Philadelphia Gay News
LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976 | VOL. 43 NO. 32 | AUGUST 9-15, 2019|
Family Portrait:
Alex Stompoly
PAGE 19
William Way receives $1 million for renovations
BY LAURA SMYTHE
laura@epgn.com
The William Way LGBT Community
Center will undergo $1 million worth
of renovations thanks to a grant from
Governor Tom Wolf.
The funds, from the Redevelopment
Assistance Capital Program subsidized
by the state’s Office of the Budget, will
go toward updating the organization’s
public spaces, namely the lobby, ball-
room, art gallery and historical archives,
as well as offices. Updated technology,
like modernized lighting and hanging
systems, will be added to enhance the
presentation of the organization’s artistic
and cultural items.
The grant will fund the first part of
William Way’s two-phase redevelopment
plan, with a focus on the front third of
the 1315 Spruce Street location. Phase
Legal brief filed in Morris case Stockholm Pride draws
BY TIMOTHY CWIEK
timothy@epgn.com
Trans attorney Julie Chovanes filed a
legal brief in Philadelphia Common Pleas
Court this week urging transparency in the
Nizah Morris case.
Morris, 47, was a trans woman of color
who was found with a fractured skull in
2002, shortly after getting a
police “courtesy ride” from
the area of 13th and Walnut to
16th and Walnut. Her homi-
cide remains unsolved.
In April 2018, Chovanes
filed a Right-to-Know Law
request with the Philadelphia
District Attorney’s Office,
seeking all Morris-related
records at the office.
Settlement talks broke down
recently, and Chovanes filed
her legal brief on August 5.
Chovanes’ brief relies heavily on a
statement by D.A. Larry Krasner during
a February 2018 press conference. In
response to a question by PGN, Krasner
said: “In reference to the Nizah Morris
| HONESTY | INTEGRITY | PROFESSIONALISM |
Penn looks to “out” PAGE 2 LGBTQ advocacy LGBTQ orgs advocate PAGE 6
trans litigant recognized at youth for Kensington
awards Safehouse
PAGE 19
percent increase in rentable space, and
a two-story event area. William Way is
beginning a “capital campaign to raise
additional funds” for the latter half of the
project, said the organization’s executive
director Chris Bartlett.
“The renovations have emerged out of
a sense that we have, in my opinion, the
most welcoming and inclusive LGBT
city in the country, and we really have
a center that reflects that role,” Bartlett
added. “When we applied for the state
funds, we made the case that this is a
really unique project in that it not only
serves the city, but the region and really
Pennsylvanians from around the state as
THE $1 MILLION GRANT WILLIAM WAY RECEIVED WILL GO TOWARD IN- a beacon of hope, a welcoming space.”
The remodelings will also preserve
CREASING ACCESSIBILITY AND RENOVATING THE LOBBY, BALLROOM, AR-
the history of the center’s building,
CHIVES AND OFFICE SPACES, AMONG OTHER EFFORTS. Image: William Way Bartlett told PGN. The location housed
one renovations will begin within 18 The second phase of renovations will the Engineer’s Club of Philadelphia, one
months, and the center aims to remain add 9,800 square feet of usable space of the oldest professional clubs in the
open throughout the duration. to the community center, including a 51 United States, through- PAGE 5
case, which is not a pending criminal mat-
ter in this office, as you know. It happened 500,000 from across the globe
many years ago and charges were not
brought, although there was a civil lawsuit general of the National Board of Health and
around it. I can say a little bit more than I BY LAURA SMYTHE Welfare of Sweden. Thirty LGBTQ activists
can say about a lot of cases because this is laura@epgn.com occupied the office’s stairwell, calling for the
not something that is being prosecuted at organization to declassify homosexuality as
this time.” Special assignment: PGN spent a mental illness.
Chovanes contends that since the D.A.’s last week in Stockholm for Pride Westerholm’s staff suggested calling the
Office isn’t investigating the matter, its and to learn about LGBTQ issues police, but Westerholm decided to listen to
Morris records should be in Sweden. the activists instead. On Sept. 27, 1979 — a
publicly accessible. But month after the protest — the organization
so far the D.A.’s Office When, as a child, Swedish Parliament dropped homosexuality from its list of dis-
has declined to release its member Barbro eases.
records to Chovanes, other Westerholm first “That has fol-
than a nine-page transcript of saw two gay men lowed me up
Morris 911 recordings tran- holding hands, through these
scribed by a PGN reporter. her father told her, days, and I will
The D.A.’s Office has until “They love each continue to
Sept. 2 to file a reply brief. other in the same work with [the
Oral arguments are tenta- way I love your LGBT commu-
tively set for 9 a.m. Oct. 7 mother; there is nity] on these
in City Hall Courtroom 243, nothing special matters as long
with Common Pleas Judge about that.” as I live,” said
Edward C. Wright presiding. His words rang Westerholm, 86.
The Morris case has been plagued in her ears years Forty years
by irregularities. For example, Officer later, Westerholm NEWCOMERS IN SWEDEN JOINS THE later, LGBTQ
Elizabeth Skala told investigators she said, when she STOCKHOLM PRIDE PARADE. demonstrations
thought Morris lived at PAGE 8 worked as director Photo: Laura Smythe PAGE 19
2 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 LOCAL
PGN

Resource listings Penn seeks to ‘out’ trans litigant

ceed in her own name in this litigation, and
Legal resources BY TIMOTHY CWIEK her motion to proceed in anonymity should
timothy@epgn.com be denied,” the Penn filing states.
• ACLU of Pennsylvania: • Philadelphia Commission The filing also notes that Doe used
215-592-1513; aclupa.org on Human Relations — Rue Officials at The University of her real name in an administrative com-
• AIDS Law Project of PA: Landau: 215-686-4670 Pennsylvania want a federal judge to unseal plaint she filed with the federal Equal
the real name of a trans woman who’s suing Employment Opportunity Commission
215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org • Philadelphia Police Liai- the university and its hospital for medi- in April 2018. In that complaint, Doe
• AIDS Law Project of South son Committee: 215-760- cal malpractice, wrongful termination and stated: “I was discharged from my place
Jersey: 856-784-8532; aid- 3686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com other wrongdoing. of employment because of illegal gender
“Jane Doe” claims she was mistreated discrimination and discrimination against a
slawsnj.org/ • SPARC — Statewide Penn- during a routine medical procedure at the person with a disability. My employer has
• Equality PA: equalitypa. sylvania Rights Coalition: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania destroyed my career by destroying my pri-
org; 215-731-1447 717-920-9537 in February 2018. Four months later, she vacy, causing me to be assaulted and further
was fired from her job at HUP, after the exacerbating my disabilities.”
• Office of LGBT Affairs — hospital allegedly exacerbated her gender Moreover, the defense filing claims that
Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330; dysphoria. using Doe’s real name won’t deter others
amber.hikes@phila.gov On July 2, Doe filed suit in the U.S.
District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania. The defendants include
Community centers HUP, The University of Pennsylvania and
its trustees, various Penn medical staffers
• The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouth- and Penn police officers. The complaints
center.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies. against them include assault, battery, inten-
• LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce tional infliction of emotional distress, anti-
St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu. trans bias, false imprisonment, violation
of privacy rights, sex discrimination and
• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth medical malpractice. Additionally, HUP is
Center charged with wrongful termination
Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 The case has been assigned to U.S.
ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. District Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg. Doe
has a pending request with Goldberg that from filing lawsuits in the future. “[Doe]
• William Way LGBT Community Center she be permitted to move forward with proclaims that ‘trans people are stigma-
1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org. the litigation using a pseudonym. But in tized’ and that ‘there is a public interest in
an Aug. 2 legal filing, defense attorneys prevent[ing] further stigmatization of trans
said Doe shouldn’t be permitted to pro- people and [Doe].’ While the Penn defen-
Health and HIV testing ceed anonymously. They urged Goldberg to dants do not dispute that there is a public
unseal Doe’s real name. interest in preventing further stigmatiza-
• Action Wellness: Spring Garden St.; 215- • Mazzoni Center: Doe’s anonymity request emphasizes the tion of transgender individuals, this factor
1216 Arch St.; 215- 769-3561; bebashi.org 1348 Bainbridge St.; danger that trans people face. “Trans peo- examines
981-0088, actionwell- • COLOURS: colour- 215-563-0652, mazzon- ple are stigmatized,” the request states. whether denying anonymity would deter
ness.org sorganization.org, 215- icenter.org “The abuse they are subjected to ranges other similarly situated plaintiffs from
• AIDS Healthcare 832-0100 • Philadelphia from mocking and harmful comments in bringing
Foundation: 1211 • Congreso de Lati- FIGHT: 1233 Locust the media, to estrangement, suicide and suit. [Doe] has presented no evidence
Chestnut St. #405 215- nos Unidos; 216 W. St.; 215-985-4448, murder.” The request also notes that Doe that this court’s denial of anonymity will
971-2804; HIVcare.org Somerset St.; 215-763- fight.org “has been insulted, isolated and assaulted deter other similarly situated plaintiffs from
• AIDS Library: 8870 for being trans. Based on her experience, bringing forth their claims, and therefore,
• Washington West
1233 Locust St.; aidsli- [Doe] fears that disclosure of her condition this factor weighs in favor of disclosure.”
• GALAEI: 149 W. Project of Mazzoni and the relief she seeks here will bring her The filing concludes by noting that “this
brary.org/ Susquehanna Ave.; Center: severe harm.” [Third] Circuit’s strong presumption of
• AIDS Treatment 267-457-3912, galaei. 1201 Locust St.; 215- But Penn’s filing states that Doe’s request openness weighs heavily in favor of dis-
Fact line: 800-662- org. Spanish/English 985-9206 fails to overcome the strong presumption closure,” and that “[Doe] should not be
6080 • Health Center No. 2: • Transgender that litigants’ real names are to be used in permitted to wage this attack on the Penn
• Bebashi-Transi- 1720 S. Broad St.; Health Action Coali- federal cases. Instead Doe relies on “gener- defendants’ good names and reputations
tion to Hope: 1235 215-685-1821 tion: 215-732-1207 alizations about society’s negative feelings from behind the shield of a pseudonym.
towards transgender individuals” to support The public has the right to know the identi-
her request for anonymity, according to the ties of both [Doe] and defendants.”
filing. Ron Ozio, a Penn spokesperson,
Other “In her publicly-filed complaint, [Doe] declined to comment about the filing. “The
• Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and hurls heinous allegations at the University typically does not comment on
Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 Penn defendants, including acts of ‘trans- pending litigation,” he said, in an Aug. 2
phobic hatred’ and the purposeful commis- email. Holly Auer, a HUP spokesperson,
• Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, Independence- sion also declined to comment.
BusinessAlliance.com of medical malpractice because of ‘hate’ Julie Chovanes, an attorney for Doe,
• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK for transgender people. The Penn also had no comment, and her reply brief
defendants’ good names and reputations on behalf of Doe hadn’t been filed as of
• PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and have been threatened without the benefit of presstime.
Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 using fictitious names in this litigation. Doe is seeking an unspecified amount in
For the sake of fairness and open access punitive and compensatory damages, along
• Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288 to the with reasonable attorney’s fees. A jury trial
courts, [Doe] should be required to pro- has been requested. n
 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 3

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4 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
LGBTQ mental health: The perils of the system
BY VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
Second in a three-part series on
mental health.
President Trump blamed mental health
conditions for the latest wave of mass
shootings in an Aug.5 speech delivered at
the White House when he said, “Mental
illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the
gun.”
In a tweet the day before Trump said,
“We must reform our mental health laws
to better identify mentally disturbed indi-
viduals who may commit acts of violence
and make sure those people not only get
treatment but, when necessary, involuntary
confinement.”
The American Psychiatric Association
responded with a statement Aug. 6, which
read in part, “It is important to note that
the overwhelming majority of people with
mental illness are not violent and are far
more likely to be victims of violent crime
than perpetrators of violence. Rhetoric that
argues otherwise will further stigmatize
and interfere with people accessing needed
treatment.”
There has been no involuntary confine-
ment of people with mental health condi-
tions without proof that they are a danger
to themselves or others since 1964 in
the U.S., when deinstitutionalization acts
began being legislated.
Stephanie Schroeder is a mental health
advocate and the co-editor, with Teresa
Theophano, of “Headcase: LGBTQ Writers
and Artists on Mental Health and Wellness,”
a compendia of writings by people with
mental health conditions as well as mental
health professionals. Included is some his-
tory regarding harm done to LGBTQ peo-
ple by the mental health system.
LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
PGN Phone: 215-625-8501
505 S. Fourth St. Fax: 215-925-6437
Philadelphia, PA E-mail: pgn@epgn.com
19147-1506 Web: www.epgn.com
Philadelphia Gay News
is a member of:
The Associated Press
Pennsylvania Newspaper
Association
Suburban Newspapers
of America
Published by Masco Communications Inc.
© 1976-2019 Masco Communications Inc.
ISSN-0742-5155
PGN
Schroeder explained that the book is
fundamentally “about marginalized people
hitting barrier after barrier which is our
mental health care system.”
One of Schroeder’s personal goals is to
help LGBTQ people with mental health
conditions combat stigma and find help
that is safe and won’t add to any existing
trauma.
Schroeder, who previously authored a
memoir, “Beautiful Wreck,” about her own
experience with bipolar disorder and her
stint in a mental hospital, advises on how
to treat LGBTQ people in the mental
health system. Non-LGBTQ people don’t
understand how LGBTQ people are treated
both within the system and by law enforce-
ment, Schroeder explained. She said she is
“bringing LGBTQ 101” to places like the
shelter where she works where “everyone
is well-meaning, but they just don’t get it.”
One thing Schroeder is adamant about is
how careful people must be when calling
EMS on folks with mental health condi-
tions, particularly when they are trans, non-
binary or gender nonconforming.
Schroeder said it’s crucial people under-
stand that jail is where most people suffer-
ing from mental health conditions will be
taken, though some may be lucky enough
to visit the emergency room. This can crim-
inalize those suffering from mental health
conditions.
While Emma Marcus was taken to the
hospital when she had a psychotic break
during a manic episode of undiagnosed
bipolar disorder, she said, “I probably
would have gone to jail or would have been
shot if I hadn’t been a white woman with a
recognized social services person advocat-
ing for me.”
A gender nonconforming lesbian, Marcus
said she had been under intense stress at her
job for months before the incident and had
been having constant panic attacks.
Philadelphia Gay News
Publisher
Mark Segal (ext. 204)
mark@epgn.com
Office Manager/Distribution
Don Pignolet (ext. 200)
don@epgn.com
Editor
Jess Bryant (ext. 206)
editor@epgn.com
The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned “Editorial” col­umn. Opinions expressed in bylined columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer, and do not
necessarily represent the opinions of PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named or pictured
person or persons.
Copyright © 1976 - 2019 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 its 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
When she didn’t show up for a planned
meeting with her ex-partner, Lara Moore,
Moore went to Marcus’ house to check on
her. She was greeted by a frantic Marcus,
who “seemed out of control and talking
very fast.” Deeply concerned and unsure
what was happening, Moore tried to con-
vince Marcus to go to a doctor or the emer-
gency room. Marcus refused and left the
house. Moore called a close friend, Zora
Taylor, a social worker, as well as Marcus’s
doctor. She then called police, concerned
Marcus might harm herself.
Several hours later, over a dozen police
officers put Marcus in a police van. She
had struck two officers, knocking one to
the ground. Police repeatedly asked Moore
if Marcus was using drugs. She was not.
Moore kept pleading with police not to
harm Marcus, as did Taylor.
Police offered Moore and Taylor the
option of jail for Marcus with assault and
other charges, or a 72-hour hold in a psy-
chiatric ward. They chose the latter. Marcus
was handcuffed and put in a police van.
It took nine hours for Marcus, who was
brought to the hospital by police, restrained
and sedated on a gurney, to be processed.
She was transported to Einstein Medical
Center and admitted for a court-ordered
72-hour examination in a locked psychiat-
ric ward. Marcus has only minimal mem-
ory of the confrontation with police and
none of the first 36 hours at the hospital.
Marcus called the police response to her
“disproportionate” and said, “This is how
people get shot, tased and beaten up by the
cops while lying in the street.”
She added, “In Philadelphia, police have
a remarkable lack of training with mentally
ill people. I didn’t have a weapon. But what
if you’re wearing a jacket and reach for
something?”
When PGN contacted the Philadelphia
Police Department to ask about proce-
Staff Writers
Laura Smythe (ext. 215)
laura@epgn.com
Larry Nichols (ext. 213)
larry@epgn.com
Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208)
timothy@epgn.com
dures and training for dealing with folks
with mental health conditions and LGBTQ
people in particular, the police provided a
16-page PDF on how police should respond
to SMDP: severely mentally disabled per-
sons. Moore and Taylor said virtually none
of what Taylor deemed “really comprehen-
sive” rules for were followed with Marcus.
Taylor said, “The police were not patient,
nor were they gentle with Emma. She was
repeatedly struck. What’s more, they really
wanted to charge her with crimes when she
was obviously…in the street in a near-text-
book case of psychosis.”
Marcus was diagnosed with bipolar dis-
order and has been on medication with con-
comitant therapy since that incident. But
she said her experience left her traumatized
and with a level of fear she didn’t have
before. She had to quit her stressful job and
was unemployed for some time, which spi-
raled into poverty.
Schroeder said many LGBTQ people
suffering from mental health conditions
like Marcus often end up on the street.
Of her own experience, she said, “The
reason I was able to recover was because
I had housing and friends.” She said it
was “pretty damn hard to get life-saving
treatment” and she’s a well-educated mid-
dle-class white lesbian. But she added that
“obtaining meds and not having insurance”
can be a literal killer for LGBTQ people.
She said the system does not welcome
LGBTQ people, nor even, for the most part,
understand them.
Schroeder explained, “Queer people are
at the bottom of the social ladder, facing
every single barrier — barrier after barrier
— to getting the help they need. We have
to work on that, because there’s a crisis out
there that is not being met.” n
Some names have been changed to protect the privacy
of the interviewees.
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 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 5

WILLIAM WAY from page 1

out much of the 20th century. The site
became William Way’s home in 1997,
and has since undergone primarily main-
tenance-oriented renovations, like replac-
ing roofs, Bartlett added.
“My office believes so much in the
William Way as a crucial and lifesaving
resource for LGBT
Philadelphians and their families and
allies,” said State Senator Larry Farnese,
whose purview of Philly’s first Senatorial
District includes the organization.
“The center’s renovations will make a
huge difference in the lives of so many
Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians who
each year turn to it for the resources that
can improve their lives.”
State Representative Brian Sims, who

C elebrate
serves William Way’s district, said he
supports the initiative because he has
experienced firsthand the difference
William Way makes in people’s lives.
“I’ve hosted job fairs and other com-
munity meetings at the center because I
know that everyone feels welcome and
included there,” he added. “These much-
needed renovations will make the center
IN URBAN LUXURY
even more welcoming.”
Barlett said he attributes much of the
center’s success in securing the funding
to project support from both Farnese
and Sims, as well as Mayor Jim Kenney. HOST YOUR WEDDING
William Way applied for the RACP grant
last year but was turned down. The plan- AT PHILLY’S ONLY URBAN
ning process for renovations began four
years ago, Barlett added.
WINERY, LOCATED IN
The improvement ideas emerged from CENTER CITY’S BRAND
a collaboration with Community Design
Collaborative, a local nonprofit that pro- NEW FASHION DISTRICT.
vides pro bono design services to other
nonprofits in the Greater Philadelphia
area. William Way board members, staff,
volunteers and members of the city’s
LGBTQ community who use the center’s
resources participated in a six-month pro- CONTACT OUR EVENTS
cess of choosing the proposed changes. TEAM TODAY!
Participants vocalized their visions
in community-oriented town hall meet-
ings before the Collaborative presented PHILADELPHIAEVENTS@CITYWINERY.COM
William Way with a report mapping out
potential designs and renovation possi-
bilities, Bartlett said. The center’s repre-
sentatives stressed the importance of this
feedback in solidifying the plans.
“The center is for the community, and
we appreciate that so many from the com-
munity have advocated for its growth and
renovation,” said Sue Gildea, co-chair of
William Way’s board.
Barlett said he’s most looking forward
to seeing the renovations in William
Way’s lobby, which he described as “one
of the most welcoming spaces in the
city.”
“There aren’t many places you can
come get off your feet, use the wireless,
drink some filtered water and just relax
with your friends,” he added. “I love
that the center provides that welcoming,
open space, the beautiful art gallery and
archives gallery, and we want to renovate
the space so that it’s even more welcom-
ing, more accessible.” n
6 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
LGBTQ, AIDS organizations join fight to bring safehouse to Philadelphia
BY LEO CALDWELL
PGN Contributor
To combat the opioid crisis, several
Philadelphia LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS
organizations are advocating for a medi-
cally-supervised consumption site in the
city’s Kensington section.
“People are dying at a rate we haven’t
seen since 1996 when effective HIV
meds were introduced. We’ve reversed
overdoses in the waiting room, on the
street and a block away,” said Jane Shull,
CEO of Philadelphia FIGHT.
The medically-supervised consump-
tion facility proposed by Safehouse, a
privately funded Pennsylvania nonprofit
corporation, is based on a harm-reduc-
tion model and would also distribute nal-
oxone, a medication used to counter the
effects of opioid overdose. If the facility
opens, it could be the first in the nation.
Philadelphia FIGHT is one of several
organizations listed on an amicus brief
supporting the proposed facility. The
brief was filed pro bono by global law
firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP on behalf of
Action Wellness, ACT UP Philadelphia,
LGBT Elder Initiative, Pennsylvania
Harm Reduction Coalition, Philadelphia
FIGHT, Prevention Point Philadelphia,
Sero Project, SOL Collective and the
LOCAL
PGN
William Way LGBT Community Center.
The brief is a response to a civil
lawsuit filed in February 2019 by the
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania asking a federal court to
declare supervised consumption sites ille-
gal. The lawsuit argues that the “Control
Substance Act (CSA) provides that it is
wholly unlawful to manage or control any
place, regardless of compensation, for
the purpose
of unlawfully
using a con-
trolled sub-
stance.”
H ow ev e r,
according to
a survey in
the Journal
of Urban
Health, 90
percent of Kensington residents are in
favor of opening the facility proposed
by Safehouse and 63 percent of business
owners and staff in the area support open-
ing the facility.
Along with medically supervised con-
sumption, Safehouse participants would
be offered a physical and behavioral
health assessment, wound care, referrals
to primary care, social services and hous-
ing opportunities.
In 2017, Pennsylvania had the third
highest rate of death by overdose in
the country. In Philadelphia “nearly 3
in 10 Philadelphia residents personally
knowing someone who has died because
of opioid use”, according to The Pew
Charitable Trusts. The same study indi-
cated that 40 percent of Philadelphians
said they know someone who had mis-
used opioids in the previous 12 months.
The LGBTQ community is particu-
larly affected
by addiction.
According to
the National
Institute on
Drug Abuse,
“ L G B T
p e r s o n s
also have a
greater like-
lihood than
non-LGBT persons of experiencing a
substance use disorder.”
Director of Programs and Outreach for
the LGBT Elder Initiative David Griffith
said, “We know that there are many in the
LGBTQ community who are experienc-
ing addiction and that our communities
have been impacted by the opioid crisis.
“We also know that older adults have
been deeply affected by the opioid crisis
due largely to the frequency that seniors
have been prescribed opioids.”
Additionally, high rates of HIV have
been observed in urban areas as a result
of illicit injection drug use according
to the Journal of Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome.
Shull said Philadelphia FIGHT has
seen a jump in HIV cases combined with
hepatitis C. Typically when a patient has
both HIV and hepatitis C, it’s an indica-
tion they may have contracted the viruses
from intravenous drug use.
“There is an epidemic about to break
out,” emphasized Shull.
One study found a 30 percent reduc-
tion in the rate of deaths by drug over-
dose in the neighborhood immediately
around a consumption facility in another
country. Of 1,116 deaths by overdose
reported in Philadelphia in 2018, 334
of those potentially could have been
prevented if opioid users had access to
medically-supervised consumption sites.
An evidentiary hearing is scheduled
for August 19 and 20. Safehouse will
detail how it plans to operate the facil-
ity. The oral argument is scheduled
for September 5. The hearing and the
argument will be in a federal court in
Philadelphia.
Shull said that Philadelphia FIGHT
will be outside the courthouse on August
19 reading the names of those who have
died from opioid overdose. n
 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 7

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8 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
REGIONAL
PGN
NJ nonprofit to assist the
elder LGBTQ community
BY SUZANNAH CAVANAUGH
PGN Contributor
As the youngest of the baby boomers crests
55 this year, the long-forewarned care gap for
the largest generation of Americans is no lon-
ger a distant threat.
With 117-million Americans needing assis-
tance by next year and only a projected
45-million unpaid caregivers available, a care
crisis is on the immediate horizon.
A 2010 MetLife study found that 42 per-
cent of LGBTQ boomers identified as single,
compared to 27
percent of the
general popu-
lation, leaving
the community
at elevated risk
for insufficient
care.
“LGBTQ
older adults
are less likely
to have children, more likely to live alone
and more likely to be disabled,” said Bianca
Mayes, health and wellness coordinator at
Garden State Equality.
Thus, community elders are more likely to
need informal caregivers like friends for sup-
port, she added.
In response to this need, GSE, a New Jersey
nonprofit serving the LGBTQ community,
has launched Elders For Equality, an initia-
tive to combat the lack of connections and
information experienced by many LGBTQs
as they age.
“By the year 2030, there will be over 5-mil-
lion LGBTQ Americans over the age of 50,”
Mayes noted. “This is a growing and import-
ant need, and we must honor our history by
giving support, education and resources for
LGBTQ aging needs.”
LGBTQ older adults also face challenges
like isolation, both from an often youth-fo-
cused community and from peers; outliving
retirement savings; the lack of legal protec-
tions around healthcare and medical deci-
NIZAH from page 1
15th and Walnut and gave her a lift to that
area. But Morris lived three miles away in
West Philadelphia.
Before giving the ride, Skala canceled
medics who were summoned to take Morris
to a hospital due to her being intoxicated.
Shortly after the ride, Morris was dis-
covered by passing motorists at 16th and
Walnut with blunt-force head trauma. She
died 64 hours later, on Dec. 24, 2002.
Skala and two other officers — Kenneth
Novak and Thomas Berry — knew about
the courtesy ride, but none of them docu-
mented it in their patrol logs. They also
didn’t document that Morris was a crime
victim. Instead, she was referred to in their
sion-making; and, following a lifetime of
likely discrimination, the threat of further
stigma in longterm-care facilities, said Mayes.
As a response to the discrimination expe-
rienced in some LTC facilities, she added,
many LGBTQ elders retreat back into the
closet.
“A lot of people who have discriminated
against them when they were younger are now
in those older-adult care facilities alongside
them. [Those hetero or cis adults] have not
been educated about LGBTQ identities and
might be resistant to learning how to be more
inclusive, especially when they have lived
most of their
life uncertain
about LGBTQ
people,” said
Mayes.
A 2018
AARP sur-
vey of LGBT
elders found
that only 22
percent of
respondents felt comfortable revealing their
sexual orientation at a longterm-care facility,
and an estimated 90 percent predicted that
care staff would discriminate against them
for their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Elders For Equality intends to combat these
obstacles, primarily through education. An
inaugural planning meeting Aug. 17 aims to
unite LGBTQ older adults and providers to
brainstorm about future informational pro-
gramming.
GSE already facilitates three programs
designed to support the LGBTQ commu-
nity: Teach and Affirm, geared to youth; Map
and Expand, addressing health services; and
Pledge and Protect, advocating for aging
members.
Elders For Equality seeks to build on the
work of the latter by offering onsite work-
shops and presentations at the request of
longterm-care facilities, including profession-
al-development training for staff, with plans
to provide community-building activities for
LGBTQ older adults in the future. n
logs as a “hospital case” — police jargon
for someone taken to a hospital who isn’t a
crime victim.
In 2003, the police department misplaced
its entire Morris homicide file. Eight years
later, some of those records were located in
the city Archives Unit. But many records
remain missing, including a complete set of
911 recordings relating to the incident.
In 2013, the Police Advisory Commission
called for independent probes of the Morris
homicide by the state Attorney General’s
Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. But
so far, neither agency has agreed to review
of the case. The Morris incident is the only
PAC case that resulted in a call for state and
federal probes. n
 LOCAL
PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 9

Honoring LGBTQ advocates at Sales Representative at PGN

Young Heroes Awards
have this display which asks teachers and
BY SUZANNAH CAVANAUGH students how they support the LGBTQ-
PGN Contributor plus community,” said Miao. “Having
this wall up, it makes our school a more
Angela Zhong was 16 when she orga- inclusive place, and it’s always been a
nized the South’s first Peace Conference. really powerful day every single year and
The two-day event, held at Zhong’s I’ve loved helping to organize it and be a
high school outside of Houston, Texas, part of it.”
in February, educated students about As a Young Hero, Miao also will
human trafficking and hypersexualization be in the running for an additional
as threats dis- honor: The Young
proportionately President’s Award,
affecting minori- which comes with
ties and LGBTQ a $2,000 scholar-
youth. ship. Only one of Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) currently has immediate opening for adver-
“In Houston, the 13 honorees
we have around will be selected for tising sales position available for an energetic, self-motivated individual
17,000 people this award, to be with outstanding communication skills.
[seeking asylum] announced at the
coming in across 16th annual cere-
the border, mony Aug. 15.
Our ideal candidate must have polished sales skills with experience in lead
across Interstate Miao, who will generation and cold calling, combined with a track record of closing the sale.
10, who are attend Washington
being trafficked, University in St. Qualifications: * Two years minimum of successful sales experience, for-
and the major- RANEN MIAO’S DAY OF SILENCE Louis, Mo., said
ity of them are he would use the mer print and/or advertising sales are a plus * Strong verbal and writing
underage — so, students our age,” she funds to continue advocating for voters’ skills * Excellent at relationship building * Ability to work independently
said. “I thought that was a really import- rights in his new city.
ant detail, since a lot of high-school aca- “I’m really passionate about voter reg- and part of a team * Knowledge of local media market and LGBT communi-
demic literature classes have left this sort istration, and I think voters are being
of thing out.” suppressed across this country, whether it
ty a plus * Computer literacy a must
The conference brought students be the purchasing of the polls in Georgia
together for sessions that covered the tell- or the racial dog whistles in Florida or Salary/Benefits: Competitive Salary based on your past experience, plus
tale signs of trafficking, then graduated to the voter-ID laws in North Dakota and commission. Our benefits package includes medical and dental insurance,
discussions about intolerance as an over- North Carolina,” he said. “I think that we
arching issue. It concluded with plans to have to work to strengthen our democ- paid holidays, vacation and a casual work environment.
effect nondiscriminatory policy changes racy by registering more people and
in Houston’s upcoming getting them more involved Qualified individuals interested in applying are encouraged to send their
mayoral election. and notifying them of these
The conference also won really abusive laws.” résumé. to mark@epgn.com
Zhong a national award. Miao’s advocacy aligns
As one of 13 honorees, with the work of this year’s
aged 18 and younger, for Young Heroes Awards key-
the TD Bank Young Heroes note speaker and also a
Award, Zhong will fly to regional native, KC Miller.
Philadelphia to receive her Founder of the Keystone
medal Aug. 15 at a cer- Coalition for Advancing
emony at the National Sex Education, Miller,
Liberty Museum. won a 2017 Young Heroes
Nine of the winners, Award for his extensive
nominated by teachers and work in advocating for the
school advisers, are from ANGELA ZHONG LGBTQ community and
the tristate area. introducing legislation that
Ranen Miao, 18, a rising college fresh- would mandate a comprehensive sex-ed-
man from Short Hills, N.J., was nomi- ucation curriculum for Pennsylvania.
nated by his high-school history teacher “When I won that award, it was actu-
as an advocate for the voting rights of ally a huge boost to a lot of the work and
immigrants. activism I had been doing,” said Miller.
He also was endorsed for organizing a “It really gave me a whole new platform
Day of Silence, a nationally recognized to expand my region, expand my voice
event sanctioned by the Gay, Lesbian and outside of the circles I’d been working
Straight Education Network that urges in.
students and administrators to take a “The National Liberty Museum really
pledge of silence for a single school day allows [award honorees] to take their
to represent the recurrent silencing of work from their communities into greater
LGBTQ-plus students. places. So I’m super-excited for this
“At the end of the day, we also post a year, to help other kids and other youth *PGN is an equal opportunity employer
lot of posters on our school wall, and we allow their voices to be amplified.” n
10 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
Editorial
GAG order
After a weekend of back-to-back
mass shootings in El Paso, Texas
and Dayton, Ohio, an organization,
Gays Against Guns, held a rally with
some 300 members for gun control in
Times Square.
The group, formed in the aftermath
of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in
Orlando, does not only work against
mass shootings but all gun-related
violence, mainly targeting the NRA
and GOP. After 30 lives were lost and
countless more injured this weekend,
in one event that could be prosecuted
as a hate crime, and after Donald
Trump confused Dayton for Toledo in
a speech, the LGBTQ-plus commu-
nity, oft a group victim to violence, is
letting its voice be heard.
In Virginia, outside NRA headquar-
ters, gun control groups like March
for Our Lives — created by students,
including Emma Gonzalez, from
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School — held vigil for victims of
gun violence and chanted the names
of those lost including the 13 Black
transgender women killed so far this
year. Tameka “Michelle” Washington
of Philadelphia was one of those
names.
Simultaneously, State Rep. Candice
Keller, a Republican from Ohio
blamed the shooting on the LGBTQ
community, among other liberal ide-
als.
She said on Facebook: “The break-
down of the traditional American
family (thank you, transgender,
homosexual marriage and drag queen
advocates); fatherlessness, a subject
EDITORIAL
PGN
no one discusses or believes is rel-
evant; the ignoring of violent video
games; the relaxing of laws against
criminals (open borders); the accep-
tance of recreational marijuana; failed
school policies (hello, parents who
defend misbehaving students): disre-
spect to law enforcement (thank you,
Obama).”
Even more unsettling than her
scapegoating of the LGBTQ com-
munity and other elements with no
factual link to mass gun violence was
her mention of “criminals” in relation
to “open borders” just a day after the
El Paso shooting, which investiga-
tors quickly suspected was motivated
by racial animus: Alleged shooter
Patrick Crusius, 21, posted about a
“Hispanic invasion of Texas” and his
intent to kill “hispanics” on a noto-
rious white-supremacy forum some
20 minutes before he opened fire in a
Walmart.
According to data from nonprofit
Gun Violence Archive (GVA), 255
mass shootings have occurred in the
U.S. this year, making 2019 the first
year since 2016 with an average of
more than one mass shooting per day.
The pain of Pulse, even three years
later, is still acute in the commu-
nity. Every subsequent massacre has
ripped open that scar, allowing no
reprieve
for healing. It’s why organizations
like Gays Against Guns show up —
and why they
won’t be shutting up, at least until
this nation stops averaging more than
one mass shooting a day. n
Creep of the Week D’Anne Witkowski
Mychal Massie
The news is a shit show. Trump is doing
his best to prove that most white people
in this country won’t recognize racism
unless it’s wearing a white hood, saying the
N-word and burning a cross on the lawn of a
Black family. Without that precise combina-
tion, well, who can really say what’s racist?
And then there’s the report that yet
another Black transgender woman has been
murdered, this time in South Carolina, and
news of the latest mass shooting in Gilroy,
California.
It’s enough to make anyone sick. But
in order to triple down on terrible news, I
headed to World Net Daily, the repository
for right-wing, pro-Trump, faux-Christian,
conspiracy-driven content.
Lo and behold, I came across Mychal
Massie’s “Sexual misfits and the Democratic
clowns,” which sounds like a bill that
would’ve played at CBGB back in the day
but is actually a column about how LGBTQ
people are bad and the Democrats are bad
for not hating them.
Massie, whose conservative Racial Policy
Center “advocates for a colorblind society”
(because, sure, ignoring racism is definitely
going to make everything better), writes that
Democrats “are manufacturing so-called
transgendered people like polyester leisure
suits were manufactured.”
OK, first of all, it’s “transgender,” thank
you very much.
Secondly, according to a website called
MadeHow, “Polyester is a synthetic fiber
derived from coal, air, water and petroleum.”
This is not how people are made. But that
doesn’t matter to Massie. He finishes his
amazing analogy thusly: “In the near future,
these poor misled souls of delusion will suf-
fer the same regret as those who purchased
those leisure suits.”
In other words, according to Massie,
transgender people will soon be widely
available for sale at local Salvation Army
stores because they’re going to go out of
fashion. I think? It’s a dumb analogy, as it
compares an article of clothing to actual
human beings as if both were equally silly
and disposable.
Did I mention that yet another black trans
woman was murdered? Because that’s what
happens in a society that sees trans lives as
valueless.
Then he launches into a screed against
Megan Rapinoe.
“She plays women’s soccer, but she’s first
known as a lesbian,” Massie writes.
I actually learned about Rapinoe as a soc-
cer player before I learned that she was a
lesbian (though, admittedly, that didn’t take
long).
Massie writes, “Why would anyone want
to be known by his or her sexual fantasies?
To me that screams insecurity.”
I, too, hear insecurity screaming, but it’s
not coming from Rapinoe. It’s coming from
a guy who doesn’t
understand the dif-
ference between
“fantasy” and
“orientation” and
is devoting a big
chunk of his col-
umn to how awful
he thinks Rapinoe
is for living her best
life.
“Just what does
Rapinoe’s being a lesbian enable her to do
better in a team sport other than cause club-
house disturbances and a toxic clubhouse
environment because of the bad attitude
associated with her kind?”
He offers this claim of “toxic environ-
ment” without offering any evidence other
than what he himself associates with “her
kind.” He seems to be arguing that since
Rapinoe’s sexual orientation doesn’t directly
make her playing better or worse, she
should stay closeted because he “will never
approve.”
Massie claims that LGBTQ people are
“miserable.”
“The truth is that they are not happy, and
no matter how hard they try, they will never
be fulfilled because their lifestyles are not
normal,” he writes. “They are not what God
ordained for man and woman.”
And Massie would know, drawing as he is
from (checks notes) his own prejudice and
assumptions, not to mention a religion that
somehow, as if by magic, supports said prej-
udices and assumptions.
“This is the godless and immoral behav-
ior being pushed by every single one of the
Democrat presidential candidates,” he writes
referring to the pro-LGBTQ rights’ posi-
tions held by the Democrats in the running.
And he’s right. Dems are pushing
LGBTQ equality. That is, when they’re
not manufacturing leisure suits. Elizabeth
Warren has a rainbow pantsuit for sale in
her merch store. Not to be outdone, Joe
Biden has a white Elvis-style suit for sale
with rainbow rhinestones that spell J-O-E
down the pant leg and across the jacket
shoulders. Bernie Sanders also has a polyes-
ter suit, but it’s not for sale because it’s just
the one he wears.
“I ask you to look at your children and
family,” Massie concluded. “Is that what
you really want for them?”
Well, yes and no. Do I want my son
and my family to live in a world where
LGBTQ people are affording equal rights
and protections? Yes. But I also hope that
they can live in this world while enjoying
the feel of breathable fabrics. They deserve
that much. n
D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian
living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been
writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow
her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

Mark My Words Mark Segal
Jeff Bezos: Creep of the Week
You know of this man: He’s
the founder and owner of
Amazon.
And you probably know of
“Creep of the Week,” the syn-
dicated column in PGN and
other LGBTQ newspapers
around the nation.
I believe Jeff Bezos should
be its honoree.
Why is he a creep? He
allows his company to sell
Op-Ed Victoria A. Brownworth
National Night Out highlights Philly gun violence
It’s been another week of mass shoot-
ings in America. The killings in El Paso
and Dayton have left 32 dead and 57
wounded, many still in the hospital, at
least 10 critical. A week before, on July
29, there was a mass shooting in Gilroy,
California and another at a graduation
party in Southwest Philadelphia. There
have been more mass shootings in the
country this year than there have been
days, with no end, apparently, in sight.
Gun-related deaths in Philadelphia
are up 7 percent since this time in 2018.
There have been 193 gun-related kill-
ings so far, and more than 600 non-fatal
shootings. In 2018, there were well over
1,000 non-fatal shootings in Philadelphia.
The city consistently ranks in the top 10
for most gun-related shootings and death.
There are more killings in Philadelphia
than in New York or Los Angeles.
Activists blame lackadaisical gun laws
in Pennsylvania; Philadelphia lawmakers
blame Harrisburg’s refusal to act.
On August 6, there was a twilight vigil
at Love Park to protest gun violence
and speak to the urgent need for change.
Dubbed “Love Over Hate,” the rally was
convened by anti-violence advocacy
groups and attended by myriad survi-
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
items that torture LGBTQ
children.
I’m talking about books
that teach or otherwise
espouse the practice of “con-
version therapy” — highly
controversial methods
intended to “cure” youth from
homosexuality.
Those endeavoring to “con-
vert” young subjects employ
techniques like prayer, lit-
vors of gun violence, their families and
others concerned about the wave of gun
violence. Sen. Bob Casey spoke to the
crowd, saying that they had all come to
express their “frustration and anger,” but
also, “We come in solidarity” on the issue
of stopping the carnage.
Pennsylvania’s Republican senator,
Pat Toomey, has teamed with Delaware
Democrat Sen. Chris Coons to unveil
three bipartisan bills that will curtail
gun purchases via background checks.
Toomey made his announcement before a
massive rally in South Philly for the Aug.
6 National Night Out. Toomey said in his
press conference, “What I want to do is
focus on what we can accomplish now
and that is to make it harder for people
who shouldn’t have firearms to get fire-
arms.”
Two people who clearly should not
have had weapons were Connor Betts,
the Dayton shooter, and Patrick Crusius,
the El Paso shooter. The latter with white
supremacy ideology, as detailed in a man-
ifesto he published on 8chan just before
the shooting.
The majority of mass shooters are
young white men with histories of vio-
lence against women and domestic vio-
Tell us what you think
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
erally starving them, locking them up
and/or meting out corporal punishment.
The methods all comprise a modern-day
aversion therapy.
That is torture, and Bezos peddles it.
Conversion therapy also has been
banned in 14 states and by the American
Psychiatric Association, yet Bezos con-
tinues to allow books on the subject to
be sold on his platform.
Many in our community are demand-
ing that he end this practice. Here’s a
lence. The links between such violence
and mass shootings has been reported
extensively but has yet to be addressed.
Betts made a list of potential sexual
assault victims at his high school. He’d
been suspended for that but had been
allowed to return, and no criminal action
was taken. In the years since, Betts had
been in a band, “Menstrual Munchies,”
that glorified violence against women.
The band’s song titles are explicitly
sexually violent. The album art is equally
explicit.
Omar Mateen had a history of vio-
lence against women, also. Mateen was
the shooter at Pulse, a gay nightclub in
Orlando, Florida. The June 2016 incident
was the second deadliest mass shooting
in U.S. history, leaving 50 dead and 53
wounded. The youngest victim, Akyra
Murray, 18, had just graduated from
high school two weeks earlier and was
scheduled to go to college on a basketball
scholarship in August.
Just days later there was a sit-in in
the House led by Civil Rights icon Rep.
John Lewis to address gun violence, but
Republicans wouldn’t even let a bill be
brought to the floor.
On Aug. 5, Candice Keller, a
11
simple suggestion for those amazing
activists who’ve been on the front lines
of this issue: Set a deadline for Bezos’
compliance and create a committee of
activists with knowledge of these books
to assist Amazon in weeding out these
torture manuals.
If Amazon doesn’t comply, demand
that the Human Rights Campaign
revoke the award it gave Bezos and
refuse any additional donations from
Amazon to pro-LGBTQ causes. n
Republican Ohio state representative,
posted a rant on Facebook about mass
shootings being caused by “transgender,
homosexual marriage and drag queen
advocates.” No mention of guns.
In reality, LGBTQ people are increas-
ingly the victims of violence: hate crimes
against LGBTQ are up 17 percent. Nearly
every trans woman murdered this year
died after being shot. Suicide rates are
also up among LGBTQ people and guns
are the top choice of all suicide victims,
male and female, at 51 percent.
In a country with 500 million unregu-
lated guns, the risks for all of us are high.
Betts killed 9 and wounded 27 in less than
a minute before police shot and killed
him.
Domestic terrorism is on the rise in
the U.S., as is violence against women
and LGBTQ people. Gun deaths are up
exponentially across the country. Over
100 people are shot every day in America
and each year 33,000 are killed by guns.
Philadelphia has not had a single day
without a shooting.
The bills from Toomey and Coons are a
start. But so much more needs to be done.
How many more will die before there is
real action? n
12 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
Book explores generational crises for gay men, recent increase in hate crimes
BY LAURA SMYTHE
laura@epgn.com
A New Jersey statistician released a book
that chronicles the lives of 15 gay men across
three generations, evaluating the different hard-
ships and similarities experienced among the
age groups.
“Out in Time: The Public Lives of Gay Men
from Stonewall to the Queer Generation,” writ-
ten by Dr. Perry Halkitis, dean and biostatistics
and urban-global public health professor at
Rutgers University’s School of Public Health,
was published June 3. The book examines a
recent uptick in hate crimes against the LGBTQ
community, racism in the queer population,
and how toxic masculinity impacts gay men’s
health, among other topics.
The book follows five baby boomers, which
correlates to the Stonewall era; five of the
“AIDS Generation,” or Generation X; and five
millenials, or members of the “queer genera-
tion.” Each group is defined by a crisis, Halkitis
said: escaping harassment and arrest during
Stonewall, surviving the virus during the epi-
demic and coping with the poor state of the
economy for millennials.
The book also notes that the crises com-
pound, meaning the “queer generation” is navi-
gating all three challenges. But across the gen-
erations, each experiences a common feeling of
otherness, Halkitis said.
“When you’re five years old, you’re not see-
PGN
ing that there are gay people around you, you may stem from increased reporting). In 2018, LGBTQ liberties through actions like barring
just feel different,” he added. “That feeling of instances of hate crimes rose by 9 percent in trans soldiers from serving in the military
otherness permeates every generation, and if 30 U.S. cities, marking an increase for the fifth and allowing healthcare providers to restrict
unchecked and if made worse by family, and year in a row. services based on their religious beliefs. Hate
made worse by society, I think is the ultimate Trans women of color experience even crimes began to increase around the time gay
source of the psychological distress that gay greater risk of violence, Halkitis said, because marriage was legalized in the country in 2015,
men face and lesbians face and trans people of a triple-minority status that renders them he told PGN.
face.” “the most vulnerable of the vulnerable.” In “It stirred a segment of the population in the
The book was inspired by the notion that 2018, at least 26 trans women were violently United States that holds very traditional beliefs
coming out and liv- killed in the U.S., about marriage to really become even more
ing as LGBTQ has most of them being adamant or vehement or emotional in their reac-
become “a walk in Black, accord- tion,” Halkitis said. “It is then perpetuated in the
the park,” which is ing to the Human last two years by an administration that villifies
an idea popularly Rights Campaign. LGBTQ people or Brown people or women.”
portrayed in media, This year, at least Last weekend, gunfire ripped through a
Halkitis told PGN. 13 trans peo- Walmart in El Paso, Texas, killing 22 people
He was also person- ple, including and injuring at least two dozen. The shooting is
ally motivated after Philadelphia’s own being investigated as a hate crime after police
his cousin’s son came Tameka “Michelle” found a four-page anti-immigrant manifesto
out to a family that Washington, have posted online by the shooter.
struggled to accept been violently mur- Less than 24 hours after the Aug. 3 inci-
him, despite a track dered — all Black dent in Texas, shots erupted in the downtown
record of being lov- trans women. Oregon District of Dayton, Ohio. Nine people
ing and supportive. “OUT IN TIME: THE PUBLIC LIVES OF GAY A d d i t i o n a l l y, were killed.
The relatives even MEN FROM STONEWALL TO THE QUEER LGBTQ advo- Following the shootings, Halkitis said he
attended Halkitis’ GENERATION” BY DR. PERRY HALKITIS. cacy organization hopes the nation has “hit a crescendo” with
own gay wedding. GLAAD’s fifth-an- hate-inspired violence.
“It said to me that: Here’s a young man who, nual Accelerating Acceptance Index, released “In the 1980s, when everyone was dying
on paper, if you do the algorithm, shouldn’t be in June, found a significant decline in support around me, we didn’t stay quiet,” he said. “We
struggling, but, in fact, he is,” he added. for the LGBTQ community among those aged demanded that the government do something to
Hate crimes in the U.S. rose by 17 per- 18-34. save our lives. This is not the time to be quiet,
cent during the first year of Trump’s presi- For Halkitis, these trends indicate “a new this is not the time to make people feel com-
dency, according to data released by the FBI type of crisis” — one perpetuated, he says in fortable about their feelings. It’s time to push
in November 2018 (though some of the uptick his book, by a federal government that erodes back.” n

Local worship centers’ gay marriage policies
BY VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
For years, if same-sex couples wanted a
religious commitment ceremony or wed-
ding, they had only one option, UFMCC
— the United Fellowship of Metropolitan
Community Churches. Founded in 1968,
the church has 222 member congrega-
tions in 37 countries. A mainline Protestant
denomination, UFMCC has special out-
reach to LGBTQ people as part of its
ministry and has long been called “the gay
church.”
But while UFMCC still does weddings
and has always been welcoming to same-
sex couples who wish to be married by
a minister in a religious ceremony, since
states began legalizing same-sex marriage
in 2004 in Massachusetts, and nationally
since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in
2015, same-sex couples have increasingly
sought to have weddings in their own
denominations.
On November 10, 2013, there was a
furor in the United Methodist Church in
Pennsylvania when a Methodist pastor,
Rev. Frank Schaeffer, officiated at the mar-
riage of his gay son, Tim. Schaeffer faced
sanctions for the action and was put on trial
by the UMC for violating church teachings.
Cock ‘n Bull Restaurant
LOCAL
PGN
In solidarity with Schaeffer, 50 Methodist
ministers performed a gay marriage in
Philadelphia at the historic Arch Street
United Methodist Church near Rittenhouse
Square. Rick Taylor and Bill Gatewood,
then 55 and 70, had been together for 25
years and wanted to celebrate that mile-
stone with a marriage ceremony. Taylor
told the Inquirer
at the time that he
and Gatewood did
not want to marry
somewhere else
where gay mar-
riage was legal, like
neighboring New
Jersey, because the
Arch Street church
was theirs and the
ministry had always
welcomed LGBTQ
folks.
Taylor said, “Our church home is here
and means the world to us.”
But not all same-sex couples will find
such welcome within their respective
churches. Those in Judeo-Christian reli-
gions in Philadelphia and New Jersey who
want a church or synagogue wedding may
be blessed or disappointed, depending on
their denomination. While same-sex cou-
ples can legally marry everywhere in the
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U.S. — all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and
American territories like Puerto Rico —
not all religions acknowledge the law.
Taylor and Gatewood’s marriage is still
not sanctioned by their denomination. The
United Methodist Eastern Conference did
not return PGN’s calls, but according to
UMC doctrine, “Based on its teachings, the
United Methodist
Church officially
prohibits the bless-
ing of weddings of
same-sex couples by
its clergy or in its
churches.”
In February the
UMC voted 438-
384 to uphold and
strengthen its ban
on same-sex mar-
riage and same-sex
Photo: Kelly Burkhardt
clergy at the General
Conference in St. Louis.
The Roman Catholic Church is the larg-
est Christian denomination in the world and
the oldest, with 1.4 billion members glob-
ally. There are 70 million Catholics in the
U.S. Catholic doctrine terms “homosexual
tendencies” as “objectively disordered.”
The Philadelphia Catholic Archdiocese,
one of the largest in the country, was suc-
cinct when PGN contacted their offices.
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13
“No, we do not perform or sanction same-
sex marriages.”
The Episcopal Archdiocese, an American
branch of the Anglican church, which is an
off-shoot of Catholicism, had a completely
different response. “Yes, you can get mar-
ried at any of our churches.”
For Jewish members of the LGBTQ
community, there are many Reform and
Reconstructionist synagogues that wel-
come same-sex couples, including the his-
toric Rodeph Shalom synagogue in Center
City and one of the nation’s oldest, Mikveh
Israel, in Society Hill. But same-sex mar-
riage is considered “categorically forbid-
den by the Torah” and Orthodox Judaism
maintains that view.
PGN was unable to get a local response
regarding Islam, which has no central gov-
erning body. But according to HRC, “same-
sex weddings are performed by very few
imams individually,” but says some Unity
Mosques may have different policies.
PGN called several local churches, syn-
agogues and mosques and found a wide
range of responses to the request for a
same-sex wedding. If a religious ceremony
is what you seek, options are certainly
available in Philadelphia, including more
than mentioned here, but still, LGBTQ
couples can be and are turned away at many
places of worship. n
14 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
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LOCAL
PGN
Revisiting a local love story
BY MICHELE ZIPKIN
PGN Contributor
• Partnership & business disputes
• Non-competes Two years after Tommy Berner proposed
• Executive compensation to Anthony Reto on vacation on the island
• Employment discrimination of Mykonos, they vowed to spend the rest
• Real Estate Litigation of their lives together on May 9, 2019, in
a ceremony officiated by their friend Ian
Morrison in Charleston, South Carolina.
• Wills, Living Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney ment in 2017.
Put 18 years of experience to work for you! “We thought that experience was magi-
cal,” Tommy said, “but we had absolutely
no idea what was going to be in store
for us when we decided to have 100 of
our closest family and friends fly down
to Charleston.”
In the three months after the event,
the Berner-Retos finally felt something
they hadn’t yet in 2019 — like they
could relax.
Repairs, Renovations and Remodeling “We already kind of felt married,”
Tommy said. “But what I noticed
(215) 467-3335 immediately, there’s definitely a sense
of calm that there was not for the last
Pa. HIC #026545 year.”
Phila. Lic. #17895 The couple chose their Charleston
“Our” location because of its warm climate as
well as its architectural resemblance to
Family Plumber parts of Philadelphia.
“You’re close to the beach, you have
for over 30 years palm trees, but you also have that whole
historic element to it as well,” Tommy said.
“It’s kind of like Old City but a beach
town,” Anthony added.
They also used some local vendors
including wedding planner Zachary Andrew
Events and Twisted Oaks Studios to photo-
graph their special day.
Though they had slight reservations
about South Carolina’s level of openness
toward the LGBTQ community, the couple
was delighted to find nothing but accep-
tance in the time they were in Charleston.
“Even when we were getting our engage-
ment pictures taken, we had two or three
cars pull over simply to say congratula-
tions,” Tommy said.
The venue their wedding, Lowndes
Grove Plantation, held a lot of heavy his-
toric connotations for the couple.
“It took a lot of thought and consideration
to decide that we were going to run with it,”
Anthony said. “Tommy’s mixed-race; we’re
a gay, interracial couple. Ultimately we
decided this is kind of what brings about
change in the world, is changing stereo-
types.”
The Berner-Retos were conscious about
their decision as they invited a diverse
group of people to their wedding and
wanted to make sure folks knew their cele-
bration was about sparking change.
“That’s really what our marriage was
there to do anyway,” Anthony said. “To
break down borders and really challenge
the system.”
The couple turned their wedding day, a
Thursday, into a wedding weekend by plan-
ning events that would give their guests a
little taste of Charleston. Their friends and
family enjoyed brunch, bowling and ghost
tours around some of the city’s historically
haunted sites; they invited their guests to
spend time on a rented boat for a day; and
spent the last night on a beer crawl.
“Having people from all different fac-
ets of our life come all the way down to
Charleston, and just enjoy their four or five
days there with us, it was magical,” Tommy
said. Their French bulldog Pierogi was also
there with them.
Considering theirs was the first same-
sex wedding that their parents and parents’
friends had ever attended, the couple felt
like this was an eye-opening experience for
them, seeing marriage equality in action for
the first time.
“Particularly our parents and [their]
friends walked away from this really seeing
that a wedding is a wedding is a wedding,”
Tommy said. “That there is no difference,
it’s just really about the love. And I think
they all walked away from our wedding
feeling and seeing that, on top of having a
great time.”
The couple initially met through a Words
with Friends match-up before meeting in
person, so they decided to weave an ele-
ment of that into their wedding with nap-
kins that had Scrabble pieces on them spell-
ing out their names.
Throughout their nearly eight-year rela-
tionship, the Berner-Retos are still more
than happy to be together.
“I’ve never had anybody demonstrate
the level of total 50-50 partnership that I
think that we bring to the table every day,”
Anthony said. “I think that our entire rela-
tionship the past two years has been a give
and take. I’ve never felt beneath or above
my partner, I have always felt 100 percent
even keel.”
In the spirit of a mutual love of travel-
ing, the newlyweds spent three weeks in
Thailand for their honeymoon.
“It was so picturesque and amazing,”
Tommy said.
As for what the future holds, the couple
plans to take things as they come, relish
life as a newly married couple and keep
traveling.
“Nothing’s off the table,” Tommy said.
“We have a really amazing relationship and
a really nice time together, so I just really
want to continue to build on that and see
where life takes us.” n

Queer Marriage Victoria A. Brownworth
DIY your fabulous queer wedding
The average wedding in the USA costs —
wait for it — $33,291.
That’s a down payment on a big house or
half of a world tour or money that is neces-
sary for basic needs.
Weddings can be beautiful, memorable
and oh-so-fabulous without breaking the
bank — or requiring you to rob one.
The key to a less-expensive wedding is to
think everything through. You don’t need a
wedding planner; just a pad of paper, your
beloved and some clear thinking.
Start with a guest list. Weddings are cel-
ebrations, but they are also intimate. With
whom do you want to share this special day?
Less is often more: Invite the people who
matter most — and remember that the more
people, the more expense.
Another way to cut costs is to make your
own invitations.
The venue is often the most expensive part
of a wedding, so consider hosting it at your
home or that of someone close to you.
Outdoor weddings are lovely but weather
is always a wild card. If you have a beau-
tiful yard or access to one, rent a tent to
keep food tables and folding chairs dry in
the event of rain. Tents cost about a dollar
per foot, so most wedding tents, assembly
included, run between $400-$600.
For an indoor wedding, plan to have two
long tables for a buffet lunch or a high tea,
plus enough chairs for every guest. Rentals
for both are relatively inexpensive. Chairs
usually run about $1.50 each through most
rental outfits in the region.
Shop for tablecloths at stores like Ross or
Target and create your color scheme, which
should extend to disposable but heavyweight
plates, cups and cutlery. The options are lim-
itless but you can achieve an elegant look
with just plain white or solid-colored table-
cloths sprinkled with festive adornments.
For fun or whimsical decor, check out
Party City, Target, A.C. Moore or Dollar
General — keeping in mind that guests are
there for you, not to see $2,000 worth of
flowers (that will be dead within a few days).
For theme ideas, think spring — or sum-
mer, fall or winter. For an autumn wedding,
scatter colorful leaves on guest tables; for
winter, opt for sprigs of rosemary; in spring
and summer, go with baby’s breath.
Don’t underestimate the versatility of rib-
bon, strings of beads and greenery like fern
fronds. Or fill Mason jars — usually about
$2 apiece — with wild flowers. For extra
winsome, tie lace ribbons around the jar rims
in loose bows. Add romantic sparkle to any
surface with little silver and gold hearts, sold
by the pack in A.C. Moore’s jewelry-making
section.
If you want to carry bouquets and bou-
tonnieres, these too can be DIY. Gather a
bunch of violets, several birds of paradise, a
waterfall of spider mums or tiny pink, white
or yellow rosebuds and weave some ribbon
through them. Or pin any single bud to wed-
COLUMN
PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 15
ding attire.
Ideally, you should feed guests. The
least-expensive menu options are sandwiches
— easy to handle and, for dressed-up wed-
ding guests, not as messy as finger foods.
Tea sandwiches are elegant and easy to
prepare. Start by getting white, wheat, rye
and pumpernickel sliced bread, and perhaps
a gluten-free option, and thinly piling them
with fillings like cucumber, watercress,
cheeses, ham, egg salad, chicken salad and
avocado. Then use cookie cutters in three
or four different shapes to create the deli-
cate fare. (Hack: Save the breadcrusts and
tear them into bits for an environmentally
friendly post-ceremony shower instead of
rice.)
As tea sandwiches are on the small side,
plan to make at least six per guest. Figure
on needing about six hours to prepare a cou-
ple-hundred sandwiches. Stored in a refriger-
ator in airtight containers, they should easily
remain fresh for up to three days.
To keep guests sated before the sand-
wiches are served, put out salsa, olives,
pickles and wasabi nuts, along with a cheese
board with fruit and a spiral of crudité with
dipping sauce and colorful veggie chips.
Alcohol is expensive. Instead, limit bev-
erages to beer, sparkling wine and sparkling
water. Calculate two beers, two glasses of
wine and four glasses of sparkling water per
guest.
Music is the shuffle you create. It should
be a mix of romantic — jazz, old standards,
pop ballads — and something livelier to kick
the party in high gear. You don’t need a live
band, unless you have musical friends will-
ing to perform for free.
If you can splurge on one element of
your wedding, make it the cake. The
region is chock-full of topnotch bakeries,
where an average wedding cake for 40
people costs about $300. Of course if you
or a loved one is an accomplished baker
and cake decorator, even better: A two- or
three-tiered cake with frosting coordinated
to the color scheme and adorned with fresh
flowers makes a picture-perfect center-
piece, or check out craft-vendor sites like
Etsy for more personal cake toppers, often
at nominal costs.
Finally, the favors — which can be more
personal, and less expensive, than some
clunky ceramic figurines. Consider com-
posing messages to each guest instead.
Weeks before the big event, put aside a
few evenings to write them, using blank
note cards as your personalized canvasses.
Decorate envelopes with the name of each
guest, a special quote and a heart charm.
(Hack: Use the notes as seating cards.)
If you opt for the DIY ideas contained
here and include one splurge, your wed-
ding budget needn’t exceed $2,000 —
and can save your sanity in those inevi-
table post-wedding moments of financial
stress. n
16 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 REGIONAL
PGN

Del. considering offering gender-neutral driver’s licenses

BY LEO CALDWELL
PGN Contributor
Delaware could join Pennsylvania in
offering a gender-designation option of “X”
on state-issued driver’s licenses.
DelDOT’s Director of Community
Relations C.R. McLeod told PGN,
“Ultimately, if there is a way for Delaware
to do this we will; we just have to ensure
that we are federally compliant, so no
timetable until we are able to answer those
questions.”
McLeod noted that Delaware does have
a policy in place for gender designation
changes. The policy indicates a person does
not have to undergo gender-affirmation
surgery to change their gender marker.
However, the two options currently available
for designation are male and female.
He said DelDOT plans to
research how the new des-
ignation in Pennsylvania
impacts the Federal REAL
ID Act. According to the
TSA, “Delaware residents
will need a REAL ID com-
patible driver’s license by
October 1, 2020, if they
want to use it to get onto a
domestic flight, enter certain
federal buildings or enter military
bases.” The act requires a person’s
gender be provided on the ID for identity
purposes.
Shelley Koon, the Chief of DMV
Communications in Delaware, reiterated the
department is in the exploration phase.
The ACLU of Delaware issued
a statement saying the orga-
nization “supports expanded
inclusivity for people who
do not identify as male or
female.”
Washington, D.C. was
the first to offer an option
other than male or female
in 2017. There has been an
uptick in states offering gender
designations outside the binary
on driver’s licenses in the last year.
In June 2018, only three states offered the
option. As of August 2019, 14 states either
will offer or are offering an indication of
“X” while Delaware considers it.
At the same time, the number of folks
using gender-inclusive pronouns — like
“they” — continues to increase. According
to a Pew Study, 30 percent of millenials,
people born between the early ’80s and
mid-’90s, know someone who uses gen-
der-inclusive pronouns compared to only 13
percent of baby boomers, people born in the
mid-’40s-’60s.
The recent wave of states allowing a gen-
der-inclusive option on driver’s licenses runs
parallel to several state initiatives allowing
residents to update their birth certificates
to a gender-inclusive option. At least four
states have an “X” option for birth certifi-
cates. n

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HSA. Que? Ins and outs of
Health Savings Accounts
Q: Some of my coworkers put money into
HSAs. I’m not sure if this is something I
should consider. Can you please tell me a
bit more about how they work?
A: Thanks for this question. Many more
people today understand the potential ben-
efits of contributing to a Health Savings
Account (HSA). Here’s what you should
know to determine if this may be a good
choice for you.
Lowering Your Tax Bill with
an HSA -— Today and in
Retirement
For years, Americans have
been schooled on the bene-
fits of saving: for retirement,
a child’s higher education and
even a rainy day. It’s time to add
another item to that list: health
care. As health insurance pre-
miums, deductibles and copays
rise, the need to set aside funds,
specifically for medical costs, Out Money
has become a reality for a grow-
ing number of people.
Enter the health savings
account (HSA). Created in
2003, HSAs are special savings accounts
that can be used to pay for out-of-pocket
health care costs. Contributions are gen-
erally tax deductible, and withdrawals for
qualified costs are tax free. What’s more,
since unused balances can be carried over
from year to year, they can be used to fund
health care costs today and in retirement.
But some restrictions do apply. Here is
a summary of HSAs and their different
features:
Eligibility
You can open an HSA, whether through
your employer or on your own, provided
you:
• Are currently covered by an HSA-
qualified high-deductible health plan
(HDHP).* For 2019, that deductible
must be at least $1,350 for single cover-
age and $2,700 for family coverage;
• Do not have other health coverage
(although certain types of insurance are
allowed, such as dental and vision care);
• Cannot be claimed as a dependent on
someone else’s tax return; and
• Are not enrolled in Medicare.
Contributions
Your contributions to an HSA are tax
deductible and there are no income or
phase-out restrictions. Employers can make
nontaxable contributions on behalf of their
employees. But the annual limits listed
below still apply.
• For 2019, singles can contribute up to
$3,500 and families can put away up to
$7,000.
• If you’re 55 or older anytime in 2019,
COLUMN
PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 17
you can contribute an extra $1,000.
• Contribution limits are adjusted annu-
ally for inflation.
Withdrawals
You can tap into your HSA tax and pen-
alty free to pay for any “qualified medical
expense” incurred on behalf of you, your
spouse or your dependents. Below is a par-
tial list. See the IRS website for more detail
on qualified expenses.
Qualified expenses:
• Preventative care, including
doctor visits and screening ser-
vices
• Prescriptions
• Dental care
• Vision care
Unqualified expenses:
• Insurance premiums (limited
exceptions apply)
• Non-prescription drugs (except
insulin)
• Expenses incurred before you
Jeremy establish your HAS
Gussick Note that any withdrawals
that aren’t for qualified medical
expenses are taxable and may be subject to
an additional 20 percent tax.
Additional Features
HSAs can be invested in a variety of dif-
ferent vehicles, and interest accumulates
tax free and if you leave your job, your
HSA goes with you.
Once you reach Medicare eligibility age
(currently age 65), you can take withdraw-
als from your account for any reason with-
out penalty, not just for medical expenses.
But be warned: If not used for medical care,
withdrawals are no longer federally (and in
some cases, state) tax free.
Upon your death, your HSA can be
passed along to your surviving spouse.
Unmarried individuals can pass the account
to their beneficiary or estate; however,
applicable taxes will apply.
If an HSA sounds like it might work
for you, contact your employer to see if it
offers one, or open one directly through one
of the many online providers. n
Jeremy R. Gussick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL
PLANNER™ professional affiliated with LPL
Financial, the nation’s largest independent bro-
ker-dealer.* Jeremy specializes in the financial
planning and retirement income needs of the LGBT
community and was recently named a 2018 FIVE
STAR Wealth Manager as mentioned in Philadelphia
Magazine.** He is active with several LGBT organi-
zations in the Philadelphia region, including DVLF
(Delaware Valley Legacy Fund) and the Independence
Business Alliance (IBA), the Philadelphia Region’s
LGBT Chamber of Commerce. OutMoney appears
monthly. If you have a ques- PAGE 18
18 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 COLUMN
PGN

Add recovery to your routine

Physical activity is important for lon-
gevity, increasing energy levels, reducing
stress, weight management and much
more. While people are aware of the ben-
efits of physical activity, not everyone
thinks about recovery.
Once starting a fitness regimen, it
is common for someone to
of specific weight training, and maybe one
or two days of high-intensity workouts. A
workout regimen is like a balanced diet.
Every person is physiologically different
and has different goals; this requires very
specific workout routines.
The same concept applies to recovery.
Some people may take one or

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fear taking a day off because two days off of exercise, oth-
they feel they may lose their ers a week every couple of
momentum, progress they’ve months, and still some may

2019 in Journalism Award made or even back slide.

However, recovery is just as
important as working out.
structure their workouts so
that they have a light recov-
ery day, also known as an
Even though the fitness active recovery day. The more

Excellence in Newswriting, world is inundated with say-

ings like “go hard or go home,”
active or athletic someone is,
the more likely they may have

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recovery is necessary and say- an active recovery day, which
ings are often cliché and inac- could include a brisk walk,
curate.
Body Ulight jog, recreational swim

To: Adriana Fraser for

The point of working out or pick-up game. Inevitably,
is so that the body adapts and Megan Niño an active recovery day means
changes. This is a process that someone participates in activity
happens over and over again that differs from their regular
with a progressive program. routine. Proper recovery will
Changes and adaptations are the product prevent overtraining. Overtraining can
of stress and strain being applied to the lead to injury, muscle damage, a plateau
body. When someone lifts weights for in performance or results and exhaustion,
example, muscle fibers are being torn, despite having good sleep. Someone may
fluids are being lost and muscle glycogen also become sick more often and feel a
is being depleted. It is not until we refuel general achiness. Here are some ways to
and rest that these fibers begin to repair, prevent overtraining:
grow, and increase in strength. Recovery
allows the body to heal and helps improve 1. Plan your week with a balanced
performance. exercise and recovery program
According the American College of 2. Nourish your body
Sports Medicine (ACSM), adults should 3. Prioritize your sleep
get around 150 minutes of moderate to 4. Maintain your range of motion and
intense cardiovascular exercise a week and include myofascial release
should weight train each major muscle 5. Reduce daily stress
group 2-3 times per week. While this is
the general standard, it is OK to train 3-7 Exercising and proper recovery are
days a week with proper programming. important factors to gaining optimal
A good program may include cardiovas- results. Recovery will help you feel stron-
cular training 2-3 days a week, 2-5 days ger, more mobile and less tired. n

“Philly’s First Out Trans Police Officer Bur-
ied as a Man,” Philadelphia Gay News
OUT MONEY from page 17
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Jeremy R. Gussick is a Registered Representative
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This article was prepared with the assistance of DST
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Because of the possibility of human or mechanical
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 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 19

LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

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MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE MARCH IN STOCKHOLM Jeremy R. Gussick, MBA
PRIDE. Photo: Laura Smythe CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
STOCKHOLM from page 1 Sweden took in more than 160,000 refugees, mostly 856-452-0060
look much different in Sweden. About 500,000 peo- from war-torn countries like Syria and Iraq.
ple from around the globe convened in the capital Moein, who didn’t want his last name published, jeremy.gussick@lpl.com
city Aug. 3 for Stockholm’s 21st-annual Pride Parade is a gay man who moved to Stockholm recently from
— the largest such event in Scandinavia and the rain- Iran — where being gay is punishable by death.
A Registered Investment Advisor Member FINRA/SIPC
bow gem of nearly a week of Pride celebrations. Stockholm’s celebration was his first Pride, and he
Upwards of 50,000 marchers snaked their way said he was happy to see many children in atten-
through central Stockholm, beginning at City Hall dance. PARTNERS IN LAW
and ending at Pride Park, in the sports ground “They can know that something like that exists PARTNERS IN LIFE
Östermalm IP. Here, music artists including The and these are also humans,” added Moein, noting the
Village People, Pussy Riot and Icona Pop performed celebration sets an example for more-conservative
throughout the week. countries. “When we make them know something
Parade participants waved signs with statements like that, then in the future everybody accepts all
like, “No Pride for some of us without liberation kinds of people, so it’s like a rainbow. It’s beautiful
for all of us,” “The one who flees has no choice, no when it’s different, when you really see the variety.”
human is illegal” and “It’s real, you’re real and you It was also the first Pride for Tyler Zammam, 17, a
deserve to have a real, full, happy life.” gay trans man from Syria. He said he hopes the event MINSTER & FACCIOLO, LLC
On top of commemorating 40 years since the teaches people to accept differences in others.
declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness, “I never get to associate with people that are like • WILLS & ESTATES •
this year’s Stockholm Pride marked a decade since me, so it’s like the first time, and I find it so fun,” he • DISCRIMINATION •
same-sex marriage was legalized in Sweden, as well told PGN, adding, “You can be whoever you want at • SMALL BUSINESS •
as the 50th anniversary of the internationally recog- Pride; dress however you want.” • DIVORCE •
nized Stonewall Riots. For Beatrice Svedlund, 26, from the Swedish city • EMPLOYMENT •
Board members of the Stockholm Pride Gävle, it was her first Pride as an out lesbian. She • REAL ESTATE •
• CIVIL ACTIONS •
Association, the nonprofit that organizes the city’s attended with her girlfriend, Michaela Hasanovic,
• AUTO ACCIDENTS •
Pride, said this year’s theme — “We are needed” — 31, of Stockholm. • POWER OF ATTORNEY •
addresses a common question in Sweden: Do we still “Even in Sweden, there are still a lot of places • PRE-NUP AGREEMENTS•
need Pride in 2019? where people don’t come out,” Svedlund said. “So I
“We want to use this theme to raise all the ques- think it’s very important that we can be role models 215-627-8200 PA
tions, from specific laws that are missing or need both to our country and to other countries.” 302-777-2201 DE
to be evolved and also the social situation, which is Hasanovic said she hopes Stockholm Pride can 521 S. 2ND ST., PHILA., PA
quite different in Sweden depending on where you normalize the LGBTQ community for others. APPT. ALSO AVAIL IN DE & NJ
live, how old you are, if you’re through school or “I hope that [spectators] will learn that everybody
your workplace,” said Vix Herjeryd, president of the is equal, that being gay is not wrong and that there is
Stockholm Pride Association board. a lot of love here,” she added.
Parade participation from Sweden’s highest-rank- Swedish LGBTQ rights activists are now focused
ing elected officials and military officers, the on lifting the country’s ban on surrogacy, as well as
Stockholm police force and various LGBTQ activ- finding research on the results of gender-affirming
ists and organizations sets this Pride apart from other surgeries in other nations to develop supportive pro-
celebrations around the world, Herjeryd added. cedure guidelines procedures for young trans people,
Stockholm Pride also offers an International Westerholm said.
Solidarity Fund, which helps finance LGBTQ cele- The goal of Stockholm Pride is to have everyone
brations in other European cities, including Moscow; better understand the “We are needed” theme while
Zagreb, Croatia; Warsaw, Poland; and Riga, Latvia. working toward accomplishing such feats, Herjeryd
Several organizations representing Stockholm’s said.
immigrants from countries like Mexico and Taiwan “I hope that people take away this year’s theme —
— the first country in Asia to legalize gay marriage that we are needed to continue this work — and that
— also joined the parade. One of the largest cohorts you have met a lot of people, you got a bigger net-
was Newcomers, an organization for LGBTQ refu- work and that you are filled with energy to continue
gees and immigrants living in the capital. In 2016, the work for the rest of the year,” they said. n
20 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 PGN
 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 21

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PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com April 26- May 2, 2019 1

The Philadelphia Gay News won eight Keystone Press Awards this year, an honor that
recognizes professional excellence and journalism that “consistently provides relevance,
integrity, and initiative in serving readers, and faithfully fulfills its First Amendment
rights/responsibilities.” The Keystone Press Awards are sponsored by the Pennsylvania
NewsMedia Association.
 
PGN earned top honors in the categories of investigative reporting, news, ongoing news
coverage, news beat reporting, series, news photo, photo story/essay, and diversity, for
Division V — weekly publications that have a circulation over 10,000.

Second Place Honorable Mention Second Place

Timothy Cwiek Scott Drake Timothy Cwiek
Investigative Reporting: Coverage of Photo Story/Essay: Pride 2018 News Beat Reporting: PGN courts’ cover-
the Nizah Morris case age

Second Place Honorable Mention Honorable Mention

Second Place
Scott Drake Kristen Demillo Timothy Cwiek
Jen Colletta
News Photo: Dr. Martin Luther King General News: “Upscale Cancun resort Ongoing News Coverage: Coverage of
Series: Family Forward
Installation rejects same-sex wedding.” Foster Care Dispute

International
France ponders giving
lesbians, single women
access to IVF
Single women and lesbians in France
won’t have to go abroad to have children
anymore under a proposed new law that
would give them access to medically-as-
sisted reproduction for the first time.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s
government has presented a draft law
on bioethics that includes expanding
the eligibility for treatments such as
artificial insemination and in vitro fer-
tilization, or IVF. French law currently
restricts assisted reproduction to infer-
tile heterosexual couples.
The assisted reproduction bill is sure
to prompt strong debate next month
in parliament, where Macron’s centrist
party has a majority. It comes five years
after mass protests against same-sex
marriage in France, which was legal-
ized, and as Macron’s popularity has
slipped due to yellow-vest protests over
his economic plans.
With the proposed bill, the French
national health care system would cover
the cost of assisted reproduction for all
women, under an age limit yet to be set,
for four rounds of treatments for each
pregnancy. The bill also allows sperm
donor anonymity to be lifted on demand
by donors’ children when they reach 18,
instead of the strict donor anonymity
that now exists in France. The proposed
law would not lift the French ban on sur-
rogacy.
The law would keep babies and moth-
ers from running afoul of the French
legal system and give them access to the
country’s generous health care system.
The changes were a key demand of
French LGBT rights groups after France
legalized same-sex marriage in 2013.
Cyprus criticizes Orthodox
bishop for insulting gays
An official said the Cyprus gov-
ernment is “greatly troubled and dis-
mayed” by an Orthodox Christian
bishop’s comments on homosexuality,
which he said needlessly stirred up
social tensions on the Mediterranean
island nation.
Government spokesman Prodromos
Prodromou said July 30 that Morphou
Bishop Neophytos’ remarks clash with
Cyprus’ laws protecting the rights of
all its citizens. The bishop claimed that
homosexuality is transferred to unborn
INTERNATIONAL
PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 23
children if a pregnant woman has anal
sex, a comment that has no basis in sci-
ence.
Prodromou said the bishop’s remarks
“insult the dignity and injures the rep-
utation” of many citizens and should
be retracted. He said Cyprus’ human
rights commissioner also considers the
remarks discriminatory.
The bishop was speaking at a June
lecture, citing what he said were an
Orthodox saint’s views about homosex-
uality.
LGBT pride parade in
Amsterdam features boats
as floats
Tens of thousands of spectators lined
an Amsterdam canal to watch a parade
of decorated boats during the Dutch cap-
ital’s LGBT Pride festival.
Organizers said 80 boats officially
took part in the canal parade on Aug.
3, including ones representing Dutch
police, the military and an undertakers’
organization.
Ahead of next years’ summer
Olympics in Japan, a vessel representing
Tokyo’s LGBT community participated,
too.
The annual parade was the highlight
of Pride Amsterdam, which ended Aug.
4. The theme of this year’s nine-day fes-
tival was “Remember the past, create the
future.”
Like pride events around the world
this summer, the Amsterdam event came
50 years after a police raid of a gay bar
in New York, the Stonewall Inn, set
off riots and catalyzed the modern gay
rights movement.
Lebanon music festi-
val cancels show after
Christian pressure
Organizers of a multi-day Lebanese
music festival said they are cancelling
a planned concert by a popular Mideast
rock band whose lead singer is openly
gay.
The move comes following calls by
some Christian groups for the perfor-
mance to be scrapped, calling the band’s
songs an insult to Christianity.
The concert by Mashrou’ Leila has
been at the center of a heated debate
about freedom of expression after
church leaders set off a storm of indig-
nation. The calls were followed by
online threats suggesting that the con-
cert would be stopped by force.
The group was scheduled to perform
in the coastal city of Byblos on Aug. 9.
The organizers issued a statement July
30 that said they were forced to stop the
show “to prevent bloodshed and safe-
guard peace and stability.” n
Reporting via Associated Press
24 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 NATIONAL
PGN
Media Trail
Virginia Republicans deny
censure of GOP rep. who wed
two men
The Roanoke Times reported a group of
Republicans tried but failed to censure a GOP
congressman for failing to uphold the party’s
values by officiating a gay couple’s wedding.
The Fifth Congressional District
Republican Committee held a closed session
July 27 to discuss reprimanding Rep. Denver
Riggleman.
Committee member Wendell Johnson
then introduced a motion in open session to
express formal disapproval of Riggleman’s
act for “failing to uphold the Republican
Party platform” on same-sex marriage.
Committee chairman Melvin Adams said
the motion was out of order. Committee
member Diana Shores motioned to overrule
Adams, but only four people voted in favor,
so the motion and censure effort failed.
Riggleman wed two of his campaign volun-
teers on July 14.
Rally to demand continued
transgender access to health
care
discrimination for firing her because she’s in
a same-sex marriage.
Lynn Starkey filed her federal lawsuit July
29 against the archdiocese and Roncalli High
School.
The suit accuses the archdiocese and the
Indianapolis school of retaliating against her,
subjecting her to a hostile work environment
and discriminating against her on the basis of
her sexual orientation.
The archdiocese said in a statement that
Starkey had “knowingly violated” her con-
tract by entering into a same-sex marriage,
“making clear that she disagrees with the
Church’s teaching on marriage.”
Archbishop Charles Thompson has said the
recent firings of gay teachers at two Catholic
high schools were about upholding church
teachings on marriage and not sexual orienta-
tion.
Alabama sued in transgender
driver’s license case
ABC News reported a federal judge is
questioning Alabama’s requirement for a
transgender person to undergo gender-affir-
mation surgery to change gender designation
on driver’s licenses.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson held
a hearing July 30 on the lawsuit filed by
three transgender individuals challenging the
requirement as unconstitutional.
Thompson declined to issue an immediate
order and will rule later if the case will go to
trial.
Thompson noted the violence faced by
transgender individuals. He said a license
gender that contradicts public appearance will
disclose a person as transgender. He said they

LET'S TALK
Supporters of transgender rights staged a
rally in downtown Boston to demand contin-
ued federal protections for transgender people
who need health care.
Activists and advocates planned to gather
“might as well have a scarlet letter T.”
A state attorney argued Alabama has an
interest in proper identification and has a sim-
ple rule on the matter.
ACLU attorney Gabriel Arkles said states
shouldn’t be forcing medical decisions.

ABOUT
at City Hall Plaza July 28 to protest the
Trump administration’s proposed rollback of
the Health Care Rights Law.
Utah high court allows sur-
Organizers said they’re mobilizing in rogacy agreements for gay
response to a U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services proposal that would tell couples

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health care providers and insurance compa-
nies to ignore the law, which is designed to
guard against gender discrimination. It was
enacted as part of the Obama administration’s
Affordable Care Act.
The Massachusetts Transgender Political
Coalition said flouting the law “will deny
transgender people access to live-saving
care by falsely telling doctors, hospitals, and
insurance companies that they can turn away
transgender people.”
Gay counselor sues
Indianapolis archdiocese over
her firing
The Indianapolis Star reported a gay
guidance counselor is suing the Catholic
Archdiocese of Indianapolis, accusing it of
The Deseret News reported the Utah
Supreme Court said language in a state law
that prevented gay couples from reaching a
workable agreement with a surrogate to bear
their child is unconstitutional.
An opinion released by the high court
Aug. 2 threw out that section of law because
it denied same-sex couples a benefit long
enjoyed by a husband and wife in Utah.
The decision says “same-sex couples must
be afforded all of the benefits the state has
linked to marriage.”
The law in question allowed judges to
approve surrogacy agreements if the intended
mother, meaning a woman, could not bear a
child or the pregnancy would be risky.
A judge had refused to approve an agree-
ment between a surrogate and a gay couple
because both partners were male. n
Reporting via Associated Press

ARTS & CULTURE
Q PUZZLE: PAGE 32 FAMILY PORTRAIT: PAGE 33
Pop-up cabaret hopes to instill civic pride
BY CAMERON KELSALL
PGN Contributor
What do opera superstar Stephanie
Blythe, international performance artist
Justin Vivian Bond and local drag-scene
staple Martha Graham Cracker have in
common? This September, all three — and
many more — will appear as part of Late
Night Snacks, a pop-up cabaret venue in
South Philly that will offer nightly enter-
tainment from Sept. 7-29.
Late Night Snacks is the brainchild
of out performer John Jarboe, a Philly-
based actor, director and founder of The
Bearded Ladies Cabaret, a highly regarded
gender-bending performance troupe. To
make the endeavor a reality, the Beards
(as they’re colloquially known) have part-
nered with an impressive group of backers,
including Opera Philadelphia, FringeArts
and the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs.
The concept grew out of last year’s
Philadelphia Fringe Festival, where Jarboe
and the Beards were debuting “Do You
Want a Cookie?,” their exploration of cab-
aret’s queer history.
“’Cookie’ was such a glorious proj-
ect for us, and we had such a great time
collaborating with local and international
cabaret artists,” Jarboe told PGN. “Late
Night Snacks started as a last-minute
addition to ‘Cookie,’ which was the main
event.”
After certain performances of ‘Cookie,’
MESSAPOTAMIA LEFAE
FEATURE
PGN
THEATER: PAGE 26
the performers and audience members
would stick around, reveling until the wee
hours and creating community through art.
Jarboe relished the opportunity to collab-
orate with a diverse array of entertainers.
“We would put artists together in
unlikely pairings, and they would do
something experimental or new,” he said.
“The work was so healing and funny and
risky — and sometimes bad.”
Jarboe quickly noticed that these con-
fabs filled a gap in the Fringe ecosystem.
“In crazy festival time, when there are so
many artists in the city, you want some
place to go and chat about what you saw,”
he said. “We had created that space.”
It’s an environment Jarboe and the
Beards hope to cultivate over the next
three years, as Late Night Snacks takes
up residence in different “found” venues
across the city.
This year’s location, at 1316 S. Perry
Street, is a former auto-body shop. The
interior will be designed by international
theater artist Machine Dazzle and will fea-
ture cocktails created by bartenders from
Old City institution Sassafras and the late,
lamented Tin Angel.
The 2020 Late Night Snacks venue
will be in West Philadelphia, with a 2021
venue announced at a later date.
“We’re going to be popping up in dif-
ferent neighborhoods, which is very excit-
ing. The idea is to use the cabaret form to
engage the local community of artists and
audiences, to bring in other artists who are
Photo: Ben MacMaster
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
OUT COMIC’S
NEW ALBUM
PAGE 31
COMICS: PAGE 34
COOKIE DIORIO
in town because of the Fringe Festival and
to start making local-global connections.”
Performers will be announced mid-Au-
gust. Jarboe promises an eclectic mix of
artists from different disciplines, includ-
ing opera, musical theater, punk rock,
performance art and traditional cabaret.
“Every night is a different program
and has at least two artists, and a differ-
ent host,” Jarboe said. “The idea is that
they’re unlikely love affairs. They’re one-
night stands between artists you normally
wouldn’t see together. And because these
artists are an unlikely pairing, the audi-
ences will be as well. We are trying to
cross-pollinate the city.”
Jarboe sees this as a natural extension of
cabaret’s legacy, he said.
“When the form started in Paris, it was
middle-class artists going to rural areas,
attracting the locals and mixing them with
these bourgeoisie who were leaving the
city in search of cheap alcohol,” he said
with a laugh. “It was often artists who
were dissatisfied working in the high arts
who wanted to experiment. They were
poets, painters, composers. The very form
itself has its roots in interdisciplinary col-
laboration and in the creation of diverse,
heterogeneous spaces.”
Although the project promises interna-
tional participants, homegrown perform-
ers will be given pride of place through-
out.
“It’s very important to us that we’re
centering the neighborhood,” Jarboe said.
“Artists who are local to Philly — and
especially those who are local to South
25
ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS: PAGE 30
Photo: Johanna Austin
Philly — will be featured prominently
on the bills. We’re working with local
organizations to make sure that we are in
conversation with the neighborhood in a
healthy way.”
The Beards are also committed to mak-
ing the experience as inclusive as possi-
ble. Tickets will be priced on a sliding
scale and no one will be turned away for
lack of funds.
“If you want to have a fancy evening
and spend a lot of money, you can do
that,” Jarboe said. “But if you want to see
a show and can only afford a drink, or not
even that, you should be able to get in. We
are holding tickets at the door to prioritize
walk-ups, and we have different prices for
different nights that are made in conversa-
tion with the artists.”
Ultimately, Jarboe hopes that Late
Night Snacks will shine a spotlight on the
bounty of the local creative community.
“I want people to leave the space with
some value and apprecia-
tion for cabaret and for the
cabaret community in our
city and with a sense of
civic pride,” he said.
“Because Philly is full
of amazing artists.” n
JOHN JARBOE
Photo: Johanna Austin
26 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 THEATER
PGN

Local art collective takes on

David Lynch
It was the
BY CAMERON KELSALL beginning
PGN Contributor of my love
affair with
Weird. Wild. Fascinating. Upsetting. his work
These words and many more describe and has
the world of David Lynch, the master- shaped a lot
mind behind “Eraserhead,” “Blue Velvet” of the work
and “Twin Peaks.” Lynch’s aesthetic I have been
has proven irresistible for artists — like drawn to
Michael Osinski, local out director and throughout my career.
founder of The Antitode, a collective of JH: David Lynch is my favorite director of
artists creating productions that “blend all time. I deeply love everything he’s put
contemporary pop culture with classic into the world. I got to see him at the Free
plots to create a new way of telling sto- Library of Philadelphia about a month
ries.” before “Twin Peaks: The Return” was
The Antitode’s newest production, “Red announced, and he said something I’ve
Lodge, Montana,” was conceived after never forgotten: “As an artist, you have a
Osinski watched the 2017 reboot of “Twin responsibility to stay true to the idea you
Peaks.” Part of the Philadelphia Fringe fell in love with.” I feel like David Lynch
Festival, “Red Lodge Montana” will run puts on screen exactly what he envisions
Sept. 7-15 at the BOK Building in South in his head, which I’ve tried to stay true to
Philly. in my own work.
In advance of the production, the col- MO: I came to the David Lynch party a
lective will be hosting a Lynch-themed little late. I was introduced to him by a
fundraiser on Aug. 17. PGN spoke with friend I was living with after college, and
Osinski and cast members Josh Hitchens she basically made me watch the entire
and Amanda Schoonover about the cre- “Twin Peaks” series. Most of his work
ative process, their histories with Lynch has appealed to me because he’s really
and, of course, pie. good at piercing through the veneer in
our daily lives and uncovering the dark
PGN: How would you describe your rela- stuff we don’t necessarily want to con-
tionship to David Lynch and his work? front. From a form standpoint, I love
AS: I first discovered David Lynch when stories that are told in a circuitous way,
I was about 11 years old. I grew up in and he doesn’t spoon-feed answers to his
a remote area of Pennsylvania, and we audience.
didn’t get a lot of television reception, but
PGN: How does “Red Lodge, Montana”
we did get some public access channels
engage with “Twin Peaks” (and Lynch in
that would play old movies. One night
general)?
they aired “Eraserhead” for a midnight
MO: We use all of his work as a jump-
movie showing. The film upset me so
ing-off point, and it’s also an unapol-
much that I got sick to my stomach. I was
ogetic love letter to him. We created it
absolutely shocked, horrified and thrilled.
A PROGRAM OF
simply because
we all love David
Lynch’s work,
and we wanted
to see what kind
of weird, kooky
thing we could
make. We had no
set intention about
what the content
would be.
AS: “Twin Peaks”
is only a small
part of David
Lynch’s body
of work, so it
can only be a
small part of our
show as well.
(Spoilers?)
JH: “Inland
Empire” [a 2006
Lynch film] was
also a big influ-
ence on us, which
AMANDA SCHOONOVER, TERRILL BRASWELL is way out on the
Photos: Kelly McCaughan other PAGE 28
 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 27

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Spirituality • Sexuality • Relationships • Self-Esteem
28 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 PGN

DAVID LYNCH from page 26

end of weirdness and comprehension (or
lack thereof).

PGN: The Antidote has played with ideas

of gender and sexuality in past shows.
Lynch is not a queer artist, but what do you
think makes his work attractive for consid-
eration through a queer lens?
AS: Lynch’s work is definitely from the
straight white male gaze. Our company,
however, spans the entire queer and gender
spectrum, so we decided we needed to filter
his work through our lens. We are exper-
imenting with many of his themes (love,
objectification, violence) and how they play
out when gender and sexuality go against
the traditional, expected casting.
MO: A lot of Lynch’s work tends to feature
a female body up against violence, and we
decided from the beginning that we did not
want to perpetuate that imagery. And Alan,
the character played by Josh, is showcas-
ing his sexuality in the piece, and that is a
queer sexuality. David Lynch doesn’t gen-
erally feature many queer characters in his
work, but I feel there are queer artists out
there who are influenced by him.
JH: Because there really is almost no queer
representation in his work, it was a per-
sonal motivation for me in creating who
Alan is. During this process, we’ve all
talked at length about the ways in which
David Lynch’s work is problematic, par-
ticularly in the way he deals with violence
against women and the near invisibility of
people of color in his films. It is import-
ant to me that Alan be queer and for his

“We’re here for

sexuality not to be hidden — for it to be
at the core of what he’s doing in the play.
And since Lynch has very often showcased
female nudity but not male nudity in his
work, that is also something I felt very
strongly about turning on its head. It felt
integral and important to Alan’s journey for

each other, no
me to really go there.

PGN: What can you say about the upcom-

ing fundraiser?
MO: It’s called “The Riddle of Red
Lodge,” and it’s going to be happening
at a house in South Philly. The address is

matter what.”
what.”
revealed once you buy your ticket. There’s
going to be themed food and a coffee-in-
spired cocktail. When people show up,
they’ll be given a template for a riddle they
have to solve, and artifacts from the show
will be placed throughout the rooms of the
house. Whoever solves the overall riddle
wins a prize to be determined. It’s like a
low-key escape room.
HIV does not define our friendships. PGN: Since we’re talking “Twin Peaks,” I
When we support those living with Let’s stop HIV stigma together.
have to ask: What is your favorite kind of
HIV, we make it easier for them to Learn how at cdc.gov/together pie?
JH: Strawberry rhubarb!
live healthy lives. AS: Pumpkin pie with whipped cream!
And maybe a little ice cream on the side.
MO: Generally I would go for a chocolate
cream. But in Lynch world, I feel like it
has to be a fruit pie, and in that case, it’s
/ActAgainstAIDS /ActAgainstAIDS @TalkHIV apple. n

Responses were condensed for clarity.

 SCENEPGN
IN PHILLY Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 29

30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ONYX BALL

P H O T O S B Y K E L LY B U R K H A R D T

1 2 3

1. DJ Lucky
2. Alvernian Davis
3. Category: Butch Queen Old Way
4. House of LaBeija
5. Judges give a “Perfect 10.”
6. Kemar Jewel walks “Up in
Pumps.”
7. Alvernian Davis presents
Raphael Excellence an Icon award.
6 7
30 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
Famed European singer visits Philly
with U.S. debut
BY CAMERON KELSALL
PGN Contributor
Wallis Bird is ready to break big in the
U.S. The out singer-songwriter has released
five albums in Europe, but her latest record,
“Woman” (out Sept. 27 on AntiFragile
Music) marks her stateside debut. She sets
off on her first tour in the States later this
month and will appear locally as part of the
Philadelphia Folk Festival (Aug. 15-18).
Speaking from her home base of Berlin,
the Ireland-born singer-songwriter dis-
WALLIS BIRD
cusses her musical influences, performance
styles and excitement about touring the
country.
PGN: Have you spent much time in the
U.S.?
WB: I’ve spent some time — a little bit
in Los Angeles, a little bit in New York. I
did a small tour with [musician/composer]
Anaïs Mitchell in Vermont, and I’ve played
at the Irish Center in New York City. But
it’s been ages since I’ve been back — the
last time was about eight years ago.
PGN: How did you end up booked at the
Philadelphia Folk Festival?
WB: I have some friends who work between
Ireland and America and who have brought
the Folk Alliance International [a musical
nonprofit organization based in Kansas
City, Mo.] to Ireland. There was a large con-
ference in County Cork, and that’s where I
met everyone — people representing many
different festivals all over America and
from around the world. They have built this
beautiful community that brings folk all
over the world by exchanging artists. So it
came through mutual friends, which is kind
of how it all happens — somebody knows
somebody else.
PGN: How would you describe your musi-
cal language?
WB: This is my sixth record, and I’ve
gone through multiple different transi-
tions — from pop to jazz to folk and back
again. It’s a very varied spectrum that I
write music in, and it’s always been stories
coming from a personal angle of how I see
the world. It’s always looking at the hard
things and the simple things in life from
a positive angle. I focus on songwriting
rather than production, so the song has to
come through, and it’s played on natural
instruments. I would describe “Woman”
as a retrospective based in folk, moving
through Irish traditional music, along with
soul and a little bit of funk as well.
PGN: Who are some of the artists you
have been drawn to throughout your life?
WB: Growing up, I listened to a lot of
rock and soul — people like James Brown,
Simon and Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin,
Tina Turner, Eric Clapton. As I became
a teenager and started to find my own
ENTERTAINMENT
PGN LISTINGS
Photo: Jens Oellermann
voice, I was listening to Tori Amos,
Fiona Apple and primarily Ani DiFranco,
because she’s an extremely strong gui-
tar player and a really beautiful human.
She was always very candid and fearless.
As I’m getting older, it’s more Bjork and
Radiohead. They continue to push the
boundaries between avant-garde and pop,
and I’m so glad that is considered main-
stream music, because it’s so far-reaching.
Another Irish band called Villagers is one
of my great loves right now. Their music is
just so beautiful.
PGN: What do you love about living in
Berlin?
WB: People who come here speak freely
about a vibe. There’s something in the air
here. The streets are filled with graffiti,
and they’re filled with anonymous, low-
key, practical folk who walk slowly. There
is a depth of intellect in this city that stems
from the governance of the people and the
history that it’s had. It searches for some-
thing within the soul rather than anything
shallow. It cares not for capitalism or sta-
tus, really. It’s also quite a poor city, and
art is strongly valued. You can see it. It’s
wild, and it’s quiet at the same time.
PGN: Lastly, I’m curious about how you
approach live performance. What does it
mean for you to be in front of an audi-
ence?
WB: My approach is to be completely
open, because that’s the best way I can
be. I have my tools, I have my strengths,
and I have a standard that I bring to each
show. That standard is to find the com-
mon language between all of us in the
room. I arrive with open arms and a smile
on my face, and I just want to make peo-
ple happy. I’ll figure out if the audience
likes dirty jokes or not. If they want a
more gentle approach or if they really
want to dance. Regardless of how many
hundreds and hundreds of gigs I’ve done,
I treat each one as a brand new way to
experience a connection with people. n
Some responses have been condensed and
edited. The Philadelphia Folk Festival runs
Aug. 15 through 18 at Old Pool Farm in Upper
Salford Township. Tickets and information can
be found at pfs.org.
Theater & Arts
The Art of Collage and
Assemblage
Philadelphia Museum of
Art presents an exhibition of
mixed-material works from
contemporary artists through
Sept. 2, 26th Street and the
Parkway; 215-763-8100.
D.L. Hughley
The comedian seen on “The
Original Kings of Comedy”
performs Aug. 9-11 at
Helium Comedy Club, 2031
Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.
Harmonious Motion
An exhibition of fluid art by
Kelly Munchel, Aug. 9-Sept
8 at Twenty-Two Gallery,
236 S. 22nd St.; 215-772-
1911.
Herbert Ferber: Form
into Space
Philadelphia Museum of
Art presents an exhibition
featuring sculptures and
related drawings that Herbert
Ferber (1906-91) created
during the 1950s — the
artist’s most creative period,
through Aug. 18, 26th Street
and the Parkway; 215-763-
8100.
The Impressionist’s Eye
Philadelphia Museum of
Art presents an exhibition
featuring the works of
Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt,
Vincent van Gogh and
others, through Aug. 18, 26th
Street and the Parkway; 215-
763-8100.
SUMMER NIGHTS: Catch a screening of the beloved musical film “Grease” with
the soundtrack performed live by The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
Aug. 16 at Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave. For more
information or tickets, call 215-546-7900.
Mimi Imfurst Presents
Drag Diva Brunch
Mimi Imfurst and special
guests perform 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Aug. 10 at Punch Line Philly,
33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-
6555.
Passages
MUSE Art Gallery presents
a solo exhibition of paintings
by Jean Plough, through Sept.
1, 52 N. Second St.; 215-627-
5310.
The Producers
Bucks County Center for the
Performing Arts presents the
hit musical comedy written by
Mel Brooks about a down-on-
his-luck Broadway producer
trying to make a flop that
becomes a smash hit, through
Aug. 18 at Delaware Valley
University-Life Sciences
Bldg., 700 E. Butler Ave.,
Doylestown; 215-297-8540.
Queer Americans: Who
We Are
William Way LGBT
Community Center hosts
an exhibition featuring the
dynamic works of three queer
artists through Aug. 30, 1315
Spruce St; 215-732-2220.
Rachel Feinstein
The comedian and actress seen
in “Crashing” and on Comedy
Central performs Aug. 15-17
at Punch Line Philly, 33 E.
Laurel St.; 215-606-6555.
Souls Grown Deep:
Artists of the African
American South
Philadelphia Museum of Art
presents a collection of textile
art, sculptures and paintings
acquired from the Souls
Grown Deep Foundation
through Sept. 2, 26th Street
and the Parkway; 215-763-
8100.
(Still) Life in Motion
Jed Williams Gallery presents
an exhibition representing the
interplay between painting
and photography through
Aug. 20, 615 Bainbridge St.;
267-970-5509.
Venus
An exhibition of new
watercolors by Britni
Houser through Aug. 30 at
The Fine Art Galleries at
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT
Community Center, 522 W.
Maple St., Allentown; www.
bradburysullivancenter.org.
Yoshitoshi: Spirit and
Spectacle
Philadelphia Museum of
Art presents an exhibition
featuring the brilliant
colors and spirited lines of
Yoshitoshi, the last great
master of traditional Japanese
woodblock print, through
Aug. 18, 26th Street and the
Parkway; 215-763-8100.
Music
Breaking Benjamin
The hard rock band performs
5:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at BB&T
Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd.; 856-
365-1300.
Tom Keifer
The rock singer performs 8 p.m.
Aug. 9 at Keswick Theater, 291
N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650.

POPPING CHERRY HILL: “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 11 competitor, Ariel
Versace, brings the glam to South Jersey when she hosts the Vixens of VERA
Drag Show, 8:30-11 p.m. Aug. 14 at VERA Cherry Hill, 2310 Marlton Pike West,
Cherry Hill, N.J. For more information, call 856-486-1001.
Train and Goo Goo Dolls
The rock bands perform
7 p.m. Aug. 10 at BB&T
Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd.;
856-365-1300.
Ja Rule and Ashanti
The hip-hop and R&B stars
perform, 7:30 p.m. Aug.
10 at Mann Center for the
Performing Arts, 5201
Parkside Ave.; 215-546-
7900.
Neurosis
The alt-metal band performs
7:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at TLA,
334 South St.; 215-922-
1011.
Ringo Starr
The rock musician performs
8 p.m. Aug. 14 at The Met,
858 N. Broad St.; info@
TheMetPhilly.com.
Alice Cooper and
Halestorm
The hard rock bands perform
7 p.m. Aug. 16 at BB&T
Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd.;
856-365-1300.
Common
The rapper performs 8 p.m.
Aug. 16 at The Fillmore
Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St.;
215-309-0150.
Extreme
The rock band performs 8
p.m. Aug. 16 at Keswick
Theater, 291 N. Keswick
Ave.; 215-572-7650.
Marsha Ambrosius
The R&B singer performs
8 p.m. Aug. 16 at TLA, 334
South St.; 215-922-1011.
Nightlife
Bjork Tribute Show
A cabaret tribute to the
Icelandic singer, 9 p.m. Aug.
9 at Tabu, 254 S. 12th St.;
215-964-9675.
Ruffhouse: Physical
A workout-themed dance
party, 10 p.m. Aug. 10 at The
Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St.;
215-627-1662.
Cut Throat Queens
Bee Reed and Onyx Ondyx
host the sabotage oriented
drag competition, 9 p.m. Aug.
11 at Tabu, 254 S. 12th St.;
215-964-9675.
Hairballs
The Bearded Ladies Cabaret
presents a musical journey
through some of the songs
stuck in their guts, 8 p.m.
Aug. 15 at World Café Live,
3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-
1400.
Late Night Thirsty
Thursday Drag Show
Onyx Ondyx hosts the drag
show with performances by
Drew Bev Gaver
Emily Valentine, VinChelle,
Joey Lakits/ Pi and Timothy
Toler/ Paula Deen-White, 10
p.m. Aug. 15 at Tabu, 254 S.
12th St.; 215-964-9675.
Outta Town
The Karate Kid
The ’80s drama film screened
Aug. 11-12 at The Colonial
Theatre, 227 Bridge St.,
Phoenixville; 610-917-1228.
COMEDY
PGN
Aerosmith
The classic rock band
performs 8 p.m. Aug. 16-18 at
the Borgata Hotel, Casino &
Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata
Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-
317-1000.
Squeeze
The alternative rock band
performs 8 p.m. Aug. 16 at
Xcite Center, 2999 Street
Road, Bensalem; 888-588-
7279.
America
The classic rock band
performs 9 p.m. Aug. 16 at
the Borgata Hotel, Casino &
Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata
Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-
317-1000.
Amaluna
The Cirque du Soleil circus
arts show raises the big
top through Aug. 25 at The
Greater Philadelphia Expo
Center, 100 Station Ave.,
Oaks; www.cirquedusoleil.
com/amaluna. n
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.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
Out comic hits home run with new
album, ‘Major’
BY LARRY NICHOLS
larry@epgn.com
“I moved to L.A. to follow the dream:
38 years old, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds
with A cups, ready to crush it in show-
biz!”
— Caitlin Gill in “Major”
Talk about fighting the status quo.
Bisexual comedian Caitlin Gill is all
about it in her debut album.
Her wry humor prominently on dis-
play in the live-comedy “Major,” she’s
out to smash preconceptions, just as
she does when she walks on stage.
“There will always be some kind of
weird standard by which we measure
what a standup comedian is,” Gill said.
“Currently, it’s like the bearded flan-
nel [guy] thing: If you are anything
else, you are a come-
dian with a descriptor.
You’re a female come-
dian. You’re a gay
comedian. It takes an
effort to shake off that
adjective and just be a
comedian.”
While “Major” is
Gill’s first live record-
ing, she’s already an
accomplished humor-
ist, producing her
own comedy shows
and writing for the
small screen and print
outlets, including
“Bobcat Goldthwait’s
Misfits and Monsters,”
“Hidden America with
Jonah Ray” and The
New York Times.
She reserves her
comedy for “more personal material”
while TV allows her to stretch more
creative writing muscles. Gill relayed
that, even though she’s had profes-
sional brushes with superstars in enter-
tainment meccas like Los Angeles, she
still occasionally gets nervous — like
when she followed Dave Chappelle on
stage and he offered encouragement.
“That’s pretty much like having
Martha Stewart looking over your
shoulder while you make quiche for
a brunch party or having Adele stand-
ing by while you sing karaoke,” she
said. “When Dave Chappelle tells you
you’re funny, your whole body lights
on fire. That’s an incredible experi-
ence and, in the lean years, that’s the
kind of stuff that keeps you going.”
Gill’s live album represents some-
what of a homecoming: She recorded
it in San Francisco, where she lived
for 10 years before relocating to L.A.
And listeners won’t need Chappelle
lurking in the wings with a hot mic to
31
tell them she’s talented and funny.
Gill regales the audience with
glass-half-full, half-empty tales of
Hollywood life — like when she saw
a billboard for a TV show she writes,
but she couldn’t stop because she had a
Lyft passenger in her backseat.
If you’re expecting dark humor, pro-
fanity-laced tirades or sordid exploits,
“Major” will surprise you.
“I named the album after my dog,”
Gill said. “I’m proud of it. It’s clean as
a whistle. Play it for the kids. Play it at
work. It’s no big deal.”
Her upbeat material details pranks
she and her partner play on one another
and also includes stories about her
super-supportive father, who instantly
knew she was queer and has always
been cool with it.
Gill’s dad is retired now, so she’s
taking him and her album’s namesake
pup on the road for performances.
“We’ll see how goofy this tour gets:
I’m going on tour with my dad and my
dog in an orange camper van.”
But Gill is used to being an anomaly.
As a functional, emotionally stable and
funny comedian in a solid relationship,
and who doesn’t depend on profanities
in her routines, she might as well be a
flying unicorn.
Her plans after the promotional
swing for this album include more TV
writing gigs — and Gill has more sto-
ries and wry insights in the pipeline.
“There’s an album I’d love to put
out right behind this one,” she said.
“There are things I’ve been writing
that I’m so excited to bring to light,
but the timeline on that kind of project
is really long, so stay tuned. There’s
more standup coming.” n
Caitlin Gill’s new comedy album, “Major”
is available now. For more information,
visit caitlingillcomedy.com.
32 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 Q PUZZLE
PGN

When Broadway Dreams come true

“We’ve even taken part in the New Year’s
BY A.D. AMOROSI Day Mummers Parade several times. Our
PGN Contributor main weeklong intensives tend to pick
up steam as the summer moves along,
When Broadway Dreams brings its one- and we tend to save our biggest cities —
night-only “Philadelphia Dreamer” musical Philadelphia, New York and Charlotte —
revue to Chestnut Street’s Mandell Theatre for later in the summer.”
this weekend, it will do so with the force of Philly’s Aug. 10 culmination will explore
stars from the Great White Way. what it means to go “unplugged” in the
Directed by Christopher J. Hanke (“Cry- modern world. What happens when we free
Baby,” “Rent”), the production will feature ourselves from technology and the 24-hour
thespians Matthew Scott (“Jersey Boys,” news cycle?
“An American in Paris”), MiMi Scardulla “That’s something this next generation
(“The Heart of Rock and Roll”), Heidi of performers are only going to be dealing
Blickenstaff (“Something Rotten!”) and with more as time goes on,” noted Padrutt.
singer and choreographer Victor Jackson The performance is the fruit of seven
(“The Real Housewives”). days of labor by students and instructors.
Alongside these stars will be the potential The process included song selection, cast-
stars of tomorrow: the students of Broadway ing roles and the numerous other elements
Dreams, who participated in a weeklong involved in putting on a show.
intensive program to prepare for this event. “As you can imagine, it’s incredibly
The goal of the famed, NYC-based non- intense,” Padrutt said. “But it gives the kids
profit is to give young actors and dancers the a glimpse of the mania that goes on behind
opportunity to build a foundation, self-con- the curtain in an actual Broadway show.”
fidence and showcase their talent along- And audiences would be amazed at what
side Broadway actors and in front of talent the players can do in just one week, he
agents and casting directors. added.
Broadway Dreams boasts an esteemed “I’ve been lucky enough to see many
list of LGBTQ actors and faculty members, [performances], and I’m always struck by
including Alex Newell, Tyler Hanes, Nick the intense amount of raw talent these kids
Adams and Billy Porter. Since the organiza- possess. These are amateurs, and many of
tion’s inception in 2006, it has reached some them are there on scholarships, who are
12,000 students globally, awarded at least $1 just beginning to believe that ‘Yes, I can
Q Puzzle million in scholarships and paved the way do this.’ This is an audience’s chance to
The First 50 Directional ending 11 Soda shop treat 44 Horny sound for more than 50 students’ Broadway debuts, see them at the very beginning of their
Woman Elected 51 Organ pleasured 12 Ornament in 46 Forever young said creative director Drew Padrutt. Broadway journey.”
by Bernstein “Cleopatra,” perhaps 48 1930-1940s vil- “I’ve seen how the program changes kids’ In 2018 alone, some 60 Broadway Dreams
Across 52 “My place or 13 Deep pink lain mindsets from ‘I have a dream but I don’t students landed roles on Broadway and on
1 Producers of rain- ___?” 21 Senatorial staffers 49 Without restraint know where to begin’ to ‘All I have to do national tours of “Hamilton,” “SpongeBob
bows 54 Sex toy battery 22 Wasn’t straight 53 Milano opera is show up and be myself’ in a remarkably SquarePants” and “Disney’s Frozen: The
6 Words before size 25 Month of the Na- house, with “la” Musical,” among other blockbuster shows,
short amount of time,” he said.
about 56 End of the quote tional Day of Silence 55 Bill T. Jones’ part-
63 1847 Melville 26 Novelist Charles ner Zane To that end, Broadway Dreams holds Padrutt cited.
10 Nicky, in “Funny weeklong summer intensives during tours “If you’re a person who sees a lot of
Girl” novel 27 Big name in syn- 56 Cutting edge cre-
64 Gather, after spill- onyms ator of cities such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, Broadway shows, whether in New York or
14 Seminal computer
15 “The Great Mas- ing seed 29 Night stalker 57 Financial page Houston, Charlotte, Philadelphia, New York on tour, you’re going to be seeing the future
turbator” painter 65 Urvashi Vaid’s 31 Give the slip to heading and Modesto, as well as internationally in of the industry right before your eyes. What
16 Second opening? birthplace 32 Cel mate of Nala 58 Petty of “Orange Canada, New Zealand, Russia, Brazil and theatergoer doesn’t love that?” n
17 Port in the land of 66 Burning software 33 “Do” in “The Is the New Black” Germany.
samurai 67 Woods of “Legally Sound of Music” 59 What you do at “Philadelphia has been an integral part “The Philadelphia Dreamer Showcase”
18 Patsy’s “Ab Fab” Blonde” 35 Beat around the the other end of our yearly calendar since Broadway will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at Mandell
partner 68 Physics Nobelist bush 60 Genie portrayer Theatre at Drexel University, 3220 Chestnut
Dreams’ inception,” said Padrutt, adding
19 Lodge members Bohr 36 Rilke’s ice Barbara
69 Go off, on Broad- 40 “Evita” narrator 61 Russian River de- that local students are often culled from St. For tickets ($25) and more information,
20 Start of a quote high schools and other learning programs. visit broadwaydreams.org.
by Jeannette Rankin, way 41 Islam’s sacred posit
first woman to be 70 Phillippe of “Gos- text 62 Give some lip to
elected to the House ford Park”
23 Mean Amin 71 Lavatory door sign
24 Medium for Fra-
sier Crane Down
25 JFK posting 1 Sneaky Pie cry
28 Hoopla 2 ___ many words
30 “Curbing lesbian- 3 Thailand, once
ism” advocate May of 4 George of “Star
the UK Trek”
34 More of the quote 5 Series with gay
37 Michelangelo veep Cyrus Beene
masterpiece 6 Baltic Sea feeder
38 Sauce brand 7 George of “Robot
39 Lubed up Monsters”
42 Like a poor ex- 8 Dated
cuse 9 Saudi Arabian
43 That is, to Cicero capital
45 More of the quote 10 Part of the Muske- COMPANY PERFORMS OTIS SALLID’S PRODUCTION OF “HAIR”
47 Pardons teers’ credo Photo: Broadway Dreams

FAMILY PORTRAIT | SUZI NASH |
Alex Stompoly: The nicest villain in town
The slogan for this year’s Pennsylvania
Renaissance Faire is: “A Queen Will Rise!”
This week, we talk to Alex Stompoly,
a queen himself — a drag queen that is
— who will perform at this year’s faire.
Also an actor and singer, Stompoly is full
of talent.
If you haven’t been, the Faire is a land
where fairy tales come to life only a little
over an hour away from Center City.
The grounds feature over 20 royal kitch-
ens and scores of artisan merchants offer-
ing handcrafted ware, with 90 shows per-
formed daily. Though a relative newcomer
to the shire, Stompoly was nominated
for Best Comedy Performer in the 14th
Annual Renaissance Faire Awards and
came in fifth in the nation.
PGN: Where does your artistic nature
come from?
AS: I get it from both sides — my father
is a wonderful artist. It wasn’t his passion
or occupation, but it was definitely a big
hobby for him. Both of my parents were
very keen on me being, let’s say, a very
expressive child. It’s interesting because
neither of them are in particularly artistic
careers. My mother is a physical therapist,
and my father practices insurance law.
PGN: What was young master Stompoly
like?
AS: I’m originally from Kansas City,
Missouri. I played a lot of sports when
I was young. Then about the time I was
entering high school, I found a love of
choir and theater and had a very drastic
shift in priorities.
PGN: What sports did you play?
AS: Primarily baseball and basketball. I
was a pitcher and third baseman in base-
ball, and in basketball, I would just place
myself under the net. I’m 6’3” and that’s
where the tall kids live.
PGN: Best and worst sports moments?
AS: They kind of go hand in hand. I
was a pitcher, but I was deathly afraid
of going up to bat and getting hit with a
pitch. One day the pitch was coming at
me and instead of turning out of the way,
I turned in a way that opened me up, and
I got hit right in the cup zone. Thankfully
I was wearing one, but there was a really
loud unfortunate thud that everyone
heard. But, I got a base out of it, so in the
end, it was a win.
PGN: What was your role in choir?
AS: I was a tenor. I started choir and
band in middle school, and when I got
to high school, I started taking theater
classes.
PGN: What was the first show you
remember?
PGN
PROFILE
AS: The first musical I did was in high
school, “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” I was
one of two or three freshmen who were
in the show. I was part of the ensemble so
I floated around from scene to scene. I’d
done some acting before. When I was 13,
I performed in a murder mystery dinner
theater in the Kansas City, Kansas area.
I’d signed with a small boutique agency,
and they got me hired with the Fort
Leavenworth Players Group. It was fun.
We got $50 per show plus tips, because
this place was so small that on top of act-
ing during the show, I was also the server.
PGN: When did you leave Kansas City, or
should I say, when weren’t you in Kansas
anymore?
AS: [Laughing] I left Kansas City after I
graduated high school. I went to Missouri
State University for my bachelor’s in fine
arts and acting. I graduated from there in
the spring of 2016 and moved back home
until my 23rd birthday that fall. Four days
after I turned 23, I packed two suitcases
and a carry-on and moved to New York.
PGN: How did you manage that?
AS: I was very fortunate; I’d originally
planned to go to Florida. During college I
worked for The Walt Disney Company in
Orlando and thought I’d go back there to
work. Three days before I was scheduled
to go, I had a change of heart. I thought, I
really don’t want to work at a theme park
right now, I need to get out there and see
for myself if I can get my dream fulfilled
or not. So I put something up on Facebook
that I was looking to move to New York,
and a former guest faculty member from
my college responded. She was like, ‘I
have a friend who lives in NY and is
constantly taking in students. She has a
room available for sublets.’ She put me
in contact with her, a wonderful woman
named Diane, who became a great friend
and mentor. She is a fantastic dancer on
Broadway and does national tours, and she
welcomed me into her home. She actu-
ally got me a job with a company called
Creative Goods, so we were coworkers for
a while too. It is a Broadway merchandis-
ing company so even my survival job was
something that I enjoyed. To this day, she
still calls and checks up on me. I was very
blessed.
PGN: What did you do with Disney?
AS: I worked in the attractions depart-
ment. I was a flight attendant at the Soarin’
Around the World exhibit at Epcot.
PGN: And what brought you to
Pennsylvania?
AS: Well, every February there’s a
huge audition conference called Unified
Professional Theatre Auditions (UPTA) in
Memphis, Tennessee. About 100 different
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
theatrical com-
panies come for
three days to see
actors audition
for stock work.
You get about 90
seconds to audi-
tion in front of all
these casting peo-
ple. You’re only
allowed to go if
you’re a gradu-
ating senior or
beyond. On my
second try, I got
a call back from
the Pennsylvania
Renaissance
Faire to come
work with them
for a season. And
so I did! This is
my third year of this lovely relationship
we’ve started.
PGN: I’ve been to the Faire many times,
and it looks like you all have so much fun
together.
AS: Oh, it’s an absolute blast! Growing up,
I would go to the Kansas City Renaissance
Festival with my parents, and we’d always
have a good time. I never realized how
much more fun I was going to have on the
other side, as an actor.
PGN: Do you feel like you’ve found
another family in the other actors?
AS: Yes. It’s incredible because for the
month of July we’re only doing rehears-
als. There are about 43 of us professional
actors, and we live together. We’re rehears-
ing six days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
and then we all go home together, so we
become very close.
PGN: Tell me about the character you’re
playing.
AS: I’m playing Sir Henry Carey, First
Baron of Hunsdon and cousin to Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth. We’re taking
some artistic liberties and making him the
villain. Historically, he was a pretty cool
guy and one of her supporters, but every
story needs a good bad guy, so we’ve
twisted history a little.
PGN: Is it fun playing the villain?
AS: It’s a fun change of pace. For the past
two years I played the Master of Revels,
Sir Walter Roderick Kensington. I played
a big, overly worried and dramatic party
planner. So it’ll be interesting to see how
the crowd reacts when I’m the bad guy. To
play a character who is so against a woman
taking power is something that’s intrinsi-
cally against my personal beliefs, but so
far the other cast members have loved what
I’m doing. They hate me in a good way!
33
PGN: And you have a feature spot in the
commercials and your face on a bottle of
wine! Have you gotten drunk on yourself
yet?
AS: I have not! Only because I have the
only bottle, Carey’s Red Revenge, so I’m
saving it. It’s a prototype, but as soon as
it’s available in the store I’m going to get
as many as I can and happily get drunk
with my face.
PGN: I read that you have an extensive
background in improv and it shows at the
Faire. Tell me about that.
AS: Yes. I’m part of the group that is pre-
senting “Friday Knights at the Improv.”
This is my third year doing it, and it’s
always a delight. It’s a competitive Whose-
-Line-is-it-Anyway-style show ending with
us doing a fully improvised 30-minute
musical.
PGN: I understand that you have an alter
ego, tell me a little about her.
AS: Her name is Elizabeth Hardon. She
was born out of my love for a short-lived
musical, “War Paint.” It’s an homage to
Elizabeth Ardon. I love it because I get to
blend my masculine and feminine sides
and pay tribute to the strong women in
my life who have shaped me — especially
this year because my Ren Faire character
Sir Carey has facial hair, so I get to be a
bearded drag queen! I love her. I think she
started out as a housewife who dreamed of
becoming something more, and now she’s
the woman who does whatever she wants,
whenever she wants.
PGN: Who were the strong women in your
life?
AS: Well, when I was in seventh grade, my
parents divorced. My sister lived with my
mother, but I would visit on the weekends,
and I saw the way she started
her life back over. She fought PAGE 36
34 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019
New mart brings art back to South Street
BY LARRY NICHOLS
larry@epgn.com
Two out Philly artists and merchants
are aiming to reignite the retail mojo
that was once a signature of the South
Street corridor.
The iconic stretch was traditionally a
panoply of artsy and avant-garde shops,
clothing boutiques and eateries — many
of which fell victim to high rents or were
rendered obsolete by retail chains.
While South Street west of Broad has
developed into a commercial hub, the
more-famous blocks on the east side
have become host to cookie-cutter bars,
pizza and steak joints and chain clothing
stores — plus high-priced housing and
empty buildings.
Nicole Wiegand and Nicole Krecicki
are hoping to rekindle the corridor’s
unique character with the opening of
South Street Art Mart, the creative cou-
ple’s newest shop. They have a vested
interest.
“It’s our neighborhood,” said Krecicki.
“We live in the neighborhood. We work
in the neighborhood.”
And they have individual experience
with running businesses. Wiegand owns
Night Owl Designs, a kitschy jewelry
and housewares outfit, while Krecicki
vends her own artwork and clothing
ZINES AND ART AT SOUTH STREET ART MART
Photo: Ash Cheshire
COMICS
PGN
imprints through a company called
Taped Off TV.
And they originally operated South
Street Art Mart as a pop-up in its off-
South spot on Fourth Street. It opened
in November 2018, at the behest of
the South Street Headhouse District, as
an experiment for the holiday-shopping
season.
And then, said Krecicki, “it took on a
life of its own, and it was something we
wanted to keep going. We were able to
secure this space permanently.”
Added Wiegand: “People were really
receptive to it and then we realized
the neighborhood was receptive to it.
There’s still a desire for something like
this that I feel is not represented any-
more. We kept getting that feedback
from people: ‘Oh my God, it’s like old
South Street.’”
Krecicki said bringing back that
spirit is important to her and Wiegand,
who worked in South Street’s Condom
Kingdom for 12 years.
Indeed, South Street Art Mart is rem-
iniscent of legendary punk-rock shop
Zipperhead, the mecca of alternative
style at Fourth and South
from 1980-2000, and which
was “recreated” last year for
an episode of Philly-based
sitcom “The Goldbergs.”
The Art Mart is a warmer,
fuzzier rendition, with a
friendly and enthusiastic staff
and eclectic music, along with
a floor-to-ceiling
stock of eye-catch-
ing clothing,
accessories, décor
and artwork. The
walls are cov-
ered with punk-
rock T-shirts and
prints bearing
images from Billie Holliday a r e
and Basquiat to Beyoncé and Britney represented.
Spears. Pins, accessories, stickers and Krecicki remembers when she was the
housewares come in styles like ’80s only person of color at a vendor event,
retro pop, throwback activism, horror even with numerous queer participants.
and punk. “We’re queer. We’ve been together for
Standout items on a recent visit almost 10 years. We want to make sure
included a light-switch cover featuring everybody is represented,” she said. “We
Prince from the “Purple Rain” era and want to take on as many queer artists
afrofuturist art prints. as possible and as many artists of color
The shop also features a plethora of as possible and as many trans artists as
local artists, reflecting the couple’s com- possible.” n
mitment to the local arts scene. In this
regard, diversity is especially important: South Street Art Mart is at 530 S. Fourth
Krecicki and Wiegand said they want to St. For more information, visit south-
ensure people of color and queer folks streetartmart.com
PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 35
36 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 PGN
PORTRAIT from page 33
back from bankruptcy, acquired a house
and furnished it. She was always there for
my sister and I, and we never wanted for
anything. She’s amazing. I also inherited a
beautiful stepmother who I owe the world
to. Cassandra is incredible and another
strong woman who came into my life at
an important time and has always been
nothing but supportive and loving from the
start and through my coming out process.
My sister Dani is also tough as nails, my
grandmother. All of them are forces to be
reckoned with, and I love paying tribute to
them through drag.
PGN: When did you come out?
AS: I realized it my sophomore year of
high school and was out to my friends by
my senior year. The summer before I went
to college I told my mother in a Bed Bath
and Beyond parking lot as we were picking
up school supplies. I had a cheeky bumper
sticker that read, “I support gay marriage,
everyone has a right to be miserable,” and
she said, “I love your sticker, it’s so funny
and what an interesting way to look at it.”
We then sat there in silence for about a
minute and finally I said, “Mom, you know
that I’m gay right?” and she said, “Yes, yes
I do, now can we go shopping?” I worked
at Disney the summer after my freshman
year. When it was time to come home, my
father flew to Orlando to help me drive
back. We were going to be in a car for
72 hours, so I figured it would be a good
time to tell him. So we got to Pensacola,
Florida and after dinner we were catching
up, and I told him. He was wonderfully
accepting and supportive. He just asked
why I felt I needed to take so long to tell
him. I said it was because I feared disap-
pointing him, taking away the last hope of
a conventional son. He gave me a hug and
said, “None of that matters. As a dad you
hello
have an idea of what you want, but it’s not
fair to impose that on a son or daughter.
They need to have their own definition of
who they are.” After telling my dad, it’s
spring
been a secret to no one!
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PGN: So, back to the Fair— what’s the
most outrageous thing you’ve seen there?
AS: I’d say some of the things that peo-
ple wear. We do a costume contest most
weekends, and people go all out. It’s
incredible. There was a lady last year in
a scooter that she had decorated to look
like a dragon, and she was wearing an
outfit that looked like Olenna Tyrell from
“Game of Thrones.” My castmates are
also always outrageous. We have some-
thing called Disasterpiece Theater where
we take a modern film, Elizbethanize it
and add a disaster element. The things
people come up with on the spot are
some of the most brilliant and terrifying
things ever.
PGN: That sounds like fun, but what I’m
excited about is the Victorian tea.
AS: It’s going to be wonderful. We have
the beautiful Mount Hope Estate right
outside the fairgrounds, and we’re going
to be doing a Downton Abbey-esque little
show about the art of tea in the Victorian
era. There is a small group of us who
play various characters and give you the
etiquette lessons and a tour of the first
floor of the house, along with tea and
goodies.
PGN: What’s your favorite movie line or
scene?
AS: It’s the scene from “To Wong
Foo…” where all of the women come
out at the Strawberry festival and pre-
tend to be drag queens to protect Amanda
Schoonover ’s character. It’s such a beau-
tiful moment.
PGN: Speaking of drag, will we ever see
Ms. Hardon at the Faire?
AS: Actually, you might! We’re working
on a drag show called, “The Taming of
the Shoes.” It’ll be like Shakespeare’s
Drag Race. We’re hoping to debut it in
September, so it won’t be long. n
For more information about Pennsylvania’s
Renaissance Faire, visit parenfaire.com.
PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 37
38 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 PGN
 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com August 9-15, 2019 39

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All real-estate advertising is subject to Title VIII of the Civil Rights
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