pgn Philadelphia Gay News LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976 Eight-year-old taxi antibias case settled for $500
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Vol. 41 No. 49 Dec. 8-14, 2017 Family Portrait: Jack Sprance, lord of the dance PAGE 35
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Temple sets sights on improving LGBT care PAGE 5
Day in the Life of ... the guy behind Macy’s Christmas magic, Matthew Taft
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LGBTs, allies blast state rep after homophobic outburst By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com
FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE: Gloria Casarez’s wife, Tricia Dressel (from left), and mother, Elisa Gonzalez, were among the guests of honors who helped break ground for the Gloria Casarez Residences Wednesday morning. The initiative, spearheaded by Project HOME, will provide 30 units of LGBT-friendly housing for young adults in North Philadelphia. It is named for the late local leader who was the inaugural director of the city’s Office of LGBT Affairs, as well as a strong advocate for LGBT youth and the homeless. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Office of LGBT Affairs names first deputy director By Jeremy Rodriguez and Jen Colletta jeremy@epgn.com, jen@epgn.com The city this week named Evan L. Thornburg as the first deputy director for the Office of LGBT Affairs. The Ursinus College graduate will report to Director of LGBT Affairs Amber Hikes, whom she will assist, support and advise about the needs of the local LGBT community. She will also serve as a liaison
to the community and spearhead LGBTfocused educational initiatives among the public and city employees. “I couldn’t be more thrilled about Evan’s arrival to the Office of LGBT Affairs,” Hikes said in a statement. “A Philadelphia native, Evan is a brilliant, creative professional who is deeply passionate about the rights and lives of our thriving Philadelphia LGBTQ community. Her extensive expertise in LGBTQ training and education will be invaluable to the office’s goals and priorities moving forward.” Most recently, Thornburg has worked as a freelance diversity consultant, leading educational workshops, presentations and trainings at local organizations and universities. “It’s been a catch-all of spaces that needed an LGBTQ perspective,” Thornburg, 32, said. “I want to bring those experiences of educating people and doing PAGE 15 presentations into this
touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don’t.” Bradford, who is married to a woman and LGBT community members and allies has four kids, laughed off the comments. “We are officially off the rails,” Bradford this week spoke out against an anti-LGBT state representative’s in-session homopho- said at the meeting. “My intent was just to beg for your permission for about 30 secbic tirade. On Tuesday, state Rep. Matt Bradford onds.” Bradford told PGN that he was “disgusted (D-Montgomery County) touched Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler County) briefly and appalled” by Metcalfe’s remarks. “Those comments are never acceptable on the arm in what Bradford later described as a plea for more time to discuss a vote on and completely beyond the pale,” Bradford a bill related to eminent domain and roads. said. Metcalfe did not respond to PGN’s Metcalfe, a longtime opponent of LGBT rights, responded with insinuations about requests for comment. The incident happened during a meeting Bradford’s sexual orientation and affirmaof the House State Government Committee, tions of his heterosexuality. “I’m a heterosexual,” Metcalfe responded which Metcalfe chairs. It is the same committee where the proafter Bradford touched his arm. “I have a wife. I love my wife. I don’t like men, as posed Pennsylvania Fairness Act — which you might, so stop touching me all the time. would ban discrimination in the workKeep your hands to yourself. If you want to place, housing and pubPAGE 6
Advocates seek to ‘educate’ legislators in Harrisburg in wake of anti-trans bill By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com A group of trans people and allies traveled to Harrisburg this week to raise awareness among lawmakers about trans issues, in light of proposed legislation that would limit or ban public funding for medically necessary trans services. The state currently funds a wide range of medically necessary trans services for eligible Pennsylvanians, including gender-confirmation surgery, hysterectomy, hormonal therapy, breast reconstruction, penectomy, vaginoplasty, mastectomy, vaginal dilation and release of labial adhesions. But H.B. 1933 would end funding for those services within the state’s medical-assistance program and Children’s Health Insurance Program. The bill had not been voted on in the state House as of presstime. “We talked, we educated and we engaged state reps around H.B. 1933 and the needs that we have as trans Pennsylvanians,” said Naiymah A. Sanchez, transgender education and advocacy coordinator for the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “It was a collective
effort.” The Republican-controlled state House hasn’t permitted public hearings on H.B. 1933. But Sanchez said legislators heard directly from trans people on Dec. 5. “The whole day was impactful,” Sanchez noted. Participants included five trans residents of Morris Home, Pennsylvania Youth Congress, GALAEI, ACLU of Pennsylvania and executive directors from several LGBT community centers in Pennsylvania. Sanchez said the experience was “empowering” for trans participants. “We were lifting their narratives,” she said. Trans advocates are planning a return trip to Harrisburg to meet with state senators in the near future. “The efforts will continue,” Sanchez said. Sanchez also commended state Rep. Brian Sims (D) for being “very supportive” of the educational efforts. On Facebook, Pennsylvania Youth Congress called H.B. 1933 “one of the most transphobic bills in modern state history.” But its sponsor, state PAGE 15
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Resource listings Legal resources • ACLU of Pennsylvania: 215-592-1513; aclupa.org • AIDS Law Project of PA: 215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • AIDS Law Project of South Jersey: 856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org/ • Equality PA: equalitypa. org; 215-731-1447
• Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations — Rue Landau: 215-686-4670 • Philadelphia Police Liaison Committee: 215-7603686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com • SPARC — Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition: 717-920-9537
• Office of LGBT Affairs — Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; amber.hikes@phila.gov
Community centers • The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouthcenter.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. • LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce
St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu.
• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth Center
Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org.
• William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org.
Health and HIV testing • Action Wellness: 1216 Arch St.; 215981-0088, actionwellness.org
• AIDS Library:
1233 Locust St.; aidslibrary.org/
• AIDS Treatment Fact line: 800-6626080
• Bebashi-Transition to Hope: 1235 Spring Garden St.; 215769-3561; bebashi.org
• COLOURS: coloursorganization.org, 215832-0100 • Congreso de Latinos Unidos;
216 W. Somerset St.; 215-763-8870
• GALAEI: 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.; 267-457-3912, galaei.org. Spanish/ English
• Health Center No. 2, 1720 S. Broad
St.; 215-685-1821
• Mazzoni Center:
1348 Bainbridge St.; 215-563-0652, mazzonicenter.org
• Philadelphia FIGHT: 1233 Locust St.; 215-985-4448, fight.org
• Washington West Project of Mazzoni Center:
1201 Locust St.; 215985-9206
• Transgender Health Action Coalition: 215-732-1207
Other • Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 • Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com
• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK • PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 • Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288
Gay man allotted $500 in antibias case By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations recently ordered PHL Taxi Co. to pay $500 to Mark M. Seaman, who complained of being ejected from a taxi in 2009 after displaying affection for another man. Seaman, 34, was notified of the favorable ruling this week. His antibias complaint had been pending with PCHR since January 2010. In December 2009, Seaman allegedly was ejected from a taxi cab at Philadelphia International Airport, after placing his arm around his then-boyfriend and kissing him on the head. “The driver told us we ‘couldn’t do that’ in his cab and kicked us out for being gay — speeding away with the door still open,” Seaman wrote on his Facebook page. In July 2010, the driver, Abdolghader Tasharoki, was fined $100 by Philadelphia Parking Authority for non-provision of services without a valid reason. Seaman also wanted PHL Taxi Co. held accountable. But PHL Taxi argued that it merely served as a dispatch service for Tasharoki and shouldn’t be held liable for his actions. In its Nov. 17 final decision, PCHR rejected PHL Taxi’s argument, noting the taxi was “emblazoned” with PHL Taxi’s logo. PCHR ordered PHL Taxi to pay a $500 penalty to Seaman and to “instruct its affiliated drivers to cease and desist from the unlawful practice of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.” Additionally, PHL Taxi must educate its employees and affiliated drivers about the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance by displaying a poster provided by PCHR. Moreover, PHL Taxi must pay Seaman’s reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Richard M. Meltzer, an attorney for PHL Taxi, told PGN he’ll speak to the cab company about whether it wants to appeal. “I have not reviewed the decision with the client,” he added. Ronda B. Goldfein, an attorney for
Seaman, expressed satisfaction with PCHR’s final decision and order. “We are delighted with the outcome and we are delighted about the message it sends,” Goldfein told PGN. “Visitors should know that if they come to Philadelphia and get a cab at the airport, they’re protected from LGBT discrimination.” Goldfein also serves as executive director of the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania. “The law project worked on this because we are concerned about all issues that affect the LGBT community,” she said. Seaman also expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “We need this kind of [antibias] protection — and the institutions to enforce it — in every jurisdiction in the United States,” Seaman posted on Facebook. “I was lucky that it happened in Philadelphia, where I could avail myself of the Human Relations Commission. And I would encourage anyone who suffers discrimination of any form to do the same. And then be patient.” Additionally, Seaman expressed “enormous thanks” to Goldfein and her legal team at AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania. Rue Landau, PCHR’s executive director, issued this statement: “The Fair Practices Ordinance mandates all LGBTQ residents and visitors be protected from discrimination in places of public accommodations, including taxi services, in Philadelphia. Our decision makes it clear that taxi-dispatch companies operating in Philadelphia are responsible for the discriminatory conduct of their drivers. Companies like PHL Taxi cannot avoid liability under the Fair Practices Ordinance by creating complicated legal arrangements and contracts with their drivers. The companies have the duty to educate their drivers on Philadelphia’s antidiscrimination law. “While this case included multiple factors that contributed to the delay of a final decision, we are pleased that the final outcome clarifies the obligations of taxi dispatch companies operating in Philadelphia. Anyone who faces discrimination in Philadelphia should contact the PCHR at 215-686-4670.” n
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9 — News Briefing 10 — Creep of the Week Editorial 11 — Positive Thoughts Mark My Words Street Talk 19 — International News Media Trail
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14 — Out Money: Year-end financial planning 13 — Thinking Queerly: Sexual harassment in the LGBT community
“The Centers for Disease Control found that 40 percent of gay men and 47 percent of bisexual men have experienced sexual violence (not including rape) and that 26 percent of gay men and 37 percent of bisexual men have been raped.” ~ Thinking Queerly, page 15
Arts & Culture
27 — Feature: Holiday happenings 29 — Scene in Philly 32 — Out & About 33 — Comics 35 — Family Portrait 36 — Q Puzzle
FASHION FORWARD: Local youth organized a fashion show Nov. 30 at Philadelphia Ethical Society to commemorate World AIDS Day, recognized internationally the following day. Members of POSSE Project Philly, a house-ballroom organization, teamed up with fashion students from The Art Institute of Pennsylvania and University of Pennsylvania’s HIV Prevention Research Division for the second-annual event, which highlighted youth talent — from performance to set design to costume design. Apart from the runway event, the evening, which drew about 100 supporters, featured networking opportunities and a panel of the AIDS Memorial Quilt on display. Photo: Scott A. Drake
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Day in the Life of ... : Matthew Taft, the guy at Macy’s behind the scenes who makes the Christmas magic happen.
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“Purple” is the color of the seasaon at the Forrest Theatre Dec. 12-17.
Copyright © 1976 - 2017 Copyright(s) in all materials in these pages are either owned or licensed by Masco Communications Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliate companies (Philadelphia Gay News, PGN, and it’s WWW sites.) All other reproduction, distribution, retransmission, modification, public display, and public performance of our materials is prohibited without the prior written consent of Masco Communications. To obtain such consent, email pgn@epgn.com Published by Masco Communications Inc. © 1976-2017 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-5155
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BATHROOM BREAK: Emmett Binkowski (from left), Stephanie Haynes and Heath Davis geared up for the Office of LGBT Affairs’ restroom-canvassing event Saturday afternoon at William Way LGBT Community Center. Volunteers went door-to-door throughout Center City checking to ensure businesses are complying with the 2015 law that mandates gender-neutral signage on single-stall restrooms. Organizations were given window decals to let passersby know about their gender-neutral restrooms, and those who were in violation of the law were given a letter instructing them of its tenets and the potential fines for not complying. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Task force looks to improve LGBT care at Temple By Beth Boyle PGN Contributor
LGBT-competent health-care providers. On Nov. 29, leaders from the subcommittees spoke with Levine about the direction of The Temple Health LGBTQ Alliance Temple Health. As Pennsylvania’s top doctor, Levine is Task Force welcomed state Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine this week, who accustomed to making major changes. She spoke to members about Temple Health’s serves as pediatrics specialist at Penn State LGBT outreach programs and the state’s Hershey Medical Center and as the chief of the division of Adolescent Medicine LGBT programming. and Eating Disorders, a program she began The task force herself. In 2015, Gov. Tom Wolf nominated formed in September Levine to his cabinet, making her the first 2016 and has 140 out transgender woman to serve as physimembers, including cian general and the highest-ranking trans Temple Health physiperson in Pennsylvania government history. cians, students, nurses Despite Pennsylvania’s Republicanand staff. The coalicontrolled Senate, her nomination was tion was formed after unanimously confirmed. In her two decades Temple Health scored at Penn State Hershey, she has worked as low on the Human an LGBT liaison and mentor and presented Rights Campaign’s PHYSICIAN many lectures on LGBT health care and Healthcare Equality GENERAL DR. outreach. At Temple Health, she offered Index and failed to be RACHEL LEVINE her perspective on the task force’s goals named a “Leader in and next steps. LGBTQ Healthcare One of the organization’s primary goals Equality” that year. The founding task force members undertook the task of improv- for 2018 is to open a clinic for HIV ing the school’s ability to support LGBT testing and counseling and later establish a full-time health center specializing in patients and staff. One of its first acts was to improve gender-affirmation surgery. Additionally, Temple Health’s LGBT-policy language. it expects to build a comprehensive LGBT The health system replaced outdated terms health center over the next 10 years. Temple raised its score on the HEI to 65 like “sexual preference” and clarified the definitions of gender identity and sexual in 2017 and organizers of the initiative aim orientation. It has also compiled a list of to make it to the top spot by next year. n
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Chelsea Manning addresses power, identity and freedom at Penn By Beth Boyle PGN Contributor Chelsea Manning fits in on a college campus. Youthful and smiling, with Taylor Swiftblonde hair and black combat boots, she looks like any other University of Pennsylvania student. But Manning was invited to speak to the Penn community as one of the most divisive and influential figures in recent history. Several Penn groups, including the political-science department and the LGBT Center, organized “A Conversation with Chelsea Manning” Nov. 29, which drew hundreds of Penn students, staff and faculty to the Annenberg Center. The trans woman spoke with cultural anthropologist Briella Coleman, author of “Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy,” about national security, social media and the intersection of identities and activism. Manning also opened up about her difficult time in prison and the current groundswell of political resistance. Manning was originally sentenced to 35
years in military prison for releasing more than 750,000 sensitive military logs she accessed in her position as an Army intelligence analyst. Her sentence was commuted to time served by then-President Barack Obama early this year. One of the most damning pieces of information was a video WikiLeaks titled “Collateral Murder,” which revealed the deaths of Reuters reporters Saeed Chmagh and Namir Noor-Eldeen by American military forces. Coleman described that release as “a watershed moment for hackers and hacker culture.” Manning and Coleman did not address the current president or the country’s ongoing post-election identity crisis; instead, Manning took the larger “institutions of power” to task. “Just look at the advertisers on CNN,” Manning said. “You see Boeing, Northrop Grumman — all of these companies that are churning out weapons and technology. It’s all about the bottom line and no one, including the mainstream media, has any incentive to give the unvarnished truth.” She also talked more about how techno-
Oral arguments slated in settlement dispute By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Oral arguments are scheduled this month in the case of Thomas Vandergrift, a South Philadelphia gay man who disputes that he settled his civil-rights lawsuit against Pennsauken School District officials. In 2012, Vandergrift filed suit against the Pennsauken School District after district officials reported him to New Jersey authorities as a suspected child molester. The reports subsequently were determined to be unfounded. Vandergrift claims district officials violated his civil rights and retaliated against him after he advocated for a proper education for his autistic nephew. School-district officials deny any wrongdoing and maintain that Vandergrift actually settled the case in October, according to court records. “[A] binding contract exists between the parties that must be enforced,” defendants’ attorneys wrote in court papers. On Nov. 21, two Pennsauken school-
board officials signed a putative settlement agreement with Vandergrift that allocates $215,000 to him for emotional distress. The document was filed in federal court but Vandergrift’s signature doesn’t appear on it. For his part, Vandergrift denies entering into a binding, legally enforceable settlement agreement with defendants. Instead, he wishes to have a jury trial, according to court records. The putative settlement agreement also requires that Vandergrift’s attorneys indemnify defendants if any Medicaid liens are attached to Vandergrift’s assets. A d d i t i o n a l l y, d e f e n d a n t s wo u l d “resolve” Vandergrift’s legal bills with his prior attorneys, which reportedly exceed $119,000, according to court records. Oral arguments on the dispute are scheduled for 11 a.m. Dec. 20 in Courtroom 3c of the U.S. Court House in Camden, with U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider presiding. Neither side had a comment for this story. n
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logical advancement puts civilians at risk. “Leaders don’t understand the systems that are being developed underneath them. They often will deliberately misunderstand in order to justify an act. They’ll pick and choose outputs from an algorithm to justify a decision they’ve already made. “I don’t think the people in tech are really thinking about the consequences of the tools they are creating,” Manning added. “The same data collection we use for marketing, we use to kill people.” On Twitter, Manning uses the hashtag/ mantra #WeGotThis, which she said sums up her belief in community and solidarity. She spoke in more detail about her role as an LGBT activist, the perception of her status as a “hacker” and her work as an advocate for civil liberties. “There’s a certain intersectionality because all of our communities are facing off against the same institutions of power. It’s the police state, or corporations or the military, but we’re all pushing back against them. We really need each other and we don’t need a leader to tell us what we need,” she said. “The trans community has differ-
ent issues, from people who are undocumented or activists in the tech community, but we all suffer under the same powerful institutions.” Coleman also asked Manning’s thoughts on Canadian professor Jordan Peterson, who refuses to use gender-neutral pronouns, claiming they limit his free speech. “Well, it’s all about him, isn’t it? And his feelings,” Manning responded. “But really, it’s not a free-speech issue. It’s a respect issue. It’s a dignity issue.” In the second half of the event, attendees were encouraged to ask Manning questions, which ranged from prison labor and how Manning spent her time while incarcerated to national security and WikiLeaks. When asked her thoughts on WikiLeaks now, Manning responded, “I don’t get into that. I’m focused on me right now.” One student, who identified himself as a veteran, said, “I think it speaks a lot to who we are as a society that a self-admitted and convicted traitor has a platform to speak. Do you have any regrets?” Manning’s voice boomed across the auditorium: “No, I don’t have any regrets.” n
make that ultimately were just open rebellic accommodations for individuals based lion against what the word of God has said, on sexual orientation, gender identity or what God has said and just open rebellion expression — has languished for years, with against God’s law,” Metcalfe told WHYY at the time. many pointing to Metcalfe as the holdout. Following this week’s committee meetWhen Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny County) reintroduced the legislation earlier ing, several organizations spoke out against this year, he encouraged House Speaker Mike Metcalfe. Equality Pennsylvania Interim Turzai (R-Allegheny County) to send the bill Executive Director John Dawe said it is to a different committee so it could have a fair “past time for Speaker Turzai to remove hearing; it was again referred to Metcalfe’s Daryl Metcalfe” from his position. “His rant against Chairman Bradford is committee in June, and has not been voted on simply the latest since. in a long series Frankel and “Speaker Turzai has a of homophobic Turzai were not and xenophobic immediately avail- responsibility to ensure that actions, including able for comment. the state House is accountup antidisRep. Brian able to Pennsylvanians of all bottling crimination legisSims, the state’s lation in commitfirst openly gay colors, creeds and orientaelected state rep- tions. Chairman Metcalfe has tee, inviting white nationalists to tesresentative, was in tify and invoking a the room during failed on all counts. Enough legislative rule to Tuesday’s interac- is enough, Speaker Turzai. State Rep. tion and addressed Remove Chairman Metcalfe prevent Brian Sims from it on Facebook. speaking about “I sit every day immediately.” marriage equality in [s]ession and committee with this homophobe, sexist and — yet now he openly declares his heteroracist and have to listen not just to his views sexuality in a committee meeting,” Dawe on Christianity and government, but on my said in a statement. “Metcalfe has turned own civil rights,” Sims wrote. “More impor- his committee into an embarrassment and tantly, he’s been put in control of one of the disgrace. It’s time for Speaker Turzai to act.” Matthew Yarnell, president of SEIU most important committees in Pennsylvania government, the one that oversees most civ- Healthcare Pennsylvania, also called for il-rights legislation, by brand-new [g]uber- Metcalfe’s removal. “Speaker Turzai has a responsibility to natorial candidate Speaker Mike Turzai!” In 2013, after the U.S. Supreme Court ensure that the state House is accountable struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, to Pennsylvanians of all colors, creeds and Sims sought to address the issue before leg- orientations. Chairman Metcalfe has failed on all counts,” Yarnell said in a stateislators, including Metcalfe, silenced him. “I did not believe that as a member of ment. “Enough is enough, Speaker Turzai. that body that I should allow someone to Remove Chairman Metcalfe immediately.” make comments such as he was preparing to n METCALFE from page 1
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Day in the Life of ...
Macy’s organ shop coordinator, Matthew Taft By Jeremy Rodriguez jeremy@epgn.com Matthew Taft recalled the recent Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. As the organ shop coordinator at the Center City-based store, one of Taft’s many duties involves behind-the-scenes work at the annual parade. “I had the opportunity to take a few minutes and FaceTime my mom while I was at the parade and she said she was so proud of me and that just brought tears to my eyes,” the 28-year-old said. “There’s people who have been out for a couple of hours excited to see the parade and it was an amazing feeling to be part of something you saw as a young person on TV and you know that millions of people see this. What a fantastic opportunity it is to be there and help make it happen. It is beyond my wildest dreams.” Taft, who is gay, serves as the point-person for several Macy’s holiday initiatives in the historic Wanamaker building, where the store is located. This includes Dickens Christmas Village and the Christmas Light Show. Dickens Christmas Village is open through New Year’s Eve. Taft said up to 1,000 people an hour walk through the village, which features animatronic figures telling the story of Charles Dickens’ “A
Christmas Carol.” Throughout PGN’s interview, Taft smiled and laughed as he described aspects of his job and the overall Macy’s atmosphere. He approached the end of Dickens’ Christmas Village where the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, woke up on Christmas morning after three ghosts visited him. “He’s a new man,” Taft smiled. “He’s learned the true meaning of Christmas.” Taft continued this positive outlook at the end of the tour, where attendees can take a photo with Santa Claus. “Santa is only here until the 24th of December because he’s got a lot of work to do on the 25th and then he goes back to the North Pole.” That Christmas magic is what Taft enjoys most about his job. “Before this interview, I was upstairs working on my computer and I heard ‘jingle-jingle-jingle,’” he said with a laugh. “And it was Santa coming up the steps to use the restroom and I thought, What a marvelous job I have.” While Taft may not get visits from Santa Claus all year, he still keeps busy by working at the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ. He coordinates efforts to maintain the organ and ensures each pipe plays the proper note. “There are almost 29,000 individual
Photo: Jeremy Rodriguez
notes in this instrument and each one of them has their own mechanical contraption to make that work,” Taft said. “It’s a lot of maintenance and our goal, on the restoration side, is to not just chase down the little problems here and there as they pop up but to do preventative maintenance. We’ll restore an entire division of the pipe organ so we won’t have to access it, in theory, for a long time.”
Throughout the year, Macy’s also hosts after-hours concerts and other ticketed events. Taft said June is “a very big time” for the pipe organ, with the annual Wanamaker Organ Day, an event featuring several concerts. He also begins working on holiday-themed attractions around this time. One highlight of the holiday festivities is the Christmas Light Show. “There are several generations of families that come here and it’s great-grandparents, grandparents, parents and their kids,” Taft said. “It’s amazing to see that. It’s people who have been doing this for 60 years and people who are just starting this as their tradition.” While there were few visitors at Macy’s during the Monday afternoon PGN visited late last month, Taft said it can get crowded on the weekends. He noted ideal viewing for the show is typically Monday-Thursday; the Friends & Family sale, which is going on through Dec. 11, is an ideal time to shop and enjoy the holiday celebrations at Macy’s, he added. “If you get in during the week, it’s a great time to see the show, go through Dickens Village and do some shopping.” When it came to the topic of shopping, Taft noted one of his favorite sections of the store: Home. PAGE 14
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BACK AND FORTH: Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH (left), president and CEO of Christiana Care Health System, interviewed out tennis icon Billie Jean King Nov. 30 at the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center in Newark, Del. Since her rise to the top of the tennis field several decades ago, King has been a prominent LGBT activist, as well as an advocate for women’s rights. Her story is the focus of a forthcoming biopic, “Battle of the Sexes,” which traces her legendary match-up against Bobby Riggs. Last week’s conversation explored King’s tennis career, as well as the value of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Photo: Christiana Care Health System
Legislation introduced to repeal Woodbury’s anti-trans law By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com Legislation was introduced in Woodbury, N.J., City Council last week to repeal an obscure anti-cross-dressing law in the town. Although police don’t enforce the law, violators face 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The legislation will be the focus of a public hearing 7 p.m. Dec. 12 in Woodbury City Hall, 33 Delaware St. Following public comments, officials are expected to hold a final vote. Woodbury has about 10,000 residents and serves as the county seat of Gloucester County, N.J. The city recently embarked on multiple initiatives to help ensure a welcoming environment for LGBT residents, visitors and workers. Repealing the anti-cross-dressing law is an extension of those efforts, city leaders said. In a Nov. 30 email, Woodbury Mayor
Jessica M. Floyd said: “[W]e realized the need for change and quickly acted on it. Moving forward, we will continue to look into our outdated ordinances and update them accordingly.” Woodbury Community Pride President Anthony Doran said in an email: “[W]e are future-focused and we at Woodbury Community Pride look forward to a continued relationship with stakeholders to make Woodbury the most LGBTQ-friendly town in South Jersey.” Doran added: “As an LGBTQ resident, I am proud our city leadership is swift and responsive to the needs of its constituents.” David J. Root Jr., an openly gay resident of Woodbury who contends he has had negative interactions with the police department and residents, expressed mixed feelings about the repeal legislation. “You can change all of the laws you want. But you cannot change the attitudes and beliefs of certain groups of people.” n
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Local attorney gets diversity award at PA Society By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Angela Giampolo credits two people with her becoming a lawyer: her fourthgrade detention monitor, who joked that she should pursue law because she was always “fighting other people’s fights,” and Joanne Epps, executive vice president and provost at Temple University, and former dean of the university’s law school. Giampolo said Epps was among those who encouraged her to stay in law school despite some initial fears. “That detention lady is really responsible for me going to law school, and Dean Epps is responsible for me staying in law school,” Giampolo joked. That’s part of what made her Business Leadership in Diversity Award, presented last weekend, so meaningful. Epps won the award last year, and Union Package CEO Michael Pearson was the inaugural honoree. “To come full circle 10 years later and be a recipient of an award she just won last year is just amazing,” Giampolo, 37, said. “Mike Pearson is also a friend, and I admire and respect all that he does, not just in business but in diversity in business; he puts his money where his mouth is. So with the two of them together, it’s absolutely mind-blowing to be in their ranks.” The award is presented by law firm Fisher Phillips and given during Pennsylvania Society Weekend, an annual multi-day retreat in New York City for politicians and business leaders. Giampolo attended a number of diversity events throughout the weekend, which she said have been relatively new developments. “The Pennsylvania Society has been happening since 1899 but this is just the third
year that any type of diversity award has been in existence, and now there are other groups, besides Fisher Phillips, doing it as well,” she noted. The firm’s diversity committee and the past recipients select the honoree. Giampolo, a legal columnist for PGN, has operated Giampolo Law Group, with locations in the Gayborhood and New Jersey, since 2008. In her Dec. 2 acceptance speech, she joked about the ironic nature of being selected for the Business Leadership in Diversity Award, since she’s in such an LGBT-centric environment. “I’m probably the least diverse person in business alive: I’m a gay lawyer who works with LGBT attorneys to help LGBT people primarily on LGBT issues. My landlord is gay, my maintenance person is gay, my notary is gay — who also happens to be my fiancée. Probably the biggest ‘diverse’ thing I’ve done in 10 years is hire a straight legal assistant, who came to me from his gay drag-queen brother, so I don’t know if that counts,” she laughed. “I live in a bubble, and I love it. But I’ve really made a concerted effort to be an LGBT voice in more mainstream mediums, which has helped promote diversity in a very important way.” In addition to writing for PGN, Giampolo also writes about LGBT topics for Philadelphia Business Journal and the Legal Intelligencer and hosts an LGBTfocused radio show on Q102. Apart from the award itself, the honoree is given the opportunity to give out a scholarship in her name, supported by personal donations from Fisher Phillips partners. Giampolo said the amount has not yet been set, but she intends to distribute the scholarship through group Lesbians Who Tech. n
News Briefing
Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item, which Beta Gamma will distribute to locals in need. For more information, visit http://bit. ly/2iVsIWn.
Holiday drive to focus on health A number of local groups will collaborate on a holiday drive later this month that also explores LGBT health. The COLOURS Organization will host a conversation about sexual health from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 16 at 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 910. The event is being staged in partnership with Beta Gamma Fraternity, Inc., and Omicron Psi Omega, Inc. Guests can access free health screenings, as well as network with other community members and enjoy refreshments.
Biz group to organize annual holiday bash LGBT chamber of commerce Independence Business Alliance is celebrating the season with its annual holiday party 6-9 p.m. Dec. 19 at the National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East. The event features an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and opportunities for networking with LGBT and ally professionals. Tickets start at $75, and no tickets will be sold at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.thinkiba.com/ event/2017-iba-holiday-party/. n — Jen Colletta
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 8-14, 2017
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EDITORIAL PGN EDITORIAL
Creep of the Week
D’Anne Witkowski
Pauline Hanson
Editorial
Metcalfe’s mania It is by no means a secret that state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe is an opponent of LGBT rights. However, his actions this week highlighted just how deep his homophobia runs — and the real-life implications of such attitudes on LGBT Pennsylvanians. At a meeting of the House State Government Committee this week, a Democratic state representative was debating Metcalfe about a roadways bill when he lightly touched the Republican lawmaker’s arm while emphasizing a point. Metcalfe became visibly irate and launched into a tirade: “Look, I’m a heterosexual. I have a wife. I love my wife. I don’t like men as you might.” Metcalfe went on to caution Rep. Matthew Bradford that if he wanted to “touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle who might like it. I don’t.” While Bradford and many other legislators in the room seemed bemused and bewildered by Metcalfe’s outburst, the incident speaks to a much larger, serious issue. Metcalfe chairs the committee, which for years has been sent proposed legislation to add LGBT protections to the state’s nondiscrimination law. And, for years, it has languished, primarily because of Metcalfe. When Rep. Dan Frankel re-introduced the bill earlier this year, he urged Speaker Mike Turzai (R) to assign it to any committee but Metcalfe’s to give the legislation a fair chance — to no avail. Whatever is motivating Metcalfe’s extreme homophobia is Metcalfe’s problem — it shouldn’t be the problem of Pennsylvanians. Each lawmaker serving this commonwealth brings an element of the personal into the professional, but those that allow their blind bigotry to dictate the actual rights afforded to citizens need to be taken to task. Metcalfe is running roughshod with the lives and livelihoods of LGBT Pennsylvanians, and Republican leadership is allowing it. n
Growing up, my Australian education camp: “If people consisted of watching “Crocodile Dundee” want to love each and listening to “Down Under” by Men other, fine, but I At Work. Today’s generation may be more don’t want to have familiar with Australia via YouTube videos to see it or deal with of terrifyingly large spiders and venomous it or acknowledge it snakes. in any way.” I suspect that if you asked the average It’s as if gays American if marriage equality is legal in and lesbians are Australia, most would say yes. But it is expected to exist on not. the fringe of sociIt hopefully will be soon, as the majority ety, rather than as a of Australians support marriage equality, part of it. which was reaffirmed by a national postal The fact is, we have structured our socisurvey (aka a voluntary mail-in ballot) in ety, for better or worse, around legally codNovember that found more than 60 percent ified relationships, and excluding same-sex in favor of L-O-V-E. But it’s Parliament’s couples from legal recognition erases them move, as it ultimately has the power to pass and paints them as illegitimate. This is true such laws. in the U.S., and it is true in Australia. Of course, not everyone is thrilled with So if it’s “selfish” to demand equal the prospect of same-sex couples saying “I rights, then I’d say that’s a good reason to do.” be selfish. Pauline Hanson, a senator for Of course, Hanson and those like her Queensland, is more of an “I don’t” kind believe that what’s truly selfish is raising of gal. children with two moms or two dads, a According to a speech Hanson gave to concern that takes its cue from the lie that Parliament, people who want marriage gays and lesbians are a danger to children. equality are “pushing their own agenda” Hanson’s nightmare scenario involves and “selfish.” a kid going to school and being told by a She describes sex education as “messteacher, “I want you to draw a picture of ing around [with] the minds of young your mum and dad or grandma and grandchildren,” and says that kids shouldn’t dad.” learn about “body parts” until they’re And she pictures a kid saying, “What am 14 or 15 (never I going to do? I It’s a common refrain from mind the fact that don’t have a mum plenty of 14- and or a dad — it’s the antigay camp: “If peo15-year-olds, gay Peter and Sam. ple want to love each other, It’s Elizabeth and and straight, are already using these fine, but I don’t want to have Amanda.” “body parts” for You know what sex stuff). my kid does in to see it or deal with it or “I have no probsituations? acknowledge it in any way.” these lems with people He draws a picture being in love and of his two moms. doing what they want to, but why do you It’s not that hard. have to ... push [it] on the majority of the But to see through to this obvious population?” Hanson asked. answer, you have to actually see two moms “I have grown up of the opinion that and two dads as capable and worthy parmarriage was between a man and a ents. Hanson doesn’t. woman,” she said in her speech, “but I do As a marriage bill bounces around in not take away the right of people to be in Parliament, let’s hope that Hanson is able a relationship and to find happiness within to find happiness within herself and can themselves.” stop trying to snatch it from same-sex couWhich is cute and all, but insisting that ples. n gays and lesbians exist solely “within D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian themselves” is essentially demanding that living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been they stay in the closet, which means that writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow they don’t exist out in the world. her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski. It’s a common refrain from the antigay
Tell us what you think Send letters and opinion column submissions to: pgn@epgn.com; PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147; fax: 215-925-6437.
Please include a daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, style and space considerations.
OP-ED PGN
An open letter to the citizens of Alabama I am an openly gay man, so you might moral ground again. In the debate about say you hate the sinner part of me but love sexual morals and child sexual abuse, it me as a person. You also might tell me my was members of the LGBT community civil rights are special rights that infringe who spoke up the loudest. on your beliefs. But most importantly, I have done that for more than 20 years, you’d say the LGBT commuand most LGBT organizations nity is immoral. have also always spoken out You may see some of these against any form of sexual individuals as politically corabuse. While we can debate rect, snobbish political proother issues regarding LGBT fessionals forcing their liberal rights, the point is simple: values on you. I can understand From the day Moore is elected, those feelings but here’s the Alabama will be known as the point: You lose all the high state that accepts pedophiles. ground in any of those debates After all, you’d be the only state when you elect Roy Moore to in 239 years of American histhe United States Senate. tory to send one to the United You could make Alabama the States Senate. first state in America to elect Congratulations, Alabama. an accused pedophile. This is You’re about to be number-one no longer about Moore. It is in “pedophilia.” And that just Mark Segal validates everything those about the values of Alabamans. If Moore is elected, Alabama Northeast elites ever thought will become known as the “State of about you. It’s about you, not Moore. n Pedophiles.” Mark Segal is the nation’s most-award-winning comOther child molesters will most likely think Alabama is a safe space for them and mentator in LGBT media. His memoir, “And Then I Danced,” is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & they’ll pack to move on down. But more Noble or at your favorite bookseller. importantly, you’ll never have that high
Mark My Words
Positive Thoughts
Oriol R. Gutierrez, Jr.
Justice for all Aaron C. Morris is executive director of Immigration Equality, a New York Citybased immigration-rights organization. The nonprofit advocates for people from around the world who are fleeing violence, abuse and persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status. Since it was founded in 1994, the group has won asylum for hundreds of LGBT and HIV-positive immigrants with a 99-percent success rate. Gridlock in Congress over comprehensive immigration reform led President Obama to sign an executive order to protect from deportation at least some individuals who were brought to the United States as minors by parents who were undocumented immigrants. President Trump rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), but that order won’t be effective until 2018. The fate of the Dreamers — DACA enrollees who would eventually attain permanent residency if the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act were to become law — is yet to be determined. Add in concerns over the effects of an executive order from President Trump commonly known as the Muslim travel ban — which was given a green light this week — and immigration is one hot topic. Morris offers insights on what it all means
for LGBTs and for HIV/AIDS. PT: Tell us about Immigration Equality. AM: We were founded with a three-part mission. The first was to find ways for same-sex couples who didn’t have access to marriage equality to plan their families; unlike different-sex couples, you couldn’t get a green card yet through marriage. The second was to establish the American asylum system as a way for foreign nationals who were going to be persecuted or tortured to stay safely and legally in the United States and have a pathway toward citizenship. The first year that the federal government formally recognized sexual orientation as a protected ground under asylum law was 1994. The first case was with gay men, so we devoted ourselves to expanding that protection to lesbians, bisexual people, transgender and gender-nonconforming people. The third part of our mission was to overturn the statutory ban on travel for people living with HIV to the United States. Until 2010, if you were HIV-positive, you could not get a visa to come to the United States or get a green card. If you were LGBT and found to be here living with HIV, it was a reason to deport you from the United States. That was blatantly anti-LGBT because they created a waiver for different-sex couples
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 8-14, 2017
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Street Talk Could you enjoy a Kevin Spacey movie? "Yes. In no way, shape or form do I condone child molestation, but there hasn't been a trial for Kevin Spacey. It's Richard not etched Champagne in stone that barber he's guilty. I North Philadelphia go to a movie for its entertainment value. I don't judge the personal lives of actors in a movie. It's not my duty to judge Kevin Spacey."
"It would depend on the movie. The allegations don't have me feeling good about him. I'd have second David Kiralfy thoughts server before South Philadelphia watching one of his movies but, if I really wanted to see the movie, the allegations wouldn't stop me from seeing it."
"No. I love him as an actor. He's very, very talented. It's so sad he's tied up in this situation but, in good conscience, I cannot go to one of his movies or watch him on
"Yes. He's still a good actor. I like the way he performs in his movies. I'm aware of the allegations against him Joseph Wilson but they may chef not be true. It Graduate Hospital could all be a fabrication. They won't stop me from watching his movies."
Dorothy Decker travel agent Coventry, R.I.
television."
who were married, and that waiver was not available to our community. We worked very heavily starting in the mid-2000s to lobby Congress with coalition partners to overturn that discriminatory ban. To see the parallels between the defunct HIV ban and the Muslim and refugee ban is disturbing. All of the nations affected by the new ban are also countries from where we have clients seeking asylum or refugee status. To foreclose the possibility of offering them protection is a nightmare, and it’s a gross human-rights violation. PT: What are some of the effects of the Muslim travel ban? AM: The number of refugees America will accept has been reduced from 110,00050,000. We reached that quota in July, so we are currently not accepting refugees from anywhere in the world, which is obscene. To reduce the number by more than half sends the wrong message. I spoke with a Libyan man who had been resettled right before the ban was instituted. He told me that one of the few things that keeps a refugee camp a tolerable place is the hope that you might be resettled out
of there. The ban squashes the hope of the refugees in those camps. A lot of people have no choice but to leave their country, so there are many judges and asylum officers who have given our clients protection based on their HIV status, but we have yet to see a case declaring HIV as a protected ground in the way we did for sexual orientation or gender identity. We’re working on it. We’ll probably get there eventually. PT: Give us an update on DACA. AM: When DACA was signed in 2012, we were in a position to advise potential DACA recipients of the benefits and the risks. We did a lot of safety planning for people, but most young people wanted to take the risk, particularly since this is the only nation they’ve ever known. The Dreamers now feel like all of their security has been pulled out from under them, that they’re being attacked, when all they did was everything right. They obtained degrees, got jobs, paid taxes, started businesses and careers. We have a client who is midway through PAGE 15 nursing school. He’s
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Year-end planning: investment decisions to make before the year is over Q: I was reviewing my investments and noticed that many of them have done very well so far in 2017. Does it make sense for me to sell some of them before the end of the year? A: Many investments have benefited from a strong market this year. Conducting a review and making important decisions before 2017 comes to a close may help you lower your tax bill and get your portfolio on the right track for 2018. What’s on your end-of-theyear to-do list? Shopping for gifts? Making travel plans? What about spending some time with your investments?
time for tax planning. There may be steps you can consider taking now that could reduce your tax bill come next April. If you have a taxable investment account, know that the rates that apply to short- and long-term capital gains vary considerably. Short-term gains (gains on assets held one year or less) are taxed at ordinary rates as high as 39.6 percent, while long-term gains (gains on assets held longer than one year) are taxed at rates of 0 percent, 15 percent and 20 percent for those in the highest ordinary-income tax bracket.2 Generally, you may use capital losses to offset capital gains recognized during the tax year. Additionally, if capital losses for the year exceed capital gains, you may deduct up to Jeremy $3,000 of those losses against Gussick ordinary income and carry forward any unused capital losses for future years, subject to the same limitations.
Out Money
Review, reassess, rebalance Year-end is an ideal time to review your portfolio to see if investments are performing as you expected when you chose them and to help ensure your asset allocation hasn’t strayed from your risk-tolerance comfort zone. From year to year, various asset classes may perform differently in response to market and economic conditions. If one asset class now represents a greater percentage of your portfolio than you intended, you may want to consider rebalancing to bring your portfolio back to its original mix. Also consider whether your time horizon, risk tolerance or goals have changed since you chose your investments. If so, rebalancing may help to bring your investment mix more in line with your current long-term investing strategy.1 Review gains and losses As the end of the year draws near, the last thing anyone wants to think about is taxes. But if you are looking for ways to minimize your tax bill, there’s no better DAY IN THE LIFE from page 7
“Right here on the third floor, on the opposite end of Dickens Village, is every kitchen appliance you would ever need,” he said with another smile. “It is my guilty pleasure going through there and I’m kind of glad the organ shop entrance is on the other end because I would spend so much money. There’s the Martha Stewart Collection, the cookware, the bedding — so many amazing things.” In addition to shopping, Taft said he enjoys the many opportunities afforded by the sheer size of the Wanamaker building. “I walk into the building and I am here all day — sometimes 14 hours — but there are so many different experiences in one building that you can spend 14 hours here and not have backtracked.” Taft will be backtracking his own steps beginning on the first day of 2018. Once the last light show ends and Dickens Christmas Village closes on New Year’s Eve, Taft will
Given these general tax rules, now may be a good time to review your portfolio and your investment transactions to see where you stand from a gain/loss perspective. • Some investments, such as mutual funds, incur trading gains that they distribute to shareholders before year-end. Capital-gains distributions have to be reported on your tax return even if they’re reinvested in additional fund shares, so be sure to include them when you are estimating gains and losses. • Most capital gains and losses will be triggered by the sale of an asset, which you usually control. Are there some winners that have enjoyed a run that are ripe for selling? Are there some losers that you would consider selling? work with store management to ensure the holiday-themed events 11 months later will run smoothly. However, he’s more focused on the positive impact these events have on others. In particular, he recalled when Macy’s received help from a local 10-year-old boy in launching last year’s Christmas Light Show. “The light show is his best friend,” he said. “He watches it all year on his iPad.” The boy’s aunt wrote a letter to Macy’s management asking if her nephew could meet the team and watch them build the lights. The Macy’s team brought the boy, who is on the autism spectrum, into the store and had him launch the light show. “He just lit up like a Christmas tree,” Taft said. “He talks with people about his experience and now he reads chapter books to the kindergarten class. It was this amazing, magical connection with the Christmas holidays in Macy’s and people from the community.”
Although using capital losses to offset capital gains can save taxes for investors, be aware that the tax implications of a sale should be only one factor in the decision to buy or sell an investment. Keep in mind that a few down periods don’t mean you should sell simply to realize a loss. Nor does a healthy unrealized gain necessarily mean an investment is ripe for selling. Stocks, in particular, are long-term investments, subject to ups and downs. Over 70-and-a-half? Don’t forget required distributions An important year-end consideration for older Individual Retirement Account holders is whether or not they have taken required minimum distributions. Generally, the IRS requires account holders aged 70-and-a-half or older to withdraw specified percentages from their traditional IRAs each year. These percentages vary depending on your age, increasing as you grow older. If you have not taken the required distributions in a given year, the IRS may impose a 50-percent tax on the shortfall. So make sure you take the annual RMD by the required deadline. (For most taxpayers, the deadline will be Dec. 31, but taxpayers taking their first RMD may elect to take the distribution by April 1 of the year following the year they turn 70-and-a-half.) Regardless of what Congress does in the future, there are many steps you can take today that may help to lighten your tax burden and position your portfolio for the New Year. Work with a financial professional and tax advisor to see what you can do before year-end. n Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial planning and retirement income needs of the LGBT community and was recently named a 2017 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager as mentioned in Philadelphia Magazine.** He is active with
Macy’s leadership invited him back to launch the show again this season. Taft said the experience was “heart-melting” to witness. “It was an amazing sense of fulfillment to have such a human connection with someone that I never met before [and] to be part of their lives and history in such a remarkable way — with something as simple as inviting them to be here and engaging with them for a few minutes. It still makes me glow on the inside.” During one of the six light shows scheduled the day of PGN’s visit, Taft watched the Christmas tree and numerous characters light up in front of the pipe organ as actor Julie Andrews’ recorded voice narrated the story. However, he focused more on the people viewing the show. “I love to watch the people watching the show and it’s amazing to see the happiness on their faces. It’s 12 minutes long but it means so much to so many people.
several LGBT organizations in the Philadelphia region, including DVLF and the Independence Business Alliance, the Philadelphia region’s LGBT chamber of commerce. OutMoney appears monthly. If you have a question for Jeremy, you can contact him via email at jeremy.gussick@lpl.com. 1. Rebalancing a portfolio may create a taxable event if done outside a tax-deferred retirement account. 2. A 3.8-percent tax on “net investment income tax” went into effect in 2013, effectively increasing the top rate on most long-term capital gains to 23.8 percent for certain high-income taxpayers. This article was prepared with the assistance of DST Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions. LPL Financial Representatives offer access to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., an affiliate of LPL Financial. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by DST Systems Inc. or its sources, neither Wealth Management Systems Inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall DST Systems Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscribers’ or others’ use of the content. To the extent you are receiving investment advice from a separately registered independent investment advisor, please note that LPL Financial LLC is not an affiliate of and makes no representation with respect to such entity Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2017, based on total revenues. **Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2017 Five Star Wealth Managers.
Photo: Courtesy of Macy’s Inc.
It’s pretty amazing spreading that holiday cheer.” n Visit http://www.wanamakerorgan.com/xmas. php#dickens for more information on the Macy’s Christmas Light Show and Dickens Christmas Village.
PGN HARRISBURG from page 1
Rep. Jesse Topper (R), said in a Nov. 30 email that “many in the medical community feel [trans services] are not medically necessary.” Chris Bartlett, executive director of the William Way LGBT Center, said he was “honored” to participate in the educational effort. “I was honored to spend the day in Harrisburg on Tuesday with esteemed transgender leaders, including Naiymah Sanchez of the ACLU of Pennsylvania and Christian Lovehall of GALAEI,” Bartlett said in an email. “Under their leadership, we met with numerous [state] representatives and their staff to express the ways that H.B. 1933 would deeply and negatively impact the lives of transgender Pennsylvanians, their families, friends and communities. I was moved to tears by many stories, as I saw clearly how this hateful bill would leave transgender citizens who receive health benefits through medical assistance or the Children’s Health Insurance Program in deep jeopardy.” Bartlett is a longtime supporter of universal health care. “As someone who has fought for univerTHORNBURG from page 1
work, moving it into places like constructing policy and community development on a governmental scale.” The Germantown native, who identifies as a queer woman of color, is also eager to tap into her extensive youth advocacy. Thornburg previously served as the education specialist for the Bryson Institute at The Attic Youth Center, where she implemented summer youth programs and collaborated with community organizations. She also co-designed youth programming for the Mazzoni Center’s Trans*Health conference; built the installation for InLiquid’s Democratic National Convention exhibit, “Juvenile Injustice”; and serves as a professional-development facilitator at Philadelphia Youth Network. Thornburg started attending The Attic as an adolescent. She was raised by two fathers, and came out herself in college. “The Attic was the only place I could be up-front about my family, which was awesome,” she said. “That’s a lot of what started [my youth-advocacy work] as a young person. I saw how much young people needed these resources. That’s a pivotal point in your life, especially for anyone who’s in a group that’s been marginalized or left out of the conversation.” That need for inclusion is among the lessons Thornburg said she has gleaned from
sal health care my whole life, I’m incensed that some [state] representatives would play politics with people’s lives,” he added. “The fact that trans people are the current targets of such hateful legislation means to me that we all need to be spending more time in Harrisburg to keep an eye on things and fight alongside our trans siblings.” In a related matter, trans attorney Julie Chovanes warned of legal action if H.B. 1933 is enacted into law. “Last year, Trans-Help brought a lawsuit against the commonwealth to ensure trans health care is covered under Medicaid. We won. Trans health-care coverage is a matter of right under the Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Chovanes said in an email. Chovanes added: “If the commonwealth now attempts to pass this bill, it will also be doing so knowing it has already agreed its actions are illegal. We will bring that exact point to the attention of the court, if this bill proceeds to enactment. We have no doubt the court will hold the commonwealth to its prior admission that attempting to limit trans people’s medical care violates our rights.” n her wide range of community work. She sits on the fundraising committee of the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania and has volunteered for MANNA and The COLOURS Organization, among others. “One of the things I love most about Philadelphia is how diverse and how complex the people are, number one, but also how diverse the community is,” she said. “It’s such a great spread of all kinds of folks who are represented — or not represented sometimes — so I’ve done a lot of work around thinking how to pull all those people together, as they often feel fragmented around a certain issue.” In addition to youth advocacy, Thornburg said she is also aiming to tackle aging issues, homelessness and disability rights. “I’m going to be looking at the complexity of the community that we have and engaging people from all different backgrounds, different groups; that will be a major piece of [the work],” she said. “I hope to spur conversation because when you can get people talking about something, you have the ability to grow that into a more purposeful action, especially around things like policy or visibility or advocacy. I want to get people in a room talking to each other in a way that’s both empathetic and engaged, and from there to get them to commit to wanting better for each other.” n
POSITIVE from page 11
taken a leap of faith for nothing.
asking himself, “Should I finish this? Is it worth it? Will I get licensed at the end? What am I supposed to do with my life now?” If Congress moves quickly in a bipartisan way — which it should because there is support throughout the United States and within Congress to solve this problem through passing the DREAM Act — then these young people will not have
PT: Are the challenges LGBTs face different from those faced by people with HIV? AM: There are logistical concerns and issues with the legal merits of a case. When we meet people living with HIV, the first thing on their minds is often logistical, related to health care or housing or their children’s needs. Regarding the law, if it’s
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‘Me Too’ isn’t just a straight issue In the last six or so weeks, the women more guilt than is typical of those who’ve of Hollywood decided to finally speak up had a similar experience. The feeling about producer Harvey Weinstein’s long seems to be that, because they chose to history of sexual assault against women. engage in sexual acts with someone they After years and years of forced silence, don’t know or whom they barely know, the issue of non-consensual sex and sexual they are liable, as opposed to the perpetrainteraction has taken the forefront. It has tors, themselves. extended from Hollywood to The bottom line here, politics to our own backyards though, is that men and and back again, revealing comwomen, men and men, women mon problems with sex and and women and everyone in consent. between must seek consent. The #metoo campaign has Consent does not mean that become an international moveyour partner simply has not said ment, and it positions us as a cul“no,” it means that they have ture to begin change — to do betexplicitly said “yes.” ter. As such, the LGBT commuWhy is this so important? Sex nity should also use this moment relates to power and control — to reflect on our own relationship probably much more than most with sex and consent. of us realize. In many ways, sex While so far there are no involves the relinquishment and reported female perpetrators, a attainment of control. Perhaps number of men, especially gay it oscillates throughout a sexual Kristina Furia encounter or maybe it stays conmen, have spoken out recently about having been assaulted or stant, but it is the presence of raped. There seems to be some question these power dynamics that makes consent about appropriateness of men sharing their so incredibly relevant to responsible sex. stories now because certainly the systemic If you or your sexual partner has taken on problem relates more to females than the position of having less control than the males being victimized. other, there is an inherent level of vulnera But why shouldn’t the #metoo campaign bility in existence at play. That vulnerabilalso empower men who have had these ity might (and often does) make it harder experiences to speak up? Historically, than usual to express one’s wants and the vast majority of male rapes do not needs. As such, being asked about what is get reported due to the cultural pressures and isn’t OK can be massively helpful and applied to boys and men to appear strong, can even be the difference between rape/ tough and often emotionless. Perhaps this assault and mutually enjoyable sex. is the moment where all of that can begin We need to be asking the question — not to change. just sometimes but every single time. The The Centers for Disease Control found most important thing that we can do now that 40 percent of gay men and 47 percent as a society, and as a community, is to creof bisexual men have experienced sexate an open dialogue and to keep it open. ual violence (not including rape) and that As a practitioner and perpetual student 26 percent of gay men and 37 percent of of modern psychoanalysis, it is a core bisexual men have been raped. These are belief of mine that talking cures. The act high numbers, especially given that there of talking is both personally and societally is great reason to believe that male victims reparative, and the more stories shared and the more conversations had about creatunderreport these sorts of crimes. One variable to gay and bisexual men ing environments conducive to affirmative who experienced sexual assault or rape is consent, the better. This is not a subject the existence of Grindr and other hookup matter that is meant to be swept under the apps. Objectively speaking, inviting a relrug any longer than it already has been. ative stranger into your home or going to We need to be striving for a society where, theirs does create a level of potential danhowever idealistic, nonconsensual sex is a ger; however, it is also an accepted part of rare occurrence. n gay-male culture at this point. With that Kristina Furia is a psychotherapist committed to workthough, I’ve found in my own practice that ing with LGBT individuals and couples and owner of men who have experienced rape or assault Emerge Wellness, an LGBT health and wellness center as a result of Grindr (or other apps) feel in Center City (www.emergewellnessphilly.com).
Thinking Queerly
dangerous to be a queer-identified person in a country, it’s probably more dangerous to be queer and HIV-positive. So in some way, it often makes the case stronger to be both. That said, many straight people living with HIV are at risk for persecution in countries that have a lot of HIV stigma. Judges take that into consideration. Currently, the U.S. government puts trans women in men’s detention facilities. A lot
of our clients living with HIV who have been detained have had terrible health care in detention facilities. Our goal is always to empower people, to support them and to encourage them to speak out in a safe way. n Oriol R. Gutierrez Jr. is the editor-in-chief of POZ magazine. Find him on Twitter at @oriolgutierrez. This column is a project of Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, The Body and Q Syndicate, the LGBT wire service.
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International FIFA advisers: ‘Danger’ for gay fans at Russian World Cup in Russia FIFA’s antidiscrimination advisers are warning gay soccer fans going to the 2018 World Cup in Russia that public displays of affection could be met with an aggressive response from intolerant locals. Homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, but anti-LGBT sentiment remains strong and intensified after a law was introduced in 2013 prohibiting dissemination to minors of “propaganda” legitimizing homosexuality. As fans prepare for their trips after Nov. 24’s World Cup draw, the FARE network said it will produce a guide spelling out the threats spectators could face in Russia. “The guide will advise gay people to be cautious in any place which is not seen to be welcoming to the LGBT community,”
Media Trail Trans student sues Illinois district over locker room The Los Angeles Times reported that a highschool senior sued a suburban Chicago school district, which was the focus of a federal complaint over a transgender student’s use of a girls’ locker room, on Nov. 30. The student claimed she was being denied such access, an allegation district officials reject. Nova Maday, 18, a Palatine High School senior, filed the suit in Cook County Circuit Court against Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211. It asks that Maday be allowed to use the girls’ locker room to change for physical-education classes. “Even after the district agreed to allow another transgender student to use the locker rooms in her school, they resisted and made things harder for me,” Maday said in a statement. “I just want to be able to get dressed for P.E. classes without having to jump through a bunch of hoops.” Maday has lived as a girl for most of her high-school career and has had to change for gym class in private areas away from the girls’ locker room against her wishes, according to American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois spokesperson Ed Yohnka. However, Superintendent Daniel Cates said
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FARE executive director Piara Powar said. “If you have gay fans walking down the street holding hands, will they face danger in doing so? That depends on which city they are in and the time of day. The guide will also include some detailed explanations of, for example, the actual situation of the LGBT community in Russia. It is not a crime to be gay but there is a law against the promotion of homosexuality to minors. Issues relating to the LGBT community are not part of the public discourse. Gay people have a place in Russia which is quite hidden and underground.” FARE, which monitors FIFA fixtures for discriminatory behavior, said it is unclear whether fans will be allowed to display rainbow flags inside stadiums. “British and German fans’ groups have asked FIFA if they are OK to raise a rainbow flag inside the stadium,” Powar said. “FIFA has not really responded so far to say if this is something the security services will allow.” FIFA diversity head Federico Addiechi said he has seen no written request from fan groups on whether LGBT pride flags can be unfurled. “There’s nothing in the regulation from FIFA that prevents anyone from entering the stadiums with non-political messages,” Addiechi said. FARE also has long-standing concerns
about the reception black and ethnic minority fans will face at games in Russia. “Do go to the World Cup, but be cautious,” Powar said. “There are two elements to it: one towards people of color and [the] other element is far-right nationalism. Far-right extremist groups have had around 300 people banned from attending the World Cup. After years of denial about racism, [the] Russian [Football Association is] finally taking action. [The] group under Alexei Smertin has been addressing the issue and fines have been issued.” Research for 2016-17 by FARE and Russia-based SOVA showed there were 89 racist and far-right incidents at Russian games, slightly below the two previous seasons. Russian champion Spartak Moscow was punished by UEFA for monkey chants in a recent Youth League game against Liverpool. Spartak was also fined for discriminatory chants against fans from Russia’s North Caucasus in a domestic-cup game last month. Antidiscrimination observers will be deployed June 14-15 to the World Cup, where matches can be stopped or abandoned if racism persists after warnings inside stadiums. “The World Cup must be inclusive, respect human rights [and] must respect the rights of everyone, including minorities,”
Addiechi said. “We have the assurance from the Russian organizing committee and the Russian authorities that everyone will feel safe, comfortable and welcome in the country.”
the “allegations misrepresent the accommodations extended to this student and District 211’s approach to working with and supporting transgender students.” Cates said trans students who requested use of the locker room of their identified gender have been offered such access. “The Illinois Department of Human Rights has already dismissed this case, stating there was no evidence of discrimination,” he said. “We will vigorously defend and protect compassionate, fair and equitable support for all students and, at the same time, continue to defend our supports for transgender students at the federal level.” The roughly 12,000-student, five-highschool district previously allowed a transgender student at a different high school to use the girls’ locker room with a private changing station. That followed a 2013 federal complaint and intervention from the administration of then-President Obama. During the debate over that student’s access, District 211 board members decided against a single policy for all transgender students, opting instead to handle each request individually. But as that debate was going on, Yohnka said school officials were denying Maday’s request to use the girls’ locker room at Palatine High School. “It’s disappointing and it’s regrettable that you reach this point with a district again,” he said.
pany’s refusal to print T-shirts for a Pride festival due to religious beliefs, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Kentucky’s highest court issued an order in October saying it would hear the case. Lexington’s Gay and Lesbian Services Organization tried to order the T-shirts for the city’s 2012 Gay Pride Festival. An owner of Hands On Originals, Blaine Adamson, refused the order, citing his Christian beliefs. The Lexington Human Rights Commission ruled that the company violated the city’s fairness ordinance, which outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation. The company appealed to the Fayette Circuit Court, which ruled in its favor. The appeals court affirmed the lower court’s decision. A date for when the case will be heard hasn’t been set.
walks have not received such requests for removal. A Federal Highway Administration official Nov. 13 sent a letter to Mayor Jim Gray asking the city to remove the crosswalks, calling them distracting. Hoskins-Squire has yet to send an official response to the letter. She noted there hasn’t been an uptick in accidents since the crosswalks were installed in June.
Kentucky top court to hear Pride T-shirt case The Kentucky Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case regarding a com-
Rainbow crosswalks claimed as hazard will remain A Kentucky city will keep its rainbow-colored crosswalks while it investigates why federal government officials say the gesture honoring the LGBT community is a safety hazard, according to the Washington Post. Environmental Quality and Public Works Commissioner Dowell HoskinsSquire told the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council Nov. 28 that the crosswalks at a prominent downtown intersection will remain as the city conducts more research, as other cities with similar cross-
American’s fatal fall in Sydney ruled hate crime A judge has ruled an American’s fatal fall off a Sydney cliff nearly three decades ago was as an antigay hate crime. The inquest was the third to investigate the circumstances surrounding Scott Johnson’s death in 1988. State Coroner Michael Barnes ruled Nov. 30 that Johnson “fell from the cliff top as a result of actual or threatened violence by unidentified persons who attacked him because they perceived him to be homosexual.” The first coroner ruled Johnson had taken his own life, while a second could not explain his fall. Johnson’s body was found below a cliff that was a known gay meeting place. The 27-year-old mathematician was born in Los Angeles and was openly gay. His brother, Steve Johnson, wants police to bring the killers to justice. n — compiled by Larry Nichols
Mississippi woman seeks parental rights in same-sex divorce According to ABC News, the Mississippi Supreme Court heard arguments Nov. 29 on whether a woman should get parental rights to a 6-year-old boy that her ex-wife birthed when the two were married. A lower-court judge ruled during a divorce that 44-year-old Chris Strickland wasn’t a legal parent, instead saying an anonymous sperm donor still had parental rights. Strickland wants that ruling overturned, contending the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage requires same-sex couples to be treated equally. She wants legal status and ultimately hopes to win 50-50 custody of a boy who bears her last name. Her ex-wife, though, argues the lower court decided correctly and a judge must terminate the unknown father’s rights. Both LGBT-rights activists and groups aiding in-vitro fertilization are watching the case. n
—compiled by Larry Nichols
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RUFUS WAINWRIGHT RETURNS TO THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Rufus Wainwright – the vocalist, composer, and songwriter considered one of the greatest of his generation – will join the POPS orchestra on the Verizon Hall stage, under the baton of Music Director Michael Krajewski. The concert will contain highlights from his notable career, which have received critical and international acclaim. Wainwright has said there’s “no better instrument than an orchestra to help illustrate” his music. The 65-piece orchestra will accompany Wainwright through his unique repertoire of pop, art-rock, classical, and opera – “genuine originality” as proclaimed by The New York Times. featuring
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Philly lights up and turns it out for the holidays By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com
your wallets and purses. So get some warm and comfortable shoes and your coat and let’s get to it.
Philly is in full festive-yuletide-jingle-bell swing, giving locals, visitors and UNIVERSITY CITY shoppers a lot to see, do and purchase for If you want to surround yourself with fine the holidays. Yes, you could (and probably will) hit the malls, shopping center, internet art this season, head to the Penn Museum, as the arts and and other modtourist attracern temples of tion is offering retail worship, a range of spebut it would cial gift ideas be a shame to and events. The not experience museum’s shop some good features a wide old-fashioned range of jewPhiladelphia elry, clothing, flair in the days accessories, leading up to crafts and other whatever holigifts, including day lights your games, books candles this year. PENN MUSEUM SHOP and more. Also, the shop is No matter to what section of the city the season takes offering discount days Dec. 14-23, with you, there are plenty of attractions and 10-percent off regularly priced items for visstores to capture your imagination, brighten itors and 25-percent off for Penn Museum your sense of holiday cheer and lighten members. Visit www.penn.museum or call
215-898-5093 for more information. You can also give family or friends the gift of a private museum tour to explore 10,000 years of human history and choose from a variety of topics. This can include exploring the new Middle East Galleries, the female-focused “Queens, Warriors and Archaeologists: Women in the Penn Museum” or a deeper look at cultural heritage and loss with “Cultures in the Crossfire: Stories from Syria and Iraq.” If you want to journey through the picturesque neighborhood around the museum, hop on the train for a Trolley Tour Dec. 14-17. Riders take in three Fairmount Park historic homes (Laurel Hill, Lemon Hill and Woodford), which are spectacularly lit up in unique yuletide decorations. Call 215-684-7840 to reserve a seat. For information about tour options, contact grouptickets@pennmuseum.org or call 215-746-8183. OLD CITY Old City gets into the holiday mood with Historic Holiday Nights, a unique holiday happy hour from 5-8 p.m. every Thursday
through Dec. 28. More than 50 participating boutiques, shops, art galleries, museums, restaurants and cafés will treat visitors to special sales, discounts, promotions, seasonal cocktails and special events. Get all of your holiday shopping, eating and drinking done in one place. Old City will offer up unique blinkand-you’ll-miss-them gift-buying opportunities as well with some pop-up shops. Florist Papertini and PhilaLandmarks host a holiday pop-up shop at The Hill-Physick House, 321 S. Fourth St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 9-10 and 16-17. The Rev. Michael Alan’s original artwork will be featured along with unique handmade gifts and crafts. Home Brewed Events hosts a Vintage Holiday Party 7-10 p.m. Dec. 13 at Powel House, 244 S. Third St., featuring oldtimey drink recipes and historic beer styles to sample throughout the evening, along with light local fare and live music provided by Evan Cory Levine. If you are looking for some festive sights while wandering around Old City, Historic Holiday Nights offers “Illuminating Liberty” at the PAGE 28
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PGN FEATURE
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 8-14, 2017
GIFT GUIDE from page 27
Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. Third St. Through the New Year, the exhibit will display colorful new window illuminations, inspired by Philadelphia artist Charles Willson Peale. For more information, visit https:// amrevmuseum.org/events/historic-holiday-nights-old-city. CENTER CITY
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Christmas Village has moved to Love Park this year HOLIDAY MARKET AT DILWORTH PARK but the Christmas Village for their significant others. Carousel is in City Hall The holidays get super-fashionable with Courtyard through Christmas Eve. The Style Me Manayunk 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. merry-go-round runs alongside the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market, which is also 10, a pop-up store and event in partnership curated and organized by Christmas Village with LILA Fashion International featuring organizers. The Holiday Market transforms fashion and accessory vendors, live music, Dilworth Park into a holiday-shopping food and more. On Dec. 21, procrastinators can experiwonderland through Jan. 1 with more than 50 artisans, designers, crafters and confec- ence the holiday-shopping adrenaline rush tionaries from the region offering gifts and of Dashing Through the Stores, where local holiday foods in festively lit tents topped retailers offer an enticing range of graband-go gift ideas — plenty for shoppers to with Herrnhut Stars. Visitors can shop for unique gifts and load up their sleighs with festive presents. While you’re in the area, check out products that can’t be found at the average Sardine Clothing Company, 4101 Lauriston shopping mall, including ornaments, toys, apparel, jewelry, decorations, home goods, St., a studio and store specializing in “upcycled” and repurposed clothing. The comartwork and more. For more information, pany takes discarded and thrift-store visit www.philachristmas.com. T-shirts, pants and sweaters and cuts them up to re-fashion and MANAYUNK transform them into something far more eye-catching and origiManayunk’s main drag nal than they were before. Better is packed with numerous on your back than headed to a eye-catching stores and landfill. For more information, eateries so, naturally, it visit www.sardineclothing. has a lot to see and do com. to coincide with the holiday season. On Dec. We hope to see some of 14, Main Street hosts a you out there getting festive Men’s Shopping Night, in the streets of Philly. Stay where men will get an warm, happy and safe. extra-personalized experience when shopping SARDINE CLOTHING COMPANY Happy holidays! n
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Another thing to be ‘Fond’ about on Passyunk By Larry Nichols larry@epgn.com The colder, darker months are upon us — which help set the scene at Fond. The cozy corner spot in South Philadelphia provides a panoramic view of a lively East Passyunk intersection, and inside, Fond’s candle-lit ambience pairs well with its contemporary American menu. While Fond leans more toward classic French flavors and techniques, other influences find their way onto the menu to add flair and excitement. An amuse-bouche shot of the wonderful and bold mushroom bisque set the tone for the meal. Small plates like the Hamachi ceviche ($14) stand out with pleasant acidic and briny flavors, punctuated by the toasted cancha corn. Their pâté du jour ($13), which was comprised of chicken and liver, was hearty and brightened further in its execution by the presence of assertive rhubarb-strawberry mustard, which brought the entire dish together. An outstanding small plate was the grilled duck hearts ($12), which were perfectly cooked and tender. The dish incorporated some Mediterranean flavors like tahini yogurt, black sesame and cucumbers to balance out the bold meatiness of the hearts. Larger plates at Fond were equally intriguing. Dishes like the lamb stroganoff ($30) and the braised lamb with truffle risotto ($30) brought out layers of comfort-dish charm and refined techniques that hit the spot beautifully. On the more
If you go Fond 1537 S. 11th St. 215-551-5000 www.fondphilly.com Tues.-Fri.: 5:30-10 p.m. Sat.: 5-10 p.m. Sun.: 5-9 p.m.
LAMB STROGANOFF exotic end of the spectrum, the pork belly ($28) had a thick and crisp fried-exterior layer protecting the juicy, tender interior like pork armor. Getting a little of both in one bite is
The holidays are on the way and we’ve got something special for you.
Photo: Bondfire Media
an interesting marriage of textures, and the cheddar grits and pork pull everything together nicely. Given the scope of the menu and the cozy bistro vibe of the space,
Fond is a relaxed fine-dining experience one should experience with good company. Make sure you bring someone along whom you are, at the very least, fond of. n
PGN gift guides, holiday entertainment and survival tips will be online and in print for one more special issue on Dec. 15.
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Favorite Photos of 2017 Coming December 29
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The
Guide to the Gayborhood
The Philadelphia Gayborhood is roughly centered at Locust and Camac streets. Look for the rainbow street signs at intersections and remember to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go. Boxers
1330 Walnut St. facebook.com/ boxersphl Sports bar with a dozen huge TVs, pool table, brick pizza oven, sports teams specials
Toasted Walnut
Tabu
Woody’s
1316 Walnut St. 215.546.8888 Festively lit women-owned bar complete with a “beer” pong table
❍
❍ <— Juniper St.
Chancellor St.
❍
Locust St.
11th St.
Quince St.
12th St.
Camac St.
13th St.
❒
❍
❍ Spruce St.
❍
Cypress St.
William Way LGBT Community Writer’s Block Rehab Center 1342 Cypress St. 267.603.6960 A cozy, comfortable bar and lounge perfect for escaping the norm
1315 Spruce St. 215.732.2220 waygay.org A resource for all things LGBT
254 S. 12th St. 267.324.3500 clubicandy.com Three floors with a total of six bars; dance floor, lounge and rootop deck.
Tavern on Camac
Voyeur
1221 St. James St. 215.735.5772 voyeurnightclub.com After-hours private club; membership required
255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731 Piano lounge with upstairs dance floor; Tavern restaurant below is open late.
Stir Lounge
Latimer St.
Manning St.
ICandy
<— <— West of Broad Street
St. James St.
❍
1220 Locust St. 215.546.6660 Relaxing corner bar, easy-going crowd, popular for happy hour and window watching
Bar and dancefloor
❍
<—
U Bar
Bar X 255 S. Camac St. 215.545.8731
❍
❍
❒
206 S Quince St. 215.627.1662 Levi/leather men’s bar; pool tables, big-screen sports action; basement dress code Walnut St.
❍
❍
The Bike Stop
200 S. 12th St. 215.964.9675 tabuphilly.com Sports bar with food and shows upstairs
202 S. 13th St. 215.545.1893 woodysbar.com Mixed crowd Attatched to Walnut St. bars Rosewood and GloBar
Knock
225 S. 12th St. 215.925.1166 knockphilly.com Fine-dining restaurant and bar, outdoor seating (weather permitting), piano in back room
1705 Chancellor St. 215.732.2700 stirphilly.com Fun two-bar lounge, DJ in the back, regular poker games and specials
The Attic Youth Center
255 S. 16th St. 215.545.4331 atticyouthcenter.org Safe space and programs for LGBTs age 16-23 weekday afternoons and evenings
Pa. bars close at 2 a.m. unless they have a private-club license. Please drink responsibly.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PGN LISTINGS
Who has impacted the local LGBT community most in 2017?
TRUE ‘COLOR’ SHINING THROUGH: The Tony Award-winning musical “The Color Purple,” based on the epic film and novel of the same name, returns to Philly for a run of performances Dec. 12-17 at Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St. For more information or tickets, call 215-923-1515. Photo: Matthew Murphy
Theater & Arts Annie Walnut Street Theatre presents the beloved musical about the charming orphan through Jan. 7, 825 Walnut St.; 215574-3550. The Color Purple The Tony Awardwinning musical based on the acclaimed film returns to Philly Dec. 12-17 at Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St.; 215-923-1515. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Media Theatre presents the musical adaptation of the Disney classic through Jan. 14, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100.
2017
Person of the Year Coming in the 12/29/17 issue
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker The Pennsylvania Ballet performs the beloved holiday classic Dec. 8-31 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-8931999.
The Glorious Sound of Christmas The Philadelphia Orchestra performs its annual Christmas concert series Dec. 1417 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. Hal Sparks The comedian seen on “Queer As Folk” performs through Dec. 9 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001. Hillary Hahn plays Bernstein The Philadelphia Orchestra performs through Dec. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. East Passyunk Pop-Up Dance Performance: A Piece of This Place Megan Flynn Dance Company presents free performances at the Gateway at East Passyunk Avenue 2 and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 9 on the corner of Broad and McKean streets; www. flynndance.org.
Old Masters Now: Celebrating the Johnson Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of European designs from the likes of Botticelli, Bosch, Titian, Rembrandt and Monet through Feb. 19, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100. Patricia Urquiola: Between Craft and Industry The work of acclaimed designer Urquiola, who creates innovative objects for the home and office, is on display through March 4 at Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100.
Peter Pan Arden Theatre presents the classic children’s story through Jan. 28, 40 N. Second St.; 215922-1122. PHILADANCO: H-I-S-T-O-R-Y The acclaimed dance company, preserving the legacy of African-American choreographers, performs new pieces Dec. 1517 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. Philadelphia Assembled The project, initiated by artist Jeanne van Heeswijk, with hundreds of collaborators across the city, explores Philadelphia’s changing landscape and tells a story of
Notices Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437; or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
PGN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS
Fantasia The R&B singer and actor performs 8:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.; 215-6253681. Holidelic The outrageous holiday-funk revue returns 8 p.m. Dec. 15 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.
WE WISH YOU A ‘HEDDA’ CHRISTMAS: New York City-based drag star Hedda Lettuce comes to town to spread some cheer with a holiday-themed performance 9:3011 p.m. Dec. 15 at Ruba Club, 416 Green St. For more information or tickets, call 215-627-9831.
radical communitybuilding and active resistance through Dec. 10 at Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-7638100. A Philly POPS Christmas The Philly POPS get into the holiday spirit through Dec. 19 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215893-1999. This Is The Week That Is 1812 Productions presents its annual political-comedy show through Dec. 31 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; 215-592-9560. Transcendents: Spirit Mediums in Burma & Thailand The Fine Art Galleries at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center present internationally known and acclaimed photojournalist Mariette Pathy Allen for the first public exhibit of
her new works documenting transgender lives and experiences around the world through Jan. 2, 522 W. Maple St., Allentown; 610347-9988.
Music
Nightlife Fuck Clothes Go Naked A social nude party designed to make connections, 8 p.m.-3 a.m. Dec. 8 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215964-9675. Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva Brunch Mimi Imfurst, Bev, Vinchelle, Sutton Fearce and special guests perform 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 9 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555.
Get The Led Out The Led Zeppelin tribute band performs 8:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; 800-745-3000.
Peek-a-boo Revue The burlesque troupe performs a holidaythemed show 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331.
A John Waters Christmas The out filmmaker performs a spokenword show 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St.; 215-232-2100.
TOY 2017 DVLF’s annual holiday-fundraiser party and dance provides toys for patients at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and clients of Action Wellness 8-11 p.m. Dec. 9 at Sky Philadelphia, 1717 Arch St.; https:// www.dvlf.org/toy.
A Soulful Christmas The Kimmel Center presents a communal gathering of regional choristers performing holiday spirituals and gospel favorites 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999.
Naughty or Nice: Back 2 Basics Holiday Bash The diverse and inclusive queer party gets into the holiday mood 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Dec. 9 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 8-14, 2017
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Liberty Belles Burlesque Revue The burlesque ensemble performs 9 p.m. Dec. 10 at Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.; 215606-6555. Martha Graham Cracker The cabaret star performs a holiday show 8-11 p.m. Dec. 14 at L’Etage, 624 Sixth St.; 215592-0656. Hedda Lettuce The drag star performs a holidaythemed spectacular 9:30-11 p.m. Dec. 15 at Ruba Club, 416 Green St.; 215627-9831.
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Kathy Graham: A Swinging Christmas The jazz and cabaret singer makes her Rrazz Room debut 8 p.m. Dec. 8 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-596-1027. Home Alone The blockbuster holiday comedy is screened 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-1228. Tommy Femia is Judy Garland with Special Guest Miss Pumpkin The singer and impersonator performs 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-596-1027. Lucille CarrKaffashan “Unwritten” The singer performs her award-winning show 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope; 888-5961027. n
Top Stories Issue Dec. 22, 2017 What do you think the top stories for this year are?
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So much has happened! How do we decide? It’s hard to recall everything from earlier this year.
Gotta go to epgn.com to look it all up!
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Family Portrait
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 8-14, 2017
35
Suzi Nash
Jack Sprance: Soaring to success on ‘The Nutcracker’ stage Rats! And mice, dolls, princes, fairies, giant ginger mothers, candy canes and snowflakes … No, this is not some weird hallucination after having too much eggnog at a Democratic Christmas soiree. It’s the return of “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.” Once again, Pennsylvania Ballet raises the curtain on another beautiful production of the holiday favorite (and a tradition in our house). By the way, here are some fun facts I found on Wikipedia about the classic: OK, as you probably know, the music was composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and the libretto was adapted from E.T.A Hoffman’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” by way of Alexandre Dumas’ (also responsible for “The Three Musketeers”) adapted story “The Nutcracker.” It premiered Dec. 18, 1892, on a double bill with Tchaikovsky’s opera “Lolanta.” The original production was not a success, but the 20-minute suite that Tchaikovsky extracted from the ballet was. Hoffmann’s original tale contained a long flashback story within its main plot titled “The Tale of the Hard Nut,” which explains how the Prince was turned into the Nutcracker. Personally, I think they should have kept that title … But I digress … I had the chance to speak to one of the ballet’s corps members, Jack Sprance. A relative newcomer, Sprance began training in 2010 at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. He trained with the Boston Ballet, performed with the company in “Swan Lake,” “Cinderella” and “The Nutcracker,” and had roles in “Bayadere,” “Giselle” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Here in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, he has performed with the Pennsylvania Ballet in Angel Corella’s “Don Quixote,” Christopher Wheeldon’s “For Four and Rush,” Ben Stevenson’s “Cinderella,” Balanchine’s “Western Symphony” and in the world premiere of Matthew Neenan’s “Somnolence.”
JS: I am! But she actually passed away in 2015, that first summer when I came home from Boston.
and now I have a Yorkie named Bentley. He’s 5 pounds, a big difference between my first dog and this one.
PGN: Tell me a little about her. What’s a fun memory? JS: When we would drive, she would always drive in just one direction so we’d always end up lost. Instead of turning anywhere, she’d say, “Oh let’s just go a little bit further straight ahead!” We’d drive through the woods and come out the other side in some random town and then have to find our way back.
PGN: Bentley, as in the luxury car? JS: [Laughs] Yes, I love that car. He was named after it.
PGN: Tell me a little about yourself. JS: I was born in Ovieda, Fla., then we moved to Connecticut when I was about 2. I started ballet when I was 13 at the Nutmeg Conservatory and three years after that I was accepted into the trainee program at Boston Ballet, which was a year-round program so I moved to Boston. In two years, I completed the training and, when I graduated, I was offered the job here with the Pennsylvania Ballet! I joined the second company and after a month I was promoted to apprentice. I spent that first year and another on top of that as an apprentice, and this is my first year with the corps.
PGN: Describe the place you come from. JS: As a kid, I loved where I grew up in Connecticut. It was a little isolated, but it was beautiful. There was so much space around us, it felt like I lived in a park.
PGN: Wow. That’s a lot for someone who’s only 21 years old. From your Facebook page, I get the impression that you’re a momma’s boy …
PGN: Oh my! So did you have pets growing up? JS: Oh yeah, I had a yellow lab named Buddy — the sweetest dog in the world —
PGN: I’m guessing this was pre-GPS. JS: Oh yeah, I was always like, “Oh God, here we go!” It was always an adventure. PGN: That’s hysterical. So what did the folks do? JS: I was homeschooled from second grade on, so my mom was my teacher and a homemaker, and my dad sells power generation for Siemens.
PGN: So you live in the big city now. What’s it like for you? JS: I’ve been here for a little over two years and I love this city. It’s beautiful. They just need more grocery stores! I live near the Convention Center and there’s really not anything around there. I have to truck over to Trader Joe’s for cereal. PGN: Tell me about the role you’re playing in the upcoming production of “The Nutcracker.” JS: I’m playing a lot of roles. I’m doing the soldier/doll in the first act. I’m doing Tea, who is the Chinese dancer, and the lead candy cane, which is part of the “Russian Dance.”
PGN: What was the first dance performance that made you think, That’s for me! JS: I used to watch my sister dance. I’d watch her performances and then she’d teach me, which is how I got a little bit of a head start, which I needed because I came to dance late. The first professional performance I ever saw was when my mom took me to see the Boston Ballet. They did “Don Quixote” and it was the first time I thought, Hmmm, I could do this as a career. PGN: You said that you started dancing late. What did you want to be when you grew up? JS: A pilot. I actually still do. It’s always been my dream. I’m taking college courses right now to keep my brain fresh so that when it’s time to switch careers, I’ll be ready.
PGN: Were there a lot of critters around? JS: Oh yes, a little of everything: bobcats, deer, groundhogs and a lot of black bears. One time there was a bear in the front yard and we were all staring at it through the windows when my dad said, “Did anyone close the garage door?” We all ran out and there was a bear in the garage going through the garbage!
PGN: Is that the one where you have to jump through a hoop? JS: Yes, it took me a few days to figure that one out. It was hard. PGN: I understand that you won the gold medal in the Connecticut Classic Competition, which is kind of like the Connecticut Olympics for dance. JS: Oh gosh, that was a while ago. It’s also where my stage fright began. Competitions
are always very daunting for me. I actually locked myself in the bathroom for that one and wouldn’t come out. They eventually talked me out and I performed and ended up winning! So it worked out, but it was very traumatic. That’s where I met one of the other dancers here at Pennsylvania Ballet, Katie Manger. She’s from Connecticut and had won it the previous year. PGN: I’d think winning would have ended your stage fright, not kicked it into gear. JS: You would think so, but I was so closed down and in my head that I associate all performances with that feeling. It’s much better now, but I still struggle with the butterflies waiting to go on. PGN: [Laughs] So this time of year, do you go into fits when you hear that “Nutcracker” music? JS: Yes! It gives me anxiety every time and they play it everywhere! In malls, in commercials, there’s no escaping it! But I love dancing the Nutcracker, I really do. One thing that’s cool here, we do sensory-friendly shows, where we welcome children and families with a wide range of sensory, learning and communication differences, including autism. We do different things to make them feel comfortable. The houselights don’t go down all the way, they can move around, make noise and not constantly be shushed or taken out. If they do need to leave, we have areas they can decompress with help from a trained staff. PGN: That’s neat. What was your biggest mishap on stage? JS: Knock on wood, nothing big so far. Not here, but I’ve slipped to the point that I heard the audience do an audible gasp. There are also the times when your nerves get the best of you and you lose your concenPhoto: Suzi Nash tration and forget where you are in the choreography and you’re trying to remember what’s next. Because the music is live, it’s pretty unforgiving. I actually did that in a show once. I remember being on stage and thinking, Oh gosh, what’s next? But you just use visual and music cues to figure it out. PGN: Speaking of figuring it out, when did you come out? Was your mom still alive? PAGE 36
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 8-14, 2017
PORTRAIT from page 35
JS: No, and I never actually came out to anybody. After I moved to Philadelphia, I started seeing a guy and that was it. I think everyone knew anyway, even my mom. I come from a very gay-friendly family; they just didn’t want to pressure me to come out before I was ready. I’m grateful that I pretty much had it easy. Also, the industry I’m in is very gay-friendly, so I’m lucky in that sense too. PGN: So you’re 21. Was your first gay bar here in Philly? JS: No, it was a bar called The Machine in Boston and on Friday nights they had an 18-plus night, so I was there legally! It was quite an experience. I haven’t been able to explore much of the Philly scene yet. I went to Boxers once and to Woody’s but it was so crowded I couldn’t move. PGN: How do you stay healthy at this time of year? It must be a big concern. JS: It is, a lot of hand sanitizer. And you try to eat healthy, which is tough because often after a long day of rehearsals and shows, the last thing you want to do is come home and cook a healthy meal. I also have a major sweet tooth, which doesn’t help!
before I did ballet, I was in musical theater; everyone in that genre has a dark sense of humor! And some of it comes naturally! PGN: OK, let’s go there with some randoms. On a scale of one to 10, how well do you sing? JS: One! PGN: And yet you were in musical theater? What was your craziest moment on stage? JS: We were doing “Seussical the Musical” and there was a bathtub scene. I was singing in the bathtub and they had bubbles coming out from behind my back and then I had to go down a slide. Well, my back was so slippery from the dish soap that they were using to make the bubbles that I flew down the slide so fast I almost launched into the audience! I ended up landing on my butt. PGN: What’s one thing you refuse to pay for? JS: Water! It’s ridiculous! PGN: Describe your perfect partner. JS: Someone who looks like, acts like, sings like and is Ariana Grande.
PGN: So when people come to the show, instead of flowers they should bring candy? JS: Yeah, I would love that. [Laughs] Throw it right onto the stage!
PGN: You’ll have to fight me first. If you could go back in time to talk to yourself, what would you say? JS: Don’t do that!
PGN: Ha, I see the headlines now: “Breaking news: Prima ballerina knocked out in freak Whitman’s Sampler accident!” What’s a false stereotype about dancers? JS: I think people have an image of the dance world being cutthroat, that glass-inthe-slippers portrayal, but we’re actually very close as a unit. We are each other’s competition but I’ve always found that I could go up to anyone and ask, “Hey, can you help me with this or that?” and they’re always willing. We’re not as “Black Swan” as people might think!
PGN: What are the five most important things you would include in your thingsto-do list? JS: Get bitten by a shark. Fly a plane. Get bitten by a snake, which I’ve done. Get my floor pointe, done. Get to name a new species of bug.
PGN: Who took you under their wing here? JS: Jermel Johnson and Oksana Maslova. They’re both dancers I have great respect for, and I feel like it’s mutual. I’ve learned a lot from them.
PGN
PGN: What would you take as your “Survivor” items? JS: Some matches and a boat. PGN: Pet peeves? JS: When someone doesn’t wash their hands after they go to the bathroom. PGN: What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? JS: [Laughs] I normally eat lunch.
PGN: I guess the other nice thing about being with the company is the security. You get a regular salary and health care, etc. JS: We’re contracted and every year they decide whether they’re going to renew or not. It usually happens right after “Nutcracker,” so it’s a little scary this time of year. This is my third year, and I love Philly and the company so hopefully it will continue. I just bought some furniture for my apartment too!
PGN: And back to something serious. What does it feel like to let loose and leap across a stage? JS: When you’re comfortable with a role, it’s amazing. This is my third year doing the roles that I’m doing in “The Nutcracker.” I know them so well that I don’t even have to think about the choreography; that muscle memory kicks in and you just soar. It’s really freeing, the greatest feeling in the world. n
PGN: You’re being polite here, but I read some of your old posts and you have quite the twisted sense of humor. Where do you get that? JS: Probably my sister. She could do anything and it would make me laugh. Also,
To suggest a community member for Family Portrait, email portraits05@aol.com. Pennsylvania Ballet performs “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” through Dec. 31 at Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, visit www.paballet.org.
Q Puzzle Clemency at Thanksgiving Across 1. Strip in the locker room 5. Sexual attraction, with “the” 9. Don of game shows 14. David Hyde Pierce, to Yale 15. Actor Mapa 16. Homererotic tale? 17. Shakespeare’s foot 18. Not e’en once 19. LGBT briefing follow-up, for short? 20. Traditional Thanksgiving gesture by the president 23. Gielgud’s john 24. Passing fancy 25. Comedian who said that 47-Across had turned Thanksgiving into 53-Across 30. Month for Kahlo 33. Warhol pal
___ Sedgwick 34. One of two ways 35. Shoot off another plant 37. One with flaming pants? 38. Stick it to 41. L’eggs shade 42. Loads of 44. CBS forensic drama 45. Those, to Gomer 46. Castro Street, on BART 47. President who threatened to only let one of the two birds go 51. “Spamalot” writer Eric 52. Bill written by Alice Paul 53. 1982 Meryl Streep film 59. Think tank output 60. Hazard for Sheehan 61. Clothing designer Chow 64. “Lesbians ignite!” e.g. 65. Nathan of “The Birdcage” 66. Will off the set
67. Fuss over feathers 68. 2000 gay flick “___ and Charley” 69. Result of getting rearended Down 1. Figure skater Babilonia 2. Home st. of Harper Lee 3. Drag queen’s shoe 4. Professionals on “Six Feet Under” 5. Exchanges in David Kopay’s sport 6. It’s sold in bars 7. “Dawson’s Creek” type 8. Illegible letters 9. Pricking 10. It arouses you in bed 11. Button’s place 12. South Beach’s Miami-___ County 13. Jazz singer Anita 21. Siegfried’s partner 22. However,
in verse 25. Gets hard 26. Bonehead 27. Sporty Mazda 28. Hail Mary path 29. Lover of Dali, perhaps 30. ___ Picchu (ancient Incan commune) 31. _The Deep Six_ actor Zimbalist 32. Result of overzealous circumcision? 36. Withdrawn, like an eagle’s talons 39. Night school subj. 40. Like welcoming thighs 43. Dr. Montgomery of “Grey’s
Anatomy” 48. Grand ___ Opry 49. Joan of Lesbian Herstory 50. Angular opening 51. Cole Porter’s “___ Men” 53. Gullible guy 54. Febreze target 55. Guitarist Townshend 56. Fiddler on the reef 57. “The English Patient” nurse 58. Land of Sinead O’Connor 62. Anais, who went both ways 63. ___ UP
PGN
Mombian Dana Rudolph
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 8-14, 2017
locations in Philadelphia CENTER CITY BUSINESSES WEST OF BROAD
Adonis Cinema, 2026 Sansom St. • Art Institute, 1622 Chestnut St. • Art Institute, 2300 Market St. • The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St. • Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St. • Dan Tobey R/E, 1401 Walnut St., 8th floor • Dr. Wakefield’s Office, 255 S. 17th St., Suite 2306 • Drucker & Scaccetti, 1600 Market St., Suite 3300 • Drexel Partnership, 1427 Vine St., 3rd floor • Latimer Deli, 255 S. 15th St. • MANNA, 12 S. 23rd St. • Marine Club Condos lobby, Broad St. & Washington Ave. • Metropolitan, 115 N. 15th St. • PA Law Project, 2122 Chestnut St., Suite 1600 • Safeguards Lobby, 1700 Market St., 18th floor • Sansom St. Gym, 2020 Sansom St. • SOSNA offices, 19th & Christian sts. • Stir, 1705 Chancellor St. • U Do It Laundry, 15th & Spruce sts. • Westminster Arch Apts., Vine St., 3rd floor •
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An estimated one-third of LGBTs in Philadelphia have children. Every month, Dana Rudolph dissects parenting from our perspective, from watching your children grow up to teaching them how to deal with bullies, to interviews with authors and filmmakers.
Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. • Drexel University, 4001 Walnut St. • Fresh Grocer, 4001 Walnut St. • Goodman Hall, 710 S. 42nd St. • International House, 3701 Chestnut St. • LGBT Center at Penn, 3907 Spruce St. • Metropolitan Community Church, 3637 Chestnut St. • Old Quaker Condos lobby, 3514 Lancaster Ave. • Oslo Hall, 510 S. 42nd St. • Penn Bookstore, 3610 Walnut St. • Redcaps Corner, 4812 Baltimore Ave. • Saturn Club, 3430 Sansom St. • Saxby’s Coffee, 40th & Locust sts. • Sheraton Hotel, 36th & Chestnut sts. • St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk • University of the Sciences England Library, 4200 Woodland Ave. • Wilson Hall, 708 S. 42nd St. • World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. •
NORTH PHILLY
1 Shot Coffee, 1040 N. Second St. • 2601 Parkway Condos lobby, 2601 Pennsylvania Ave. • Barnes & Noble, 1700 N. Broad St. • Bebashi, 1217 Spring Garden St. • Beth Ahavah, 615 N. Broad St. • Bridgeview Place Condo lobby, 315 New St. • Colonnade Condos lobby, 1601 Spring Garden St. • Community College CCP Lambda, 1700 Spring Garden St. • Congresso de Latinos, American St. & Lehigh Ave. • Front Street Cafe, 1253 N. Front St. • GALAEI, 149 Susquehanna Ave. • Logan View Apts. lobby, 17th & Callowhill sts. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Packard Apts., 317 N. Broad St. • Philadelphian Condos lobby, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. • Sammy’s Place, 1449 N. Fifth St., 1st floor • SILOAM Ministries, 1133 Spring Garden St. • Temple University Student Activity Center, 1755 N. 12th St. • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • Whole Foods Market, 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. •
SOUTH PHILLY
Bethel Community Home, 933-935 S. Third St. • Black N Brew, 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. • Essene, 719 S. Fourth St. • Famous 4th St. Deli, Fourth & Bainbridge sts. • Fuel, 1917 E. Passyunk Ave. • Jackson Place, 501 Jackson St. • Philly Bagels, 613 S. Third St. • Rockerhead Salon, 607 S. Third St. • Tiffin Restaurant, 1100 Federal St. • Wedge Medical Center, 1939 S. Juniper St. •
PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS — OTHER Almost Paradise, 742 Frankford Ave. • Awbry Aboretum, 1 Awbry Rd. • Caribbean Pharmacy, 3825 N. 5th St. •Elfant Wissahickon Realty, 8962 Ridge Ave. • Fantasy Island Books, 7363 State Road • Harry’s Natural Foods, 1805 Cottman Ave. • Infinity Jewelers, 3528 Cottman+ Ave. • Infusion Salon, 7133 Germantown Ave. • Morris House, 5537 Woodland Ave. • One Day At A Time, 2532 N. Broad St. • Philadelphia University KANBAR Center, 4201 Henry Ave. • Philly Pharmacy, 9475 Roosevelt Blvd. • Riverhouse Condo, 3600 Conshohocken Ave. • WCAU TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road • Weaver’s Way, 559 Carpenter Lane • Welker Real Estate, 2311 Fairmount Ave. • WPVI TV lobby, City Line Ave. & Monument Road •
LIBRARY BRANCHES
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Andorra Branch, 705 E. Cathedral Road • Blanch A. Nixon Branch, 5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway • Donatucci Branch, 1935 Shunk St. • Falls of Schuylkill Branch, 3501 Midvale Ave. • Fishtown Branch, 1217 E. Montgomery Ave. • Frankford Branch, 4634 Frankford Ave. • Independence Branch, 18 S. Seventh St. • Joseph E. Coleman Branch, 68 W. Chelten Ave. • Kingsessing Branch, 1201 S. 51st St. • Lehigh Branch, 601 W. Lehigh Ave. • Lovett Branch, 6945 Germantown Ave. • Main Branch, 1901 Vine St. • McPherson Square Branch, 601 E. Indiana Ave. • Northeast Regional, 2228 Cottman Ave. • Ogontz Branch, 6017 Ogontz Ave. • Richmond Branch, 2987 Almond St. • Rodriguez Branch, 600 W. Girard Ave. • Roxborough Branch, 6245 Ridge Ave. • Southwark Branch, 932 S. Seventh St. • Welsh Road Branch, 9233 Roosevelt Blvd. • West Phila. Branch, 125 S. 52nd St. • •Whitman Branch, 200 Snyder HONESTY • INTEGRITY PROFESSIONALISM Ave. • Wynnefield Branch, 5325 Overbrook Ave.
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Classifieds All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). PGN will not knowingly accept any real-estate advertising that is in violation of any applicable law. PGN does not accept advertising that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation material of any kind or nature that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, provincial, national or international law or regulation, or encourage the use of controlled substances.
Real Estate Sale VENTNOR, NJ House for sale in Ventnor NJ. 2 story 5 bedroom house, needs some repairs. Priced right. Call 215 468 9166. ________________________________________41-49
Help Wanted EARN $500 A DAY Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Wants Insurance Agents *Leads, No Cold Calls *Commissions Paid Daily *Agency Training *Life License Required. Call 1-888-713-6020. ________________________________________41-49
Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, November Term, 2017, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 2, 2017, the petition of John Kennetth Cameron III was filed, praying for a decree to change her name to Juno Louise Cameron. The Court has fixed January 5th 2018, at 9:30 A.M., in Courtroom No. 691, in Philadelphia City Hall as the time and place for the hearing of said Petition, when and where all persons interested may appear and show cause, if they have any, why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted. ________________________________________41-49
Financial Services REAL ESTATE FINANCING! Direct Lender: Fix & Flips, Bridge Loan, No Tax Return, Purchase/Refinance, Multi-Family, Mixed-Use, Commercial, Construction; Quick Closing! Express Capital Financing: 718-285-0806. ________________________________________41-49
Friends Men LOOKING FOR ROMANCE Attractive GWM, warm, sensitive, caring, 48 y.o. with a smooth gymnast build looking for other GWM, 30-50, who is also in good shape. I live in NE Phila. I’m looking for guys who are also sensitive, caring with a fun personality. If this sounds interesting to you feel free to call me, David, 215-698-0215. ________________________________________41-50 WM, NE Phila. If you’re looking for hot action, call 215-934-5309. No calls after 11 PM. ________________________________________41-52 GBM prof looking for P/T GM housecleaner. Call or text 215-350-4997. ________________________________________41-50 Nice bi M seeks partner with great erections for pleasure and possible relationship. Atlantic City, NJ 609-428-7095. ________________________________________41-49 Seeking bondage fun master for sessions 2-3 times/month. Must host. 609-915-0748. _____________________________________________41-48 Philip C., Bruce A., Michael S., Mark S., Jonathan A., Michael F., Troy, Matt, Mat, Adam, Doug, Little Bruce A. and Craig (“Draco”), You’re Princes of my heart. Please text Theodore Michael Gagnon @ 267-966-5469. 202 Roberts Road. Love Teddy Boy. _____________________________________________42-03
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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Dec. 8-14, 2017
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