIVE. _______________________________33-12

Metal Rooﬁng and Siding Buy Direct, We manufacture and cut to your length, also a large supplier of Pole Building material 1-800373-3703 www.abmartin.net _______________________________33-12 SAWMILLS From only $2,990.00 Convert your LOGS TO VALUABLE LUMBER with your Norwood portable band sawmill. Log skidders also available. www.norwoodsawmills.com/300n Free information: 1-800-578-1363-Ext300-N. _______________________________33-12 ONLINE PHARMACY Buy Soma, Ultram, Fioricet, Prozac, Buspar $71.99/90 $107/180 Quantities. PRICE INCLUDES PRESCRIPTION! Over 200 meds $25 Coupon. Mention Offer: #21A31. 1-888531-6744. tri-pharmacy.info _______________________________33-12 ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO YOU!! ALL BRAND NEW POWER WHEELCHAIRS, HOSPITAL BEDS AND SCOOTERS. IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-9984111 TO QUAILIFY. _______________________________33-12

SERVICES

Drive the Big Trucks! Earn Big Bucks! 25 Driver Trainees needed. $700-$800/week No CDL, no problem. No credit, no problem. Call Now! 1-800-961-4319. _______________________________33-12 Mailing Brochures! Weekly pay + Bonus. Supplies Furnished. Guaranteed Opportunity. Call Now! 1-800-307-7131. _______________________________33-12 Extra Income Mailing Brochures. Weekly pay check! Free 24 hour information 1-888250-8110. _______________________________33-12 Over 18? Between High School and College? Travel and Have Fun w/Young Successful Business Group. No Experience Necessary. 2wks Paid Training. Lodging, Transportation Provided. 1-877-646-5050. _______________________________33-12 NOW AVAILABLE! 2009 POST OFFICE JOBS. $18-$20/hr. NO EXPERIENCE, PAID TRAINING, FED BENEFITS, VACATIONS. CALL 1-800-910-9941 TODAY! Ref #PA09. _______________________________33-12

PGN

Responsible and reliable girl looking for more houses to clean. Cleaning done by girl from Europe. If you want your home cleaned and in spotless condition, call 215-427-0989. _______________________________33-15 ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Computers, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualiﬁed. Call 866-858-2121 www.CenturaOnline.com _______________________________33-12 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualiﬁed -Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888)349-5387. _______________________________33-12

NOTICES Pursuant to §128.85 of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Title 7 regulations, GROWMARK FS, LLC. hereby gives notice of ground application of “Restricted Use Pesticides” for the protection of agricultural crops in municipalities in Pennsylvania during the next 45 days. Residents of contiguous property to our application sites should contact your local GROWMARK FS, LLC. facility for additional information. Concerned Citizens should contact: Michael Layton, MGR. Safety & Environment, mlayton@growmarkfs.com GROWMARK FS, LLC. 308 N.E. Front Street, Milford, DE 19963. Call 302-422-3002 . _______________________________33-12

BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITIES 100% RECESSION PROOF! Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy All for $9,995. 1-800-460-4027. _______________________________33-15

ADOPTION ADOPTION Wishing to adopt newborn to nurture and adore. Will provide your baby with warm, loving, stable home. You will be treated with respect/ conﬁdentiality. Expenses Paid. Please call Glenna 1-866-535-8080. _______________________________33-12 Considering Adoption? A beautiful home, loving attorney and nurturing full-time mom awaits your baby. Expenses paid. Call Anne & Phyllis (ask for michelle/adam). 1-800-790-5260. _______________________________33-12

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Social Security Disability Claims Appeals

Social Security Disability Claims Appeals PAGE 110 PAGE PAGE 110 PAGE 52 PAGE110 110215-629-0585 PAGE 110 Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2008

215-629-0585 CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 106 CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS

APRIL 25 -- MAY 1, 2008 APRIL 25- MAY MAY 1, 2009 2008 2008 CLASSIFIEDS MAR. 20 - 1, 26, APRIL 2525 APRIL - MAY 1,2008 2008 APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008

LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law

CLASSIFIEDS

AMY F. STEERMAN Attorney at Law

Concentrating in Planning for Lesbian and Gay Couples • Probate • Wills • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney

1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteerman.com

1900 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.amysteermman.com

215-735-1006

PARTNERS IN LAW PARTNERS IN LIFE

Suite 202 Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030

Torchia & Kaufmann, L.L.C. William A. Torchia, Esquire THIS SPACE IS YOURS

Estate* & Tax Planning Estate & Tax Planning Only $25.00 GENERAL PRACTICE FOR THE COMMUNITY GENERAL PRACTICE FOR THE COMMUNITY Per Week! �� • Estate Administration • Domestic Relations • Incorporation • Powers of Attorney • Name Change • Immigration That’s Less Than • Property Agreements • Guardianships • Social Security • Accidents • Real Estate • Elder Law A Week’s Worth Of 1528 Walnut St. Suite 1220, �� Double Mocha Lattes Philadelphia, PA 19102 ��

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215-546-1950 (Voice) *8 Week Minimum

• WILLS & ESTATES • • DISCRIMINATION • • SMALL BUSINESS • • DIVORCE • • EMPLOYMENT • • REAL ESTATE • • CIVIL ACTIONS • • AUTO ACCIDENTS • • POWER OF ATTORNEY • • DOMESTIC PARTNERS •

James M. M. Quesenberry,MA, MA,CRC, CRC,CVE CVE James James M.Quesenberry, Quesenberry, MA, MA, CRC, CRC, CVE CVE Disability Consultant James M. Quesenberry, MA, CRC, CVE Disability Consultant DisabilityConsultant Consultant Disability Consultant

Suite 202 Suite Suite202 202 Suite 202 Rd. Oxford Valley Oxford OxfordValley ValleyRd. Rd. Oxford Valley Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030 FairlessHills, Hills,PA PA19030 19030 Fairless 19030 Fairless Hills, PA 19030

Your ad dollars go further when you target your audience *when you run for a minimum of 8 weeks

Jeremy R. Gussick Financial Advisor

Smith Barney

1211 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107

215-238-5849 jeremy.r.gussick@smithbarney.com A division of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. Member SIPC

• Criminal

�

A M W

215-546-8801 (Fax)

GALLOP �

Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia Bar Association Serving Southeastern PA., South Jersey; and Delaware. Organized to promote civil and human rights. GALLOP Referral Service provides free referrals to attorneys sensitive to the needs of the community For info or a referral, call 215-627-9090 P.O. Box 58279, Penn Center Station, Phila., PA 19102 www.galloplaw.org

THIS SPACE IS YOURS Only $25.00* Per Week!

That’s Less Than A Week’s Worth Of Double Mocha Lattes *8 Week Minimum

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PRO LEG E PO FO C

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FREE

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521 S. 2ND ST., PHILA., PA APPT. ALSO AVAIL IN DE & NJ

Financial Advice for the GLBT Community

• Adoption

�

215-627-8200 PA 302-777-2201 DE this space: only $25 per week*

�� • Wills, Living Wills, Trusts ��

215-546-1950 (Voice) 215-546-8801 (Fax)

Social Security Disability Social Disability Social Security SecurityDisability Disability Social Security Disability Claims Appeals Appeals Claims Appeals Claims Appeals Claims Appeals 215-629-0585 215-629-0585 215-629-0585 215-629-0585

MINSTER & FACCIOLO, LLC

Attorneys-at-Law

Attorney-at-Law

�

Charles S. Frazier, Esq. Attorney at Law

• General Practice • Wills and Trusts • Living Wills • Powers of Attorney • Cohabitation Agreements

Wayne, PA (610) 687-4077 cstar1@verizon.net

THIS SPACE IS YOURS Only $25.00* Per Week!

That’s Less Than A Week’s Worth Of Double Mocha Lattes

Gregory H. Quig

Attorney at L Real Estate / Zoni Liquor Licenses an

1822 S. Broad St. Philadlephia, PA 19145

*8 Week Minimum

R. FRANCISCO CORBIN, ESQUIRE Areas of Practice: Automobile Accidents Slip and Falls Workers Compensation Construction Accidents DUI Power of Attorney Name Change Estate Planning Wills, Living Wills

3000 Market Street Suite 201 Philadelphia, PA 19104 (215) 243-3450 or Old City Location 335B N. Front Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215) 717-7095

Reach Over 40,000Reach Readers Weekly For As Little As $25.00 A Week. 215-625-8501 Over 40,000 Readers Weekly For As Little Call As $25.00 A Week.Today! Call 215-625

PAGE 108 CLASSIFIEDS

MAR. 20 - 26, 2009

Don’t paint yourself into a corner...

PAGE 108

CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 53

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Is it time to look for a new doctor? CLASSIFIEDS

APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2008

Want to let mom, dad and all of your �� exs know you’re tying the knot? Individual, Couple & Family Counseling Life & Career Coaching

PAGE 108

Speciﬁc Expertise: Grief & Loss Transitions in Life Children / Adolescents with Educational or Emotional Needs Private Pay: Moderate Fee Scale Ofﬁce Location: East Norriton, Montgomery County

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Is it time to look for a new doctor?

Hire a professional! PGN

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