Philadelphia Gay News

LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976 | VOL. 43 NO. 35 | AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 5, 2019| | HONESTY | INTEGRITY | PROFESSIONALISM |

Family Portrait: William Way exhibit PAGE 2 Priest spends $100K of Pennsylvania PAGE16
Dana Suleymanova explores PA church funds on men and companies among
nondiscrimination Grindr dates best in nation for
PAGE 31 ordinances PAGE 4 LGBTQ employees

Campaign wants to stop corporate Penn drops request to out

PACs funding anti-LGBT politicians
BY LAURA SMYTHE
laura@epgn.com
A newly-launched national initiative is
calling on corporations that receive top
equality ratings from the Human Rights
Campaign to stop financially supporting
anti-LGBTQ members of Congress.
Zero for Zeros Campaign, which launched
in June, uses public information from the
Federal Election Commission to track polit-
ical contributions from corporate PACs
of companies assigned a perfect rating by
the Human Rights Campaigns’ Corporate
Equality Index, which evaluates the impact
of big business’ policies and procedures on
the LGBTQ community. The scorecard ana-
lyzes organizations based on factors includ-
ing “organizational competency in LGBT
inclusion,” public commitment and equal
benefits.
Data compiled by Zero for Zeros that
dates back to 2010 shows that Republican
Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike Kelly has
received more than $386,000 from the PACs
of major companies including Amazon,
Capital One, Facebook, JPMorgan Chase,
PNC Financial Services, Wells Fargo and
T-Mobile. Kelly was sworn into office to
represent Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional
District on Jan. 5, 2011.
Kelly co-sponsored 2015 anti-LGBT leg-
trans litigant
islation that aims to update the Constitution
with a “Marriage Protection Amendment” rights would be violated. HIPAA — the Health
that states “Marriage in the United States BY TIMOTHY CWIEK Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
shall consist only of the union of a man and timothy@epgn.com of 1996 — is federal legis-lation that safe-
a woman.” guards personal medical information from
“There is an inconsistency between cor- Officials at the University of Pennsylvania unwarranted disclosure.
porations that are absolutely bonified allies have withdrawn their request for a judge to Penn’s Aug. 21 filing denies any intent to
to the LGBT community, yet their corporate unseal the name of a trans woman who’s suing violate HIPAA.
PAC is supporting these folks who would roll them. “This withdrawal of the Penn defendants’
back the progress that we fought so hard to “Jane Doe” is suing the Ivy League college, opposition to the motion to proceed in anonym-
win and they’re blocking the work that we its hospital and various associates for med- ity should not be construed as an admission
still need to do,” said Lane Hudson, Zero for ical malpractice, or concession that
Zeros campaign manager. wrongful termina- [Doe’s] al-legations
“You can not be acceptable in public tion and a host of are true, correct or
service if you are going to be attacking the other claims. supported by law.
LGBT community,” he added. “We are the On Aug. 2, Moreover, the Penn
same as every other American.” Penn officials defendants did not
Other politicians who have received dona- asked U.S. District violate HIPAA in
tions from these companies include Maryland Judge Mitchell S. any way, nor do the
State Rep. Andy Harris, who co-sponsored a Goldberg to unseal Penn defendants
bill that would prohibit federal civil rights the plaintiff’s real ‘admit’ anything
laws applying the terms “gender” and “sex” name, claiming it’s about their alleged
to gender identity, and South Carolina Sen. unfair for her to conduct, as argued
Tim Scott, who pushed for legislation that hide “behind the by [Doe] in her
would legalize federal discrimination of shield of a pseud- reply brief,” the fil-
LGBTQ people. onym” while she HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ing states.
Pennsylvania State Rep. Brian Sims, the criticizes named PENNSYLVANIA (HUP), FACING NORTH. Doe’s Aug. 19
Photo: Sage Ross
first out candidate to hold the position, wrote Penn employees in reply brief asserts
an Aug. 16 op-ed for the Advocate support- publicly accessible court documents. that Penn defendants admitted behaving in
ing the project and calling on corporations But in an Aug. 21 filing, attorneys for the a “heinous” manner toward her during the
to stop funding politicians with anti-LGBTQ defendants told Goldberg they were dropping alleged incident.
stances. their request. Doe claims she was mistreated during a rou-
In Sims’ opinion piece, PAGE 8 Doe asserted that if she’s outed, her HIPAA tine medical procedure at PAGE 5

Gay man sues University of Scranton

BY TIMOTHY CWIEK
timothy@epgn.com
A former student at the University of
Scranton has filed suit against the university,
claiming that school officials failed to imple-
ment reasonable safeguards that would have
prevented him from experiencing anti-LGBT
harassment from another student.
The federal lawsuit was filed Aug. 27 in
the Middle District of Pennsylvania. A jury
trial has been requested.
“John Doe,” who currently resides in New
Jersey, graduated from the university in
May. He paid the university $138,612.85 in
tuition, room and board fees, yet university
officials “turned a blind eye while [Doe]
was subjected to bullying, harassment and
physical abuse” because he’s gay, according debating Doe,” according to the lawsuit. harasser texted Doe: “You’re below me intel-
to the lawsuit. The alleged harasser would frequently lectually but you’re probably used to being
From August 2018 to December 2018, taunt Doe about being gay and speculate in that position.” Also in the text, the alleged
Doe lived in off-campus housing shared with about the sexual orientation of other male harasser made derogatory remarks implying
another student who allegedly tormented students. On one occasion, he asked Doe in that Doe was the receptive partner during
him because of his sexual orientation. front of other housemates, “Why don’t you anal sex with an ex-boyfriend.
Doe disclosed his sexual orientation to the bring a girl over?” On another occasion, Doe repeatedly complained to university
alleged harasser when Doe pro- officials, to no avail. One administrator
in August 2018 tested about the allegedly told Doe, “Don’t let it get to you.”
and the alleged alleged harass- Doe “did not feel his complaints were being
harasser “ostra- er’s treatment taken seriously” by school administrators,
cized Doe and of women, the according to the lawsuit.
treated him with alleged harasser On Dec. 15, 2018, the alleged harasser
aversion by fre- said, “You don’t physically assaulted Doe. During the attack,
quently speak- even like girls,” the alleged harasser said, “I’m gonna murder
ing down to Doe according to the you in your sleep” and referred to Doe as a
in a denigrating lawsuit. “faggot,” according to the lawsuit.
manner and dis- On Nov. 1, Doe’s mother spoke to a dean at the school
agreeing with or Photo: Facebook 2018, the alleged about the alleged harass- PAGE 4
2 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 LOCAL
PGN

Resource listings William Way history exhibit explores

Legal resources
• ACLU of Pennsylvania:
215-592-1513; aclupa.org
• AIDS Law Project of PA:
215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org
• AIDS Law Project of South
Jersey: 856-784-8532; aid-
slawsnj.org/
• Equality PA: equalitypa.
org; 215-731-1447
local PA nondiscrimination ordinances
• Philadelphia Commission
on Human Relations — Rue
Landau: 215-686-4670
• Philadelphia Police Liai-
son Committee: 215-760-
3686; ppd.lgbt@gmail.com
• SPARC — Statewide Penn-
sylvania Rights Coalition:
717-920-9537

• Office of LGBT Affairs —

Amber Hikes: 215-686-0330;
amber.hikes@phila.gov

Community centers
THREE OF THE PANELS THAT ARE PART OF THE TRAVELING EXHIBIT.
• The Attic Youth Center; 255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331, atticyouth- Photo: Courtesy Barry Loveland
center.org. For LGBT and questioning youth and their friends and allies.
• LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania; 3907 Spruce schools. While the display was initially
St.; 215-898-5044, center@dolphin.upenn.edu. BY LAURA SMYTHE slated to run through December, due to an
laura@epgn.com excess of requests, it will run to at least the
• Rainbow Room: Bucks County’s LGBTQ and Allies Youth end of the 2019-20 school year, Loveland
Center A traveling exhibit exploring the his- told PGN.
Salem UCC Education Building, 181 E. Court St., Doylestown; 215-957-7981 tories of Pennsylvania municipalities that The presentation consists of six dou-
ext. 9065, rainbowroom@ppbucks.org. have fought for LGBTQIA-plus nondiscrim- ble-sided panels displaying text and images,
ination ordinances will be on display at the while accompanying videos play oral history
• William Way LGBT Community Center William Way LGBT Community Center’s interviews with people discussing the effects
1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220, www.waygay.org. Archives Gallery from Sept. 2-20. of having or not having a nondiscrimination
“The Long Road to LGBTQ+ Equality ordinance in their hometown.
in Pennsylvania” was created by the “Pennsylvania has had to do this sort of
Health and HIV testing Pennsylvania LGBT History Network, a coa- [work] by piecemeal,” said John Anderies,
lition of individuals and organizations dedi- director of William Way’s John J. Wilcox, Jr.
• Action Wellness: Spring Garden St.; 215- • Mazzoni Center: cated to preserving queer stories, in partner- Archives. “The fact is that while there’s been
1216 Arch St.; 215- 769-3561; bebashi.org 1348 Bainbridge St.; ship with the History Project, an archiving a lot of them that have passed … that’s still
981-0088, actionwell- • COLOURS: colour- 215-563-0652, mazzon- initiative operated by the LGBT Center such a minority of the state.”
ness.org sorganization.org, 215- icenter.org of Central PA. Launched in Harrisburg The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
• AIDS Healthcare 832-0100 • Philadelphia in March, the exhibit has snaked its way of 1955 allows the state’s municipalities to
Foundation: 1211 • Congreso de Lati- through towns including Lancaster, Carlisle, pass individualized local nondiscrimination
FIGHT: 1233 Locust
Chestnut St. #405 215- Erie and Allentown to inform people of more ordinances that outweigh state law. In 1982,
nos Unidos; 216 W. St.; 215-985-4448,
971-2804; HIVcare.org than 50 years of attempts to achieve LGBTQ Philadelphia became the first Pennsylvanian
Somerset St.; 215-763- fight.org
equality in the Keystone State. municipality to pass such a city ordinance
• AIDS Library: 8870 • Washington West The groups wanted to honor the efforts of protecting gay and lesbian people. Similar
1233 Locust St.; aidsli- • GALAEI: 149 W. Project of Mazzoni LGBTQ activists in the state in commemo- protections were extended to trans folks two
brary.org/ Susquehanna Ave.; Center: ration of Stonewall 50, said Barry Loveland, decades later in 2002.
• AIDS Treatment 267-457-3912, galaei. 1201 Locust St.; 215- History Project chair. To do so, the exhibit Harrisburg was the first to follow the City
Fact line: 800-662- org. Spanish/English 985-9206 focuses on something municipalities across of Brotherly Love’s lead in 1983, when
6080 • Health Center No. 2: • Transgender Pennsylvania have in common. a nondiscrimination ordinance was unani-
• Bebashi-Transi- 1720 S. Broad St.; Health Action Coali- “It’s been a long road because we have not mously passed in the state capital, Loveland
tion to Hope: 1235 215-685-1821 tion: 215-732-1207 been successful so far in achieving [nondis- said.
crimination] statewide legislation,” Loveland But the traveling exhibit stresses the trials
said. “It’s been really a case of working at and tribulations that accompanied passage of
the local level in passing nondiscrimination the state’s local ordinances.
Other ordinances and other protections from city to In Harrisburg, a woman who testified to
• Independence Branch Library Barbara Gittings Gay and city and township by township.” City Council in support of the guideline
Lesbian Collection: 215-685-1633 As of April, at least 55 of Pennsylvania’s had her front door set on fire, using reli-
2,562 municipalities have passed local gious material as kindling, Loveland said.
• Independence Business Alliance; 215-557-0190, Independence- LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinances — In Lancaster, where an equality ordinance
BusinessAlliance.com the most of any state in the U.S., accord- passed in 2001, the decision was met by pro-
ing to research by the Pennsylvania Youth tests by the Ku Klux Klan, while a lesbian
• LGBT Peer Counseling Services: 215-732-TALK
Congress. About one-third of Pennsylvanians bookstore owner was forced to shutter her
• PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and live in these locations. business after two firebombings scared away
Gays (Philadelphia): 215-572-1833 Three identical copies of the exhibit have clientele.
circulated through about 45 destinations Meanwhile, York’s 1998 legislation was
• Philly Pride Presents: 215-875-9288 across Pennsylvania, stopping at universi- pushed forward by a Republic mayor, which,
ties, LGBT community centers and high Loveland said, “was PAGE 23
 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 3

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

IN PHILADELPHIA

LEARN MORE PROUD TO SUPPORT

About Our Philadelphia Campus: Our LGBTQIA
wcupa.edu/philly Students, Faculty and Staff

INFORMATION SESSION TUESDAY, SEPT 17 at 5:30 PM

4 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 REGIONAL
PGN

Catholic priest allegedly spent $100K of church funds on other

men and Grindr dates
BY VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
A Downington priest has been arrested
and charged with stealing nearly $100,000
of church funds for a beach house at the
New Jersey shore, travel, Grindr dates with
other men and other “sexual relationships
with men.”
The Chester County District Attorney’s
Office announced the arrest of Father
Joseph McLoone, 56, for the theft of
$98,405.50 from St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
McLoone is alleged to have diverted par-
ish funds into a secret account, misappro-
priating fees charged to parishioners and
other fraudulent activity. McLoone has
been charged with “theft by unlawful tak-
ing” and related offenses.
McLoone is pastor at St. Joseph’s
Catholic Church in Downingtown, Chester
County, Pennsylvania, but was put on
administrative leave in 2018 when the
Archdiocese began investigating him.
District Attorney Chief of Staff Charles
Gaza stated, “Father McLoone held a
position of leadership and his parishio-
ners trusted him to properly handle their
generous donations to the church. Father
McLoone violated the trust of the members
of St. Joseph’s for his own personal gain.”
The diverted funds were allegedly con-
tained in a bank account named “St. Joseph
Activity Account,” which McLoone opened
Nov. 2, 2011, his first All Souls holiday as
pastor of the church. McLoone is alleged to
have not only diverted church funds, but for
charging extra for services he offered. McLoone is charged with having used his were related to relationships with adults that
Among the accusations against McLoone, position as pastor to “circumvent finan- represented a violation of The Standards of
the DA’s statement asserts, “The defendant cial controls and illegally change practices Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries estab-
took full advantage of the lack of control which benefited him financially,” according lished by the Archdiocese.”
over the activity account and used it to to the DA. The guidelines are extensive and pre-
fund his personal lifestyle. His lifestyle Catholic priests take a vow of celibacy, clude any sexual engagement of any kind
included a beach house, travel, dining but in an affidavit from the Chester County with adults or minors and stipulates that
and spending on adult men with whom he District Attorney’s office, McLoone told “Church Personnel who are committed to a
maintained sexual relationships. The defen- investigators that he used some of the funds celibate lifestyle are called to be an exam-
dant additionally supplemented his income to pay for “personal relationships” with ple of celibate chastity in all relationships
by doubling the stipend he other men. In 2018, he at all times” and that “Church Personnel
collected for saying each made ten deposits totaling may not exploit another person for sexual
mass and performing wed- more than $1,200 via JPay, purposes.”
dings and funerals.” an app that allows users to The Archdiocese said they’re work-
In addition, “The defen- send money to inmates, ing with law enforcement and will share
dant made thousands to a man in a New York updates with parishioners.
of dollars in payments correctional facility. The St. Joseph’s parish declined comment.
directly to men with whom inmate was identified in In an NBC News interview, McLoone’s
he maintained relation- court documents as Brian attorney, Melissa McCafferty, denied the
ships via Square and JPay Miller, whom McLoone allegations against her client. “Father Joe
online services.” allegedly met on Grindr. wants, needs and deserves a lot of push-
This is the second viola- Between April 2015 and back,” McCafferty said. “These assertions
tion of trust by a priest for April 2017, McLoone are absurd.”
members of St. Joseph’s allegedly also made 17 According to McCafferty, the case
Parish. McLoone had taken payments totaling $1,720 against McLoone “should not have been
over the position of pas- to other men he met on the taken up by law enforcement.” She said,
tor in 2011 following the gay dating app. “This DA’s office is notorious for filing
removal of Msgr. William A statement from charges on suspicion and conjecture. These
Lynn due to Lynn’s indict- MONSIGNOR JOSEPH the Archdiocese of accusations came about from a private let-
ment and incarceration in MCLOONE Photo: Chester Philadelphia declares, ter sent to his employer, not from anything
the priest sex abuse scan- County District Attorney’s Office “These charges are seri- criminally substantial.”
dal. Lynn was arrested, ous and disturbing.” The McLoone is being held on $50,000 unse-
charged and convicted for concealing child Archdiocese plans to pursue full finan- cured bond.
sex abuse by priests while he worked for cial restitution on behalf of the parish for The DA’s office said the case was inves-
the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He was the misused expenditures. The statement tigated by the Chester County Detectives.
the highest-placed member of the church asserts that McLoone “acknowledged that Anybody with further information should
hierarchy to be tried and convicted in the some expenditures” were used “for per- contact Detective Bernard Martin at 610-
ongoing scandal. sonal expenses of an inappropriate nature.” 344-6866. The assigned prosecutor is
During his tenure at St. Joseph’s Parish, The statement reads, “Those expenses Caitlin Rice. n

SCRANTON from page 1
ment and was told, “Pennsylvania doesn’t
recognize this as a hate crime.” The dean
failed to take remedial action against the
alleged harasser, according to the lawsuit.
School administrators didn’t order the
alleged harasser to leave the house and live
somewhere else. Instead, they suggested that
Doe leave the house. For safety reasons Doe
moved into on-campus housing for his final
semester at the university, which was more
expensive, according to the lawsuit.
Doe “continues to experience pain and suf-
fering, mental anguish, humiliation, embar-
rassment and emotional distress on account
of the abuse he suffered and for which Doe
has incurred additional expenses in attend-
ing professional counseling,” according to
the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount
in damages, along with implementation of a
university policy that anti-LGBT harassment
will be addressed appropriately by university
officials and that a harasser will be required
to move to different housing.
A university spokesperson declined to
comment, but referred a reporter to the uni-
versity’s non-discrimination policy posted
on its website, which forbids anti-LGBT
bias.
Justin F. Robinette, an attorney for Doe,
said his client hopes the lawsuit will help
others in a similar situation. “It’s completely
unacceptable in 2019 that LGBT people
have to endure this kind of bigotry and abuse
at college,” Robinette told PGN. “My client
feels nobody else who is LGBT should be
forced to go through what he went through
just to get an education. My client is looking
forward to his day in court.” n

PGN Phone: 215-625-8501 Publisher Staff Writers Photographer Advertising Sales

505 S. Fourth St.
Philadelphia, PA E-mail: pgn@epgn.com
19147-1506
Fax: 215-925-6437 Mark Segal (ext. 204) Laura Smythe (ext. 215) Kelly Burkhardt Joe Bean (ext. 219)
mark@epgn.com laura@epgn.com burkhardtkelly@gmail.com joe@epgn.com
Web: www.epgn.com Prab Sandhu (ext. 212)
Office Manager/Distribution Larry Nichols (ext. 213) Art Director
larry@epgn.com Sean Dorn (ext. 211) prab@epgn.com
Don Pignolet (ext. 200)
don@epgn.com sean@epgn.com National Advertising
Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208)
Philadelphia Gay News timothy@epgn.com Graphic Artist Rivendell Media:
is a member of: Editor ms (ext. 210) 212-242-6863
The Associated Press Jess Bryant (ext. 206)
editor@epgn.com ms@epgn.com
Pennsylvania Newspaper
Association
Suburban Newspapers 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
of America 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.

Published by Masco Communications Inc. 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,
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 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 5

PENN LAWSUIT from page 1

the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
in February 2018. Four months later, she was
fired from her job at HUP, after the hospital
allegedly exacerbated her gender dys-phoria.
Gender dysphoria is a medical condition
that some trans people have. People with
gender dysphoria feel distress because their
assigned gender at birth doesn’t match their
gender identity.
On July 2, Doe filed suit in the U.S. District
Court for the Eastern District of Penn-sylvania.
The defendants include HUP, The University
of Pennsylvania and its trustees, various Penn
medical staffers and Penn police officers. The
complaints against them include assault, bat-
tery, intentional infliction of emotional dis-
tress, anti-trans bias, false imprisonment, vio-
lation of privacy rights, sex discrimination and
medical malpractice. Additionally, HUP is
charged with wrongful termina-tion.
According to Doe’s Aug. 19 filing, “defen-
dants seek to violate [Doe’s] HIPAA and other
privacy rights, by releasing information pro-
tected by those laws.” The filing goes on to
point out that “HIPAA protects identification
and other personal health in-formation from
disclosure. [To disclose Doe’s name] is against
the public interest.”
But defense attorneys emphasized the
“strong presumption” in federal cases that
litigants will be identified by their real name.
“For the sake of fairness and open access to the
courts, [Doe] should be required to proceed in
her own name in this litigation, and her motion
to proceed in anonymity should be denied,”
defense at-torneys wrote in an Aug. 2 filing.
Justin F. Robinette, a local civil-rights attor-
ney who’s following the case, blasted Penn for
previously trying to out Doe.

“We can help stop

“The request was improper and demon-
strated an appalling lack of sensitivity,”
Robinette told PGN. “I earnestly believe that
outing a trans person beyond the ex-tent to
which they’re comfortable constitutes a form
of harassment. It’s especially outrageous given
today’s climate of violence and discrimination

HIV stigma one

faced by trans people. Ive represented numer-
ous LGBTQ litigants and they’ve all been
anony-mous. Im shocked that an institution of
higher education would be so callous. I just
hope Penn has learned from this matter and
will respect the privacy rights of trans people

story at a time.”
in the future.
Adrian M. Lowe, a staff attorney at the
AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, said he
was pleased that Penn withdrew the request.
“The AIDS Law Project uses pseudonyms
in the majority of our litigation in feder-al and
state court,” Lowe said, in an Aug. 23 email.
“The ability to proceed under pseudonym is
important for ensuring that plaintiffs who face I wasn’t sure what to expect when
high levels of stigma for who they are — such
as transgender people and people with HIV — I shared my story about living with Let’s stop HIV stigma together.
aren’t dis-suaded from accessing justice.” HIV on social media. The outpouring
A spokesperson for HUP said, “Ensuring
Learn how at cdc.gov/together
respect for all our patients is a corner-stone of of support has been amazing.
care across Penn Medicine, and we value and
support diversity among both our patients and
our workforce. At this time, we are withdraw-
ing our opposition to the plaintiff’s motion to
proceed with this case in anonymity, as we /ActAgainstAIDS /ActAgainstAIDS @TalkHIV
wish to maintain the fo-cus on the legal issues
in the case.” n
6 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
HRC endorses trans Del. senatorial candidate
BY MICHELE ZIPKIN
PGN Contributor
On Sunday, Aug. 25, the Human Rights
Campaign publicly endorsed Sarah
McBride, longtime LGBT rights activist
and out transgender candidate running for
the Delaware Senate. If elected, McBride
would be the first openly transgender per-
son to hold a seat in any State Senate in
the U.S.
As part of his first national tour, newly
appointed HRC president Alphonso David
praised McBride at Wilmington Brew
Works at what doubled as her campaign
kick-off event.
“Sarah was one of his first endorse-
ments, which really just underscores the
importance of her race and of the oppor-
tunity that we have to make history in
Delaware,” said Lucas Acosta, National
Press Secretary for the HRC.
David spoke about McBride’s ability to
drive change for LGBT communities and
beyond.
“At a time when equality is under attack
at the federal level, it has never been more
important for states like Delaware to show
the nation what is possible when we reject
the politics of division and embrace the
politics of progress,” David said in a press
REGIONAL
PGN
release. “We’re the representatives from the district. Door-
proud to endorse knocking has been going great, with a lot
Sarah’s historic of really positive interactions, and a lot of
candidacy, and folks, no matter where we’re door-knock-
cannot wait to ing, who are committing firmly to support
call her Senator the campaign.”
McBride.” If she wins the seat, McBride plans to
McBride cur- address issues of healthcare, ensure access
rently works as to paid family and medical leave and make
National Press improvements to Delaware’s criminal jus-
Secretary for the tice system, among other things.
HRC but plans “Sarah not only has representation for
to scale back to the trans community in elected office, but
focus on her cam- also, putting our stamp on helping elect her
paign. She has early is really going to give her the oppor-
made indelible tunity within the primary race itself to
strides for LGBT rights, firearm safety and solutions to gen- show her strength as a candidate and show
communities since interning at the White der-related violence. that she has the community 100 percent
House and working for Governor Jack Though early in her campaign, McBride behind her,” Acosta said.
Markell — she worked as Campaigns and has a very positive, can-do attitude and is In terms of potential challenges as a
Communications Manager for the LGBT excited to connect with Delaware residents transgender candidate, McBride is con-
Research and Communications Project at and listen to their concerns. She started fident in the unwavering support of her
the Center for American Progress; helmed by knocking on her fellow Delawareans’ community. She does not believe her trans
the effort to pass the breakthrough antidis- doors, which she and dozens of volunteers identity will hinder her chances of winning
crimination bill in Delaware in 2013; and continued to do after the HRC event at the senatorial seat.
she spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Wilmington Brew Works this past Sunday. “The response from the community has
Convention in Philadelphia, the first trans- Delaware State Treasurer Colleen Davis been incredible,” she said. “I’m optimis-
gender person to address a major political and State Rep. Debra Heffernan were tic. I’m a joyful, hopeful warrior, and I
party convention. among some of the supporters present at know for sure that this is a community that
She played an integral role in the House the event. judges people, including candidates, on
of Representatives’ passage of the Equality “It’s going very well so far,” McBride what they bring to the table, not on their
Act and has strongly defended voting said. “We’ve got the support of most of identities.” n
 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 7

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8 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
Philly man dating trans woman allegedly dies by suicide after
struggling with addiction, bullying
BY LAURA SMYTHE
laura@epgn.com
A Philadelphia man was found allegedly
dead by suicide on Aug. 18, after a video
showing him being bullied while defending
his relationship with a trans woman was
widely circulated online earlier this year.
The clip shows a group of people sur-
rounding Maurice “Reese” Willoughby, 20,
and berating him about dating his girlfriend,
Faith Palmer.
In the days following Willoughby’s death,
the hashtag #RIPReese went viral. People
across the country, including public figures
like presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke,
trans actress Laverne Cox and trans woman
Miss Peppermint, who appeared in RuPaul’s
Drag Race Season 9, chimed in on a con-
versation on the barriers to openly dating
ZERO FOR ZEROS from page 1
the state representative cites major players in
the Equinox/SoulCycle brand hosting a multi-
million-dollar fundraiser for President Trump
and past anti-LGBT sentiments from Hobby
Lobby and Domino’s Pizza in making him
more attentive of his own spending habits.
“I’ve been learning a great deal more lately
about how our corporate allies spend our
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LGBTQ-plus people. describes a much more precarious relation- instance of a cisgender man bullied to take
“Reece was someone who had the audac- ship situation, fraught with abuse and drug his own life.”
ity to publicly love a trans woman,” Miss use. Willoughby’s Facebook also details drug “Reese’s suicide is not the time to discuss
Peppermint wrote on Instagram. “After usage. cis men who date trans women,” the post
enduring torment and ridicule yesterday he Palmer wrote she thought he was going states. “Faith went on Instagram Live to
died by Suicide, look up “to take both of us” clarify that Reese’s suicide occurred through
the transgender people because “he said that’s an overdose after she left him. A heavy drug
in your lives and lift up how much he loved me, user, Reese threatened to take his life and
the PARTNERS AND but I knew it was the Faith’s. She ran away to safety, and it was
LOVES of transgender pills talkin’ not him.” then that he committed suicide.”
people. In some cases, She then referenced Palmer also describes Willoughby as a
it’s life and death [sic].” Willoughby’s forehead musician who aimed to use the craft to tell
O’Rourke’s tweet tattoo that read “Faith.” his story. Of his death, she said, “It’s deeper
reads: “No one should The Marsha P. [than] him being bullied.”
lose their life because Johnson Institute pub- Philadelphia police told PGN, “No infor-
of who they are or who lished a statement on mation [is available] at this time” regarding
they love.” Facebook Aug. 21 nam- Willoughby’s death. A spokesperson for the
Palmer did not ing Palmer as a survivor Philadelphia Department of Public Health,
respond to PGN’s of abuse and stating the which oversees the Medical Examiner’s
request for comment, MAURICE “REESE” WILLOUGHBY incident should not be Office, said “Willoughby’s cause of death is
but her Facebook Photo: Facebook primarily viewed as “an still pending investigation at this time.” n
dollars and, in fact, some of the ‘best’ allies defensively to the campaign, and wants them by it,” he told PGN. “They may not know
to the LGBTQ community contribute to the to understand the politicians they are mone- that Microsoft or AT&T or Google give them
worst of the worst anti-LGBTQ members of tarily supporting are the ones at fault. money, but what they don’t see is anyone
Congress,” Sims wrote in the Advocate. The danger lies in having “young, impres- standing up to them. If we can make a state-
Sims could not be reached for comment. sionable people” who are struggling with their ment by getting those companies to say we’re
Hudson said he hopes Zero for Zeros sexuality or gender identity seeing major poli- not going to give to those candidates who say
changes the way corporate America treats ticians using anti-LGBT rhetoric in the public those awful things, then they will know that
politicians condemning queer people. He eye, Hudson said. somebody’s got their back and they could
added he doesn’t want corporations to respond “They take it personally and they feel hurt make a difference in that young kid’s life.” n
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PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 9

For LGBTQ elders, palliative care

can alleviate aging’s obstacles
Sales Representative at PGN
ingly.”
BY SUZANNAH CAVANAUGH For members of the LGBTQ senior commu-
PGN Contributor nity, this type of personal care can relieve fears
of discrimination by medical professionals.
Palliative care is a 21st-century growth A recent CityLab article reported that 80
market. percent of LGBTQ older adults conceal their
From 2000-16, the care model — which sexual orientation when entering longterm-
focuses on humanistic treatment for patients care facilities. And of those choosing to age at
living with a life-threatening illness — home, many expressed anxieties over allowing
expanded its hospital services by 178 percent, caretakers in the house.
adding at least 1,100 programs nationally, Dr. Ansari recounted the experience of an
according to the Center to Advance Palliative LGBTQ patient in Ohio: “He was very, very
Care. sick, in the last weeks of his life. He was
But despite the consistent uptick, the market married to a wonderful husband who wanted
is a blind spot for the major- to take him home and care
ity of U.S. residents consid- for him. There were maybe Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) currently has immediate opening for adver-
ering care plans. some pets there and he told
“Recently, there was a me that having a really beau- tising sales position available for an energetic, self-motivated individual
study saying that something tiful environment at home with outstanding communication skills.
like 75 percent of Americans was important to him and
have never heard of palliative comforting for him.”
care,” said Dr. Huma Ansari, But the couple was afraid
Our ideal candidate must have polished sales skills with experience in lead
the newly appointed exec- that enrolling in the neces- generation and cold calling, combined with a track record of closing the sale.
utive director of Palliative sary hospice services would
Care at KeystoneCare in leave them vulnerable to Qualifications: * Two years minimum of successful sales experience, for-
Wyndmoor. unfair treatment by nurses.
Dr. Ansari said, They’d had bad experiences mer print and/or advertising sales are a plus * Strong verbal and writing
KeystoneCare “was actu- in the past. skills * Excellent at relationship building * Ability to work independently
ally started by our founder, As a palliative-care physi-
Gail and her wife because of DR. HUMA ANSARI, cian, Dr. Ansari could con- and part of a team * Knowledge of local media market and LGBT communi-
AIDS in Philadelphia in the firm that the hospice team
’80s. She found that AIDS was educated on LGBTQ
ty a plus * Computer literacy a must
patients were being abandoned and that they care and assured the couple they’d be treated
weren’t being cared for appropriately by the with compassion. Salary/Benefits: Competitive Salary based on your past experience, plus
medical system and that they didn’t even But it remains a concern for all her LGBTQ commission. Our benefits package includes medical and dental insurance,
really have a lot of knowledge about their own patients.
diseases to be able to make good decisions for “It is so unfair for anybody to worry about paid holidays, vacation and a casual work environment.
themselves.” that sort of discrimination, especially when
Coincidentally palliative care was at one they’re at the end of their life and trying to Qualified individuals interested in applying are encouraged to send their
time the primary, and often only, care given have the last special times with their loved
to HIV/AIDS patients before anti-retroviral ones,” Dr. Ansari said. résumé. to mark@epgn.com
therapy. The personal attention afforded by a palli-
Dr. Ansari describes palliative care as a plan ative-care plan also may prove a comfort for
that focuses both on symptom management LGBTQ elders — who are more likely to live
— making sure patients are comfortable — alone and enter care without immediate family
and quality of life, confirming that patients support.
understand their treatment options. “We know that LGBT seniors are three-four
“So one thing we really focus on is making times less likely to have children than their
sure those treatment options help them be who heterosexual counterparts. They are twice
they are. And meet their goals as people and as likely to live alone, twice as likely to be
not just patients,” she said. single,” said Ed Miller, senior programs coor-
Although palliative care is often an option dinator for William Way LGBT Community
for patients with a terminal illness, it’s not Center and SAGE programming. “Their social
synonymous with hospice. isolation is more confounded and unique than
“Hospice is a tiny sliver. It is actually a type heterosexual elders.”
of palliative care and a very small proportion Palliative care helps patients develop a care
of what we do as a whole,” explained Dr. plan and express their wishes for end of life —
Ansari. decisions frequently left up to family.
Ideally, palliative care would begin on the “We’re very aware that for some of our
first day of a patient’s life-threatening diag- LGBTQ patients, their families are chosen,
nosis. The doctor would sit down with the and so we’re really good at making sure that
patient, support them in processing their diag- people are able to plan well, whether that’s
nosis and help them decide on a treatment legally, for the end of life or for decision-mak-
plan. ing,” said Dr. Ansari.
“So, mapping out the things that they want Miller said just the knowledge that this type
to accomplish,” added Dr. Ansari. “And then of care exists is a relief.
you can provide the medical expertise to either “I know one senior, he’s got a boyfriend,
modify the way that they’re going to meet but he’s really at the end stages of his life *PGN is an equal opportunity employer
their goals or advise them to adjust accord- and he just wants to stay PAGE 23
10 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
Editorial
The anti-LGBTQ-plus legisla-
tion to watch this fall
PGN has covered various court
cases this year that mention the Civil
Rights Act and whether it covers
LGBTQ individuals. Most recently
has been the case of Aimee Stephens,
a trans woman who was fired from
her job as a funeral director due to her
transition.
Last week, the Trump
Administration’s Department of
Justice filed a brief saying Supreme
Court justices should throw out a
lower court ruling that sided with
Stephens. The brief states that in
1964, the year the Civil Rights Act
was signed into law, “the ordinary
public meaning of ‘sex’ was biolog-
ical sex. It did not encompass trans-
gender status.”
This week, more than 50
Republican members of Congress
filed a new brief stating their oppo-
sition to LGBTQ rights, inferring
that three queer individuals seeking
job protections, including Aimee
Stephens, are exploiting the law.
Attorney Generals from 15 states also
sided with the Trump Administration.
The brief, written by Timothy
Newton and Kenneth Sterr, who rec-
ommended impeaching President
Clinton in 1988, argues Congress
alone should debate civil rights pro-
tections.
In addition, the brief misgenders
Aimee Stephens and describes why
EDITORIAL
PGN
R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes
should have been able to fire her.
Along with Stephens’ case, there
are two gay discrimination cases
that will appear before the SCOTUS
when the new session opens: Gerald
Lynn Bostock and the estate of the
now-deceased Donald Zarda.
The brief targeted all three cases
and was filed shortly after Log Cabin
Republicans chose to endorse Trump
in the 2020 election.
Because it is becoming increas-
ingly clear that a national Equality
Act is not likely to pass under the
current administration, it seems even
more vital for Pennsylvanians to turn
toward the Fairness Act for hope,
which, in various iterations, has
failed to pass for decades.
In September, Congress resumes
both in Pennsylvania and nationally,
placing the LGBTQ community at
risk for experiencing new laws that
could set dangerous precedents. But,
we are also in a position to advocate
for our rights and let our congress
people know what we need from
state legislation during a federal
backlash against LGBTQ rights and
privileges.
Here, PGN will do its job reporting
LGBTQ news as it comes, so that we
all can be more informed about legis-
lation that affects us individually and
as a community. n
Creep of the Week D’Anne Witkowski
Log Cabin Republicans
A day after it was announced that the
Trump Administration was planning on
making it easier for federal contractors
to discriminate against LGBTQ workers,
the Log Cabin Republicans did the only
thing that made sense: they endorsed him
wholeheartedly.
In a very out-of-touch opinion piece in
the Washington Post, LCR Chair Robert
Kabel and Vice Chair Jill Homan wrote,
“Since taking office, President Trump has
followed through on many of his commit-
ments to the United States, including tak-
ing bold actions that benefit the LGBTQ
community.”
What?
Trump’s administration is the most
anti-LGBTQ, like, ever. He’s appointed
a score of anti-LGBTQ judges, kicked
transgender service members to the curb,
endorses anti-LGBTQ candidates, sup-
ports so-called “religious freedom” laws
that are a pass for discriminating against
LGBTQ employees and customers. That’s
just a partial list. He is literally working
to undo every gain LGBTQ people made
under President Obama.
But please LCR chairs, do enlighten me
about his “bold actions that benefit the
LGBTQ community.”
Trump has “committed to end the
spread of HIV/AIDS in 10 years, through
the use of proven science, medicine and
technology,” they write.
First of all, the distrust of science by
Republicans has only accelerated under
President “Windmills cause cancer”
Trump. Republicans also have vowed to
do away with the Affordable Care Act,
which includes protections for pre-existing
conditions like HIV/AIDS, not to mention
the fact that the ACA has allowed many
people to access care who previously were
unable to get insurance. Oh, and there’s
the fact that many of Trump’s support-
ers in the religious right still believe that
AIDS is God’s punishment and that gays
are subhuman and sex-crazed and need
to pray to Jesus to make them straight.
So spare me the “Trump is going to end
AIDS” bulls--t.
Kabel and Homan also claim that
“Trump has used the United States’ out-
size global influence to persuade other
nations to adopt modern human rights
standards, including launching an initia-
tive to end the criminalization of homo-
sexuality.”
Ah yes, no doubt other countries are
looking to the U.S. for pointers on how
to elevate human rights standards. Maybe
the globe will be inspired by how Trump
has earned the adoration of literal Nazis
and helped to embolden white suprema-
cist terrorists. Or maybe they are jealous
of our “guns are more important than
human lives” policies. Surely the world
is impressed
that Trump
is cracking
down on asy-
lum seekers
and immi-
grants by
taking their
children and
locking them
in jails with
no plans for how to reunite these families.
Actually, Kabel and Homan likely see
his treatment of immigrants as a plus.
“His hard line on foreign policy has pro-
tected LGBTQ lives,” they claim.
Trump’s foreign policy has protected
LGBTQ lives? Was it when he tried to
goad North Korea’s Kim Jong Un into war
via Twitter? Or was it when he scrapped
the Iran nuclear deal and seemed hip to
go to war with them, too? Was it when he
declared that Russia, a country that has
extremely punitive anti-gay laws, was
America’s BFF? The fact is, Trump’s
policies have made Americans less safe
at home and abroad. We are literally the
laughingstock of the world because we
have such a supremely stupid and vile
president. Trump makes the nation weak.
Kabel and Homan also claim that
Trump’s “tax cuts have benefited LGBTQ
families and helped put food on their
tables” and his “aggressive negotiations on
trade deals have preserved LGBTQ jobs.”
Sure, Jan.
If you’re wondering why LCR would
embrace such a destructive and hateful
administration, Kabel and Homan make
the argument that things aren’t as bad as
they were, therefore they’re good as they
are.
“For LGBTQ Republicans, watching
the 2016 GOP convention before Donald
Trump took the stage was like a dream ful-
filled,” they wrote. “The distance between
that event and Pat Buchanan’s hate-filled
exhortation against the LGBTQ com-
munity in Houston in 1992 is a powerful
measurement of how far we’ve come.”
Ah. So because the GOP put gay bil-
lionaire Peter Thiel on stage at their con-
vention instead of hate troll Pat Buchanan
all is well and good? Regardless of who
they put on stage, the Republican plat-
form for 2016 was the most anti-LGBTQ
platform ever. Even worse than in 1992.
Just because the GOP realized that public
homophobic hate is a bad look doesn’t
mean they don’t still embrace it in private
and enact policies that advance their anti-
LGBTQ agenda. n
D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and come-
dian living in Michigan with her wife and son.
She has been writing about LGBT politics
for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @
MamaDWitkowski.

Political Roundup
My Labor Day weekend column is always united no matter who the candidate is. All
one that muses on topics that just don’t
make it in during the rest of the year. Little
tidbits and thoughts that might give you an
idea of what I’m thinking and an
opportunity to debate the issues.
On “out”-ing: I’ve always
believed that everyone has
a right to their own life and
nobody has a right to dabble in
someone else’s personal life.
There is one exception, though,
when that closeted person tries
to dabble in LGBT lives — like
a closeted person preaching or
voting against our rights. That’s
hypocrisy and should be chal-
lenged. Mark My
On the Presidential race: Let
me be clear, and I hope you Words
feel the same way, I will vote Mark Segal she has progressives, along with
for whoever the Democrat can-
didate for President eventually
is. And I will make it a point to vote even
if I do not like that person for their political candidates of their own. If she eventually
position entirely. Anyone who states oth-
erwise is a disappointment in my eyes and
is part of the problem. We all need to be
Letters and Feedback
International boycotts
If we’re going to boycott another
nation’s products for human rights abuses,
how about Saudi Arabia? They aren’t
exactly friends to LGBT people and are
god awful to women, and they oppress the
Shia minority within their own country.
Let’s demand that our gas stations only
stock locally made products.
And what about China and the way
they’ve treated Tibetans and the Uighur
Op-Ed
It’s time to raise the age, PA!
State after state, town after town,
communities in other states are moving
quickly to address one of the most critical
public health issues facing our country:
youth access to tobacco. Other states are
raising the legal sales age of tobacco to
age 21 while Pennsylvania lags behind.
Approximately 95 percent of smok-
ers try their first cigarette before the age
of 21. In a 2015 report, the National
Academy of Medicine predicted that
smoking would be reduced by 25 percent
for 15-17 year olds and 15 percent for
18-20 year olds if the tobacco sales age
increased to 21.
The legislative effort to raise the legal
sales age of tobacco to 21 will signifi-
cantly reduce youth tobacco consump-
tion and save thousands of lives. This is
important for the health of all youth, but
for LGBT youth, it’s even more critical. In
Philadelphia, 34.6 percent of LGBT youth
18-24 consume tobacco according to the
OP-ED
PGN
of the candidates running in the Democratic
field — repeat all — are better than the
racist, homophobic Trump, and you owe
it to yourself, your community
and country to vote in November
2020, for whoever the candidate
is.
On Trump: Of course he is a
racist. It is the only philosophy
that we know he actually holds.
All his other philosophies are
influenced by the last person he
talked to.
My hometown’s political
scene: Sherri Cohen is battling
to be on the November ballot as
an out lesbian for City Council
at-large. She comes to the bat-
tle with a lot of baggage, and
Republicans, attempting to kick
her off the ballot. Round one
was won by the progressives who have
wins, and it’s a 50-50 chance she will, she
will be the community’s best shot at having
an out person on Council. The community
people? Next time you go shopping, check
the label and make sure the gizmo wasn’t
produced in China.
— Martha Shelley
International boycotts
I was dismayed to see PGN Publisher
Mark Segal’s recent opinion. The casual
verbal cruelty and opacity of the interrog-
ative title “Some Palestinians: Don’t forget
to kill the homosexuals?” should have been
questioned prior to publication.
2018 Pennsylvania LGBT Health Needs
Assessment. In the Lehigh Valley, it’s even
worse: 47.4% percent of LGBT youth
smoke -— this is compared to 18 percent
of the general population.
These numbers foreshadow a scary tra-
jectory for the future health challenges
of LGBT youth. All of the science says
the same thing: If Pennsylvania raises the
legal sales age of tobacco to 21, youth
are less likely to start smoking. We know
that this will make a significant difference
for LGBT youth who are so disparately
impacted by tobacco.
I recently heard from a young adult who
told me that she couldn’t even count the
number of times she tried to quit smoking.
Once hooked on nicotine, it is very hard
to quit. Some research even suggests that
it takes 30 attempts to kick the tobacco
habit. Our LGBT community deserves
long, thriving, proud lives where we can
truly be ourselves. This is what we’ve
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 11
will then need to have the discussion. This
situation was created from the lack of sup-
port from those claiming to be progressive we wanna know:
not supporting either of the two out LGBT if you could
candidates for Council in the May primary.
Everyone wants a second bite of the apple;
create an LGBTQ+ app,
it’s up to the courts now to decide who gets
what would it do?
that.
Because we are one of the three Rust
Belt states — Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
and Michigan — that narrowly voted for
Trump, an interest operation is happening “Provide a list of
here. Both Republicans and Democrats all LGBT services
are trying to register, en masse, a particu- (Held, legal, etc.)
lar demographic: the Amish. Republicans and a map of their
believe they’re a prime source of votes for locations.”
them, while Democrats believe that they
have a chance at their votes since farmers
and the National Farmers Association have
now turned south on Trump and his tariffs
due to a loss of profitability. Don’t you just
love politics? “Help organize
Finally, which Democratic candidate has queer events, es-
the best chance to beat Trump: If you agree pecially in areas
with me that all Democrats need to vote where it’s harder
no matter who the Democratic nominee is, to get to events in
then the answer is any Democrat can win. the city.”
Let’s go get ’em. n
Opportunity for genuine reporting on “I’d create an app
LGBTQ Palestinians as they seek their that allows LGBT+
rights is available: www.middleeasteye.net/ people with mets
opinion/lbgtq-community-was-pas-scape- to meet each other
goat-week-whos-next. (and their pets).”
I hope that in subsequent reporting your
readers can gain appreciation of the strug-
gles of LGBTQ Palestinians, a more useful
course than criticizing the government they
live under.
— Marta Guttenberg
“A nonsexual,
anonymous way
to show how many
LGBT+ people are
in a given space.”
been fighting for. This is what those who
came before us were fighting for. We can’t
sit back and allow the next generation of
LGBT youth to be addicted to tobacco.
What’s more, this policy proposal
enjoys broad public support from a
diverse cross-section of Pennsylvanians. “A dating app for
More than 68 percent of Pennsylvanians trans folx that has
including a majority of Republicans, a good hold on
Democrats, current smokers and former chasers.”
smokers all agree that the legal sales age
of tobacco should be increased to age 21.
With this widespread support for a fair-
minded health solution, policy makers in
Harrisburg should be pleased to make such
a change.
The truth is that LGBT youth bravely
navigate through many stressors in their
lives: family rejection, school bullying, follow us on instag ram to be a
harassment and more. They are already part of our social polls and
living at risk due to many social chal- q uestions: @phillygaynews
lenges and nicotine addiction makes it
worse. Tobacco is the PAGE 14
12 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 OPINION
PGN
Transmissions Gwendolyn Ann Smith
Exist, we must
It’s so damned hard to be transgender
right now and just existing is a radical act. It
shouldn’t have to be.
The Trump Administration recently
stepped into an upcoming Supreme Court
case over a transgender woman, Aimee
Stephens, who worked for a funeral home in
Michigan, arguing against her rights. Their
goal? Use this case to abolish all transgender
rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964 by disallowing “sex” too be inclusive
of transgender identities.
“Title VII does not prohibit discrimina-
tion against transgender persons based on
their transgender status,” said the Justice
Department in the filing, “It simply does
not speak to discrimination because of an
individual’s gender identity or a disconnect
between an individual’s gender identity and
the individual’s sex.”
The case itself could have far-reaching
ramifications, crumbling away any and all
protections of transgender people at the fed-
eral level. At worst, the case could take us
all the way back to dress codes that require
all women to wear dresses and skirts to work
like it was the 1950s.
Also, I hasten to add, with the current
makeup of the court, the cards are stacked
against transgender rights.
Transgender people — primarily Black
transgender women — are being killed at
higher levels than ever before. Every one of
the women murdered this year has been mis-
gendered by police and the media, having
their identity stripped away just as quickly as
their murderers took their last breath.
Death isn’t just at the hands of others, nor
are we the only target of transphobia.
Maurice Willoughby, a non-transgender
man was in a relationship with a transgen-
der woman, Faith. In a video posted online,
Willoughby was harassed by a number of
other men for loving his partner. In the con-
frontation, he is pelted with transphobic and
homophobic abuse. According to a friend of
his, this was far from the first or last time.
It will not happen again, however, because
Maurice Willoughby died by suicide after this
harassment became more than he could bear.
Again, it shouldn’t have to be like this. Just
existing is a radical act.
Those who oppose us want to strip away
our rights, make us powerless and, ultimately,
erase us enitrely. It’s not just the government,
either.
Religious leaders want to warn their
parishioners against the evil we supposedly
represent. The Pope has likened the fight for
transgender rights to nuclear weapons, and
every wannabe evangelical preacher has set
their sights on transgender people.
A small but vocal offshoot of supposedly
radical feminism — just like the religious
right — wants to claim that transgender peo-
ple are some sort of threat, not only to them,
but to society in general. They claim that evil
machinations are stealing away masculine
women and forcing them to be transgender,
and that every transgender woman is simply a
rapist in disguise.
This, of course, is nonsense.
Even many who might otherwise be allies
are retreating, deciding it safer to still their
tongue in a time when we need them the
most, when their stance could literally be a
matter of life and death for so many of us.
We are vilified, ridiculed and treated like
filth. Many would like us to just shut up and
go away.
It really shouldn’t be like this, and existing
shouldn’t have to be a radical act.
Yet, it is.
Every day we wake and rise to face the
sunlight is a day when we oppose those who
stand opposed to us; another day when we
declare our existence in a hostile world.
We must do more than exist, however. We
need to thrive. We need to show that, try as
they might, they cannot and will not beat us
down. We need to live our lives undaunted,
with honesty, and show that we deserve our
own space and our own time.
We need to be visible, willing to be seen,
willing to stand up and stand out. Our oppo-
nents are more than willing to speak against
us. It is time we wrested the microphone
from their hands and make some noise.
We can no longer afford to wait for some-
one else to come in and champion our needs.
It is time for us to be our own saviors and
fight back against the injustices from the
Trump administration and others.
This, of course, isn’t easy. It never has
been, and it certainly isn’t now. Even as I
advocate such boldness, I know that this is
a dangerous time. It becomes all the more
important that we make sure to have each
others’ backs and make sure we’re all doing
okay.
We need to come together as a community
and find the places we can work together. I
don’t just mean that amongst those of us that
are varying shades of trans or gender non-
conforming, but we need to find our common
ground in the larger LGBTQ community
and in the struggle for racial injustice and in
fights against misogyny and in sex worker
rights, disability rights and abortion rights
and anywhere else.
Those who stand against us have little
problem doing so. They’ll welcome any sort
of evil within their ranks if it furthers their
goals.
I’m not saying we need to take on that
same level of bile and putrescence, but we
do need to work to find the places we can be
stronger as a whole and move forward as a
group, even as we work on issues specific to
us.
It’s so damned hard to be transgender right
now, and just existing is a radical act.
Yet, exist we must. n
Gwen Smith lacks putrescence. You can find her at
www.gwensmith.com.
 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 13

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14 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
JEFFREY E. GOLDMAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW
SPECIALIZING IN PARTNERSHIP AND EMPLOYMENT LAW
Proven track record of recovering millions of dollars for wrongfully treated employees!*
Experience litigating:
Jeffrey E. Goldman, Esq. Also handle: peril. Suz was slowly recovering from
100 S. Broad St.
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*Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Because life is
more than just gay
news.
COLUMN
PGN
Stretching your dollar:
Enjoying life on a budget
• Partnership & business disputes
Just like in “The Wizard of Oz,” when
• Non-competes my partner Suz and I arrived in Philly,
• Executive compensation we landed hard. We definitely weren’t in
• Employment discrimination Kansas anymore (make that Camden, actu-
• Real Estate Litigation ally). We had been compelled to pack up
and move in a hurry. We were in financial
• Wills, Living Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney recent cancer surgery and treatment, and I
had to quit my job as a musician because I
Put 18 years of experience to work for you! had learned the hard way that harp playing
can trigger heart attacks (who
knew?).
We were both more than a
little bit scared, and, well, our
heads were spinning. When
we finally found our land legs
and gingerly ventured outside
our new home here at the John
Repairs, Renovations and Remodeling C. Anderson LGBT Friendly
Apartments, we gazed up in
(215) 467-3335 awe at the land of Oz. Here we
were in the heart of a vibrant
Pa. HIC #026545
Phila. Lic. #17895
city, surrounded by restaurants,
boutiques, and, just a block
Gettin’ On
away, the theatre district. Mary
“Our” My first thought was: Uh oh.
This is gonna be like life in the desert —
Family Plumber mercilessly and eternally beckoned by the
for over 30 years
mirage of a magnificent oasis, while we’re
here dying of thirst! I mean really, a lux-
urious dinner for two followed by a stroll
over to the Academy of Music for an eve-
ning at the opera would run us about two
weeks income. Not gonna happen!
We made do for a while, did lots of
window shopping and eventually learned
that we qualified for benefits. We also dis-
covered that buses and trains are free for
seniors and that lots of local restaurants
have happy hours and weekly specials.
Hmm, maybe there was hope for a couple
of vintage lesbians on a tight budget to
have a hot time in the old town!
By then Suz was feeling much bet-
ter, and we were itchin’ for some fun.
Soon we discovered one of the best little
secrets of all: those of us who qualify for
an Access card can go to just about every
local museum for the grand total of $2, as
well as to shows at several theatres includ-
ing the Wilma and the Arden! And those of
us who don’t qualify just have to cozy up
to someone who does, because each card
OP-ED from page 11
leading preventable cause of death for the
LGBT community and the leading cause
of the 12 most common types of cancer.
When we raise the legal sales age to 21,
Pennsylvania will join many other states in
taking this public health issue seriously.
To be sure, no single policy solution
will block every youth from accessing
ARTS & CULTURE tobacco, but raising the legal sales age is
a solution proven to work in other states.
We should recognize the power of this
holder can take along up to three guests
for the same $2 each!
On a lazy Sunday morning, we’ll catch
the bus over to the Rodin Museum or the
Philadelphia Museum of Art or, if we’re
feeling daring, we can explore the Mutter
Museum and relax in their garden.
Many museums in the city also offer
a “pay what you wish” day each month,
providing full access to their exhibits
for people on any budget. If
museums aren’t your thing, try
checking out free movie nights
at outdoor locations around the
city, including Penn’s Landing,
Clark Park, and the Schuylkill
Banks. There is plenty of free
entertainment in the city if you
can do a little research.
If you’re looking to pick up
a new skill or explore existing
interests, many senior centers
across the city offer free or low-
cost classes in art, dance, com-
Groce puter skills, foreign languages
and more. Some of them even
have fitness centers offering yoga, tai chi
and zumba. Public libraries throughout the
city offer seminars, book groups, poetry
readings and even cooking classes.
If you’re looking to dine out, take some
time to find the best deals. Many restau-
rants offer senior discounts — never be
afraid to inquire about a senior discount!
Others simply have specials on certain
days and times. Picking the right spots at
the right times can make a night out much
more affordable.
For us, it’s the magic of Tuesday nights,
when we grab our friend Elizabeth and
whoever else is up for an adventure, and
saunter on over to McGillin’s for 40 cent
wings and $1 beers. After that we can
catch a fabulous $2 show at the Suzanne
Roberts Theatre and stroll back to our
place afterward, spent but not broke.
Not a bad deal at all; in fact, dare I say
it? There’s no place like home! n
Mary Groce is an advocate, writer, speaker, artist and
retired harpist and vocalist. She lives with her partner,
Suz Atlas, at the John C. Anderson LGBT Friendly
Apartments in Center City.
legislative proposal. The evidence is clear:
Pennsylvania’s legislators should raise
the legal sales age of tobacco to age 21.
The LGBT community should fiercely
advocate for this. We can prevent the next
generation of LGBT youth from getting
hooked on tobacco. And we can do this
now. n
Adrian Shanker,
Executive Director, Bradbury-Sullivan
LGBT Community Center
PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 15
16 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
Many PA companies among best in nation for LGBTQ employees
BY VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
The HRC Corporate Equality Index
ranks 23 Pennsylvania-based companies
on its 2019 list of “Best Places to Work for
LGBTQ Equality.”
Most of those companies are based
in Philadelphia or suburban Main Line.
Twelve of the top 20 Fortune 500 ranked
companies received 100 percent ratings and
nine of those companies are also employers
in the Philadelphia area.
The Corporate Equality Index is a 130-
page report investigating all aspects of
a company or corporation, and it pro-
vides a deep delve into every aspect of
LGBTQ-related employment concerns. The
Corporate Equality Index rating criteria has
three main areas: nondiscrimination poli-
cies across business entities, equitable ben-
efits for LGBTQ workers and their families
and supporting an inclusive culture and cor-
porate social responsibility. There is a point
system that ranks each area of concern.
HRC has been publishing the Corporate
Equality Index since 2002. The companies
that are eligible for rankings are culled from
the Fortune 500 largest publicly traded busi-
nesses, American Lawyer magazine’s top
200 revenue-grossing law firms and hun-
dreds of publicly and privately held mid- to
LOCAL
PGN
large-sized businesses. Philadelphia law
firms featured prominently.
The report offers a succinct statement
on why it is necessary: “Clearly enumer-
ated nondiscrimination protections based
on sexual orientation and gender iden-
tity are essential to LGBTQ workforce
equity and inclusion. The policies help to
ensure equal opportunity for all employees;
diverse talent acquisition and retention for
broader economic growth; and keeping the
employer apace with changing legal and
public opinion
landscapes.”
The report
adds that corpo-
rations that are
inclusive also do
better financially
and notes, “these
policies represent
minimal upfront
costs and rates
of litigation upon
implementation
are consistent
with other protected classes.”
The way the Corporate Equality Index
ranked businesses comprise these compre-
hensive criteria which total 100 percent:
Fifteen points each were awarded for pro-
hibiting discrimination based on sexual ori-
entation for all operations and prohibiting
discrimination based on gender identity
for all operations. Equivalency in same-
and different-sex spousal medical and soft
benefits received 10 points, with half credit
for parity across some, but not all bene-
fits. Equivalency in same- and different-sex
domestic partner medical and soft benefits
received 10 points with half credit for par-
ity across some, but not all benefits. Equal
health coverage for transgender individuals
without exclusion for medically necessary
care received 10 points with half credit for
inclusive cover-
age, but blanket
exclusions for
transition-related
care remain in
place.
In addition to
those benefits-re-
lated rankings,
diversity-based
rankings were
awarded 10 points
each for having
three LGBTQ
internal training and education best prac-
tices and for employee group or diversity
councils. Fifteen points were awarded for
three distinct efforts of outreach or engage-
ment to broader LGBTQ community, and
if a supplier diversity program is in place,
including LGBTQ suppliers. Five points
were awarded for contractor/supplier non-
discrimination standards and philanthropic
giving guidelines.
The national corporations that are also
employers throughout the Philadelphia and
suburban Philadelphia area that are in the
top 12 are Apple Inc., AT&T, Inc., Costco
Wholesale Corp, CVS Health Corp., The
Kroger Co., UnitedHealth Group Inc.,
Verizon Communications, Inc., Walgreen
Co., and Walmart.
Law firms comprised the majority of the
Philadelphia-based companies that made
the CEI 100 percent. The best compa-
nies for LGBTQ folks in the Philadelphia
area were Aramark Inc., Ballard Spahr
LLP, Blank Rome LLP, Chubb Ltd,
Derkert LLP, Federal Reserve Bank of
Philadelphia, Fox Rothschild LLP, Giant
Food Stores LLC, Ikea Holding U.S. Inc. in
Conshohocken, Lincoln National Corp. in
Radnor, Montgomery McCracken Walker &
Rhoads LLP, SAP America Inc. in Newtown
Square, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP,
TE Connectivity Inc. in
Berwyn, and Vanguard Group Inc. in
Malvern.
Companies in Allentown and Pittsburgh
also made the 100 percent list in
Pennsylvania, as well as The Hershey Co.
in Hershey. Additionally, the report includes
a list of companies that support the Equality
Act. n
 COLUMN
PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 17

Positive Thoughts Oriol R. Gutierrez Jr.

LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
Viral Control When It
Small businesses
The Office of HIV and AIDS Malignancy at initial focus of the AIDS epidemic, but they’re now Comes To
can afford special
the National Cancer Institute coordinates opening new sites in areas where AIDS is advancing
most. Your Money… attention in our
cancer and HIV research. At first, most of their studies involved AIDS- Experience PGN directories.
defining malignancies, particularly KS and
Robert Yarchoan, MD, is the director of the Office lymphoma. They are now also focusing on Counts
of HIV and AIDS Malignancy (OHAM) at the non-AIDS-defining malignancies and on incidental Serving our LGBT Community
National Cancer Institute (NCI). In addition, he is a cancers that appear in people living with HIV. for over a decade.
researcher at the NCI Center for Cancer Research. One major area of interest is anal cancer. The
Spaces this size are
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tumors caused by Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpes- Trial is studying whether treatment
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of high-grade squamous intraepithe-
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HIV protease. precursor, can prevent anal cancer 2016 Five Star Wealth Manager
Yarchoan was appointed as the and to assess treatment toxicities. Philadelphia Magazine
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first OHAM director in 2007. He Participants with HSIL are
has held several HIV-related posi- Jeremy R. Gussick, MBA
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ROBERT YARCHOAN, MD the about 5,060 people they want PARTNERS IN LAW
to enroll, there are more than half
What is the mission of OHAM? accrued, so it’s going well so far.
PARTNERS IN LIFE
NCI has played a major role in AIDS research One of the other things AMC has expertise in is
since the beginning, conducting research both in HIV looking at the interaction between AIDS drugs and
and HIV malignancies. OHAM was established in cancer drugs. NCI has made a substantial effort
2007 to coordinate its AIDS research and run certain recently to get people living with HIV into general
programs directly. Having OHAM as a central office cancer trials. By studying the interactions between
has greatly helped NCI optimize its use of AIDS new cancer drugs and HIV drugs, AMC can provide
research funds. guidance to enable people living with HIV to par-
Of the many areas OHAM coordinates, let’s start ticipate in a variety of cancer trials and get access to MINSTER & FACCIOLO, LLC
with the consortia for HIV/AIDS research in low- promising new therapies.
and middle-income countries (LMIC). • WILLS & ESTATES •
Low- and middle-income countries, especially • DISCRIMINATION •
Please describe the AIDS Cancer Specimen • SMALL BUSINESS •
those in sub-Saharan Africa, have a disproportion- Resource (ACSR). • DIVORCE •
ate amount of HIV/AIDS malignancies. This is in In the early ’90s, an NCI advisory committee • EMPLOYMENT •
part because more people in those areas have viruses noticed that a barrier to research was that scientists • REAL ESTATE •
responsible for many of the cancers associated with often had difficulty gaining access to samples of • CIVIL ACTIONS •
HIV, such as KSHV, the cause of Kaposi sarcoma clinical material, such as tumor biopsies. NCI estab- • AUTO ACCIDENTS •
(KS). OHAM started with grants to train investiga- lished ACSR to address this impediment. • POWER OF ATTORNEY •
tors in sub-Saharan Africa to do research on malig- ACSR collects tissues from people living with or • PRE-NUP AGREEMENTS•
nancies associated with AIDS. at risk for HIV malignancies and then distributes
In the past few years, this effort has been expanded them, without cost, to investigators. They have thou- 215-627-8200 PA
upon with a sort of hybrid grant that combines fund- sands of samples and have given them out to hun- 302-777-2201 DE
ing of research in LMIC along with training and dreds of investigators. 521 S. 2ND ST., PHILA., PA
building of research capacity. APPT. ALSO AVAIL IN DE & NJ
We partner academic institutions in Africa — and, What are AIDS-defining versus non-AIDS-defin-
more recently, in Latin America — with U.S. insti- ing cancers?
tutions. People from U.S. institutions often go to When AIDS first appeared, the Centers for Disease
Africa and vice versa. The idea is that these countries Control and Prevention established a definition to
can facilitate overall research in these cancers and include the people who had the disease and exclude
also address issues of importance in LMIC. others.
Examples of recent studies include the molecular Persons were considered as having AIDS if they
biology of KS and how to best screen for cervical had a condition associated with immunodeficiency
cancer in countries with limited health resources. but no known cause of it. First KS and then cer-
tain aggressive lymphomas were considered AIDS-
Tell us about the AIDS Malignancy Consortium defining cancers. During those early years, many
(AMC). people with AIDS developed and died from these
Established in 1995, AMC conducts treatment-re- rare tumors. Cervical cancer was then added to the
lated clinical studies in HIV/AIDS malignancies. For list.
a number of years, AMC had sites only in the United Effective treatment prevented or reversed immu-
States but has now established sites in Africa and, nodeficiency in people with HIV. They developed
even more recently, in Latin and South America. fewer AIDS-defining tumors. People lived longer
The U.S. sites were first in cities that were the and developed other tumors not PAGE 23
18 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 PGN

International
Berlin memorial to gay vic-
tims of Nazis vandalized
Berlin police say a central memorial to
the gay victims of the Nazis has been van-
dalized.
The concrete memorial in Berlin’s
Tiergarten Park, near the memorial to the
Jewish victims of the Holocaust, features
a window into which visitors can look and
view a video of a same-sex couple kissing.
Police said Aug. 19 security guards
reported overnight the window had been
painted over.
Police currently have no suspects and
wouldn’t say whether there was surveil-
lance video of the crime.
Nazi Germany declared homosexuality
an aberration that threatened the German
race and sent thousands of gays to concen-
tration camps.
New school transgender
rules fire debate in Portugal
New rules on gender identity at schools
are causing a stir in Portugal, where some
parents are expressing alarm that transgen-
der children will be able to choose which
bathroom they use.
A directive says transgender children
can make choices that correspond with
their gender identity, including choosing a
bathroom, wearing girls’ or boys’ school
uniforms and using whichever name they
choose. They can only officially change
their gender at 16.
The directive sets out administrative pro-
cedures stemming from a law passed by
parliament last year that seeks to guard
against the discrimination of transgender
people.
But an online petition is trying to put the
brakes on the school directive and opposi-
tion politicians are questioning its wisdom.
Some disapproving lawmakers want the
Constitutional Court to intervene.
Philippines President
Duterte plans national
LGBTQ convention
President Rodrigo Duterte is planning
to call for a national convention for the
LGBTQ community to hear concerns of
Philadelphia Gay News
LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
INTERNATIONAL
PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 19
community members, according to his
former special assistant and now senator
Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.
Go, during a media interview, said
Duterte thought of the convention after his
meeting with transgender woman Gretchen
Diez and other members of the LGBTQ
community in Malacañang on Aug. 19.
The senator added the proposed conven-
tion would most likely be held after the
President’s visit to China at the end of the
month.
The convention, he said, would have rep-
resentatives from each region where they
would raise their concerns, comments and
suggestions on how to further protect their
rights and promote their welfare.
The President will also be present at the
convention, according to Go.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro suspends
funding for LGBT-plus
screenplays
Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro posted
on social media that funding for movies
with LGBT-plus themes was being sus-
pended, a decision that was published on
Aug. 21 on the country’s official web site.
The newly elected conservative who once
described himself as a homophobe hinted
during a live stream recently that he would
change the process for government-funded
film projects, saying funding LGBT-plus-
themed screenplays is “throwing money
away.”
The decision, signed by Brazil’s minis-
ter of Citizenship Osmar Terra, suspends
about 17.42 million from the government’s
grant that would fund some 80 screen-
plays, including a fraction with LGBT-plus
themes.
“It’s a surreal sensation,” said director
Emerson Maranhao about having his work
publicly criticized by the president, “I don’t
quite believe it yet.”
“The first project he called out (during
the live stream) was ours, and in such a
pejorative and dishonoring way,” he told
Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Maranhao’s screenplay, “Transversais,” a
five-part documentary series about the life • Cosmetic
of five transgender people in northeastern
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Brazil, set to receive $99,532.
“He is harming 80 projects just to get to • Crowns dental treatment
ours,” said Maranhao, adding “It’s terrify-
ing.” • Implants and
The suspension is set to last for up to 360 • Veneers preventive care
days, during which the government will
restructure the committee responsible for • Whitening
allocating the fund’s resources. The com-
mittee would then review how state funds Andrea V. Cronin, DDS Craig T. Wakefield, DDS
are used.
Filmmakers affected by the suspen-
sion are planning legal action to block Proudly serving the LGBT community and PWA for over 25 years.
Bolsonaro’s decision. n
Reporting via Associated Pressß
Medical Towers Building • Suite 2306
255 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pa 19103
(215) 732-8080
| HONESTY | INTEGRITY | PROFESSIONALISM | Evening hours available.
20 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 PGN

HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTORY

Jeffrey L. Eiberson, PH.D.
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PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 21

Obituary

Beloved community activist Ted Faigle dies

BY VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
Ted Faigle, artist and LGBT and AIDS activist, died sud-
denly on Aug. 21 at his home in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. He
was 66. Faigle had retired from his position as an LGBT grants
analyst at Drexel University in 2013.
A long-time fixture in the Philadelphia LGBTQ activist
community, Faigle had been involved in the Gay Community
Center and had worked at Giovanni’s Room Bookstore for
years. He was also a co-host of the gay radio program, “Gay
Dreams” on WXPN-FM.
Faigle was credited with reviving the Philadelphia LGBTQ
Pride parade after years of dormancy. Ed Hermance, a friend
of Faigle’s and former owner of Giovanni’s Room, tells the
story of how he and Faigle were representing Giovanni’s Room
with a banner at the New York City Pride parade when “Allen
Ginsberg trotted over from the crowd to gush about the good
things he had heard about the store.” Ginsberg walked and
talked with Hermance and Faigle for a while. Hermance said a
year or so later “Ted founded the organization that relaunched
Choruses Ken Cole, said Faigle was “my closest friend for
many years,” He wrote about him extensively, citing Faigle’s
broad and inclusive activist work. Cole noted, “I can’t
believe he’s gone. Working with Ted back in 1988 and ’89,
up on the third floor of Giovanni’s Room
to found the Gay and Lesbian Community
Council and produce a town hall, concerts
and the block party to help build commu-
nity, was one of the most meaningful and
formative experiences of my life.”
Cole credits his work with Faigle to
expanding his own career working at the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and in
the arts. Cole said of Faigle, “I’ve continued
to benefit from his commitments to equality
and justice, the example of his activism and
that mischievous twinkle always in his eye
for more than 30 years....I hope you’re up in
heaven raising a little hell.”
For over a decade Faigle worked at Drexel University
School of Public Health as the LGBT Program Manager
and Grant Writer. He’d gotten his masters in Public Health
at Drexel and had focused on LGBT health and curric-
ulum development. Faigle’s work included outreach to
the community on research and advocacy. He was also
tasked with representing the Drexel pro-
gram and school at national conferences
like the APHA, Gay and Lesbian Medical
Association and the National Coalition for
LGBT Health. Faigle planned and pro-
duced educational workshops, seminars
and lectures to promote awareness and
education about LGBT Health issues. He
also assisted in research, development,
implementation and teaching of core MPH
courses in LGBT Health.
On Faigle’s Pinterest page, which is
mostly a galley of his work, a photo of one
of his iconic tank tops epitomizes Faigle’s
sense of humor. The inscription reads, “May your mercury
be more Freddie and less retrograde.”
A memorial service will be planned. n

Wedding Services Directory

the Pride parade in Philadelphia, which continues to this day
— 30-plus years later.”
A member of ACT-UP Philadelphia, Radical Faeries and
other activist organizations, Faigle was well-known among
advocates for people with AIDS as a compassionate and car-
Beautifu� views. Whit� glov� servic�.
ing friend as well as a committed activist. He was also widely Impeccabl� cuisin�. Dedicated even� planners.
known for his sense of humor, which, said one friend, “kept us
going in the worst of times.”
Writer and archivist Tommi Avicolli-Mecca told PGN that
Faigle was “such a good activist. Fervid, you’d call it. He was
always on the front lines.”
Avicolli-Mecca worked with Faigle on Gaydreams in the
late ‘70s and early ‘80s. He said Faigle “had so much fun doing
that and everything else. He had such a great sense of humor.
Those were hard years with the AIDS epidemic and losing so
many people. He got through that time with humor and helped
others to do that, too.”
Faigle, said Avicolli-Mecca, “was one of those people who
never lost his sense of fun, his sense of humor. When you were
around him you knew you were going to have a good time. He
was always the life of the party.” 215.675.6000
Arleen Olshan, executive director of Mt. Airy Art Garage www.springmillcountryclub.com
and former co-owner of Giovanni’s Room, was saddened by 171 Jacksonville Road, Ivyland, PA 18974
Faigle’s death. She said, “Ted was great. He was fun, he was
a hard worker, he was always there to help out. I just always
remember him being right there in the middle of everything,
ready to do whatever we needed at the bookstore. He set up a
lot of programs there. I’m so sorry he’s gone.”
Olshan added, “Ted was a really talented artist and very
prolific.” She said Faigle had exhibited his work, which was
landscapes of the Jim Thorpe area as well as portraits, includ-
ing several self-portraits.
Roberta Hacker, who hosted the lesbian radio hour “Amazon

Country” on WXPN-FM for over a decade, said Faigle was
“funny, charming and a really well-informed activist who
brought all of that to his work on ‘Gaydreams’ at a time when
it was most needed. Those years were harsh and Ted was a
soothing yet committed voice for those times.”
More than 100 of Faigle’s friends and former colleagues
posted tributes to him on Facebook, including William Way
director Chris Bartlett, historian Marc Stein, politician Sherrie
Cohen, artist and curator David Acosta, lesbian activist
Dominique Johnson and others.
LGBTQ activist and Executive Director at Hoff-Barthelson
Music School and former Executive Director of GALA
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22 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 NATIONAL
PGN
LET'S TALK Media Trail
ABOUT
Printer who nixed gay pride
shirt goes to Ky. Supreme
Court
PrEP, BABY.
The Washington Post reported Kentucky
print shop owner who refused to make a gay
pride T-shirt argued before the Kentucky
Supreme Court that he shouldn’t be com-
pelled to promote messages that go against
his religious beliefs.
Blaine Adamson is owner of Hands-On
Originals in Lexington and declined to
One pill. Once a day. Prevents HIV. print a shirt promoting an LGBT pride
festival in 2012. The city’s Human Rights
Commission said that refusal violated its
gay-rights fairness ordinance.
On Aug. 23, the high court heard an
PrEPdelco.com attorney for the T-shirt maker argue that the
First Amendment protects him from having
to print that message. An attorney for the
Chester: 610.872.9101 Human Rights Commission says the T-shirt
maker cannot pick and choose who it wants
Sharon Hill: 610.583.1177 to serve in the Lexington community.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments
from attorneys and will issue a ruling at a
later date.
Court: Idaho must provide
trans inmate gender affir-
mation surgery
PROVEN. WINNER.
Boise State Public Radio reported a fed-
eral appeals court said Idaho must provide
gender affirmation surgery to a transgender
inmate who has been living as a woman
for years but who has continuously been
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Idaho Department of Correction spokes-
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Philadelphia Gay News
LGBT NEWS SINCE 1976
Lesbian astronaut may have
committed Earth’s first
‘space crime’
LGBTQ Nation reported a lesbian
American astronaut Anne McClain has
been accused of committing the first-ever
recorded space crime after she allegedly
accessed the bank account of her estranged
spouse, Summer Worden, from the
International Space Station (ISS).
The two women have been involved
in “a bitter separation and parenting dis-
pute for much of the past year.” After
discovering that McClain had accessed
Worden’s account from a NASA com-
puter terminal, Worden filed a complaint
with the Federal Trade Commission and
NASA’s Office of Inspector General. She
has accused McClain of identity theft and
improper access to Worden’s private finan-
cial records.
But while McClain has admitted to
accessing Worden’s account from the ISS,
she denied any wrongdoing. Her lawyer
said she was merely reviewing her former
partner’s funds to ensure that Worden had
enough to pay bills and for their child’s
care, and that she didn’t move, transfer or
withdraw any funds. McClain added that
she simply used a password that she had
used previously and that Worden never told
her not to access the account.
Appeals Court reinstates
lawsuit over same-sex wed-
ding video
The Star Tribune reported a federal
appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit filed
by two Minnesota filmmakers who want the
right to refuse to film same-sex weddings.
Carl and Angel Larsen, who run Telescope
Media Group in St. Cloud, sued the state in
2016, saying Minnesota’s public accommo-
dation law would result in steep fines and
jail time if they offered services promoting
only their vision of marriage.
A federal judge dismissed the case. But
a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals ruled Aug. 23 that the
First Amendment gives the Larsens the
right to choose when to speak and what to
say.
The panel sent the case back to the lower
court with instructions to consider a pre-
liminary injunction that would allow the
Larsens to operate their business without
fear of violating Minnesota law.
Messages left with the state weren’t
immediately returned. n
Reporting via Associated Press
| HONESTY | INTEGRITY | PROFESSIONALISM |

LGBTQ youth advocacy org commends FCC findings
BY LAURA SMYTHE
laura@epgn.com
The Federal Communications
Commission released an analysis Aug. 15
recognizing young LGBTQ Americans as
a high-risk population for suicide attempts.
The findings in the report are based on
the results of the National Suicide Hotline
Improvement Act that Congress passed in
August 2018. In the publication, the group
calls for an increase of “specialized ser-
vices” to better support LGBTQ youth and
veterans.
Such options could include establishing
an “interactive voice response system ‘to a
group that has the resources and expertise to
best serve’” LGBTQ youth. A second option
presented is asking queer people to aid the
Department of Health and Human Services’
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) in establishing
more comprehensive training to help coun-
selors better respond to hotline calls.
WILLIAM WAY from page 2
pretty amazing then and pretty amazing
now, even.”
When Tom Wilson Weinberg was 24 years
old, he testified in front of Philadelphia
City Council in 1974 in support of LGBTQ
nondiscrimination ordinance Bill 1275 after
he and his comrades struggled to find a
landlord that would allow them to open the
historic gay bookstore Giovanni’s Room. An
active member of the Gay Activists Alliance,
Wilson Weinberg decided to speak up.
While giving his testimony, he felt ner-
vous and noted some of the City Council
members “were rather disrespectful.” When
Bill 1358, the later iteration of Philadelphia’s
nondiscrimination ordinance, passed eight
years later “it felt like a great victory.”
Wilson Weinberg, now 74, said he hopes
people realize the fight for LGBTQ equality
PALLIATIVE CARE from page 9
at home as long as he can. So he’s not hav-
ing any palliative care or hospice care. But I
know when the time comes, he’s really going
to need somebody there, to be able to man-
age the pain,” said Miller. “I don’t know how
POSITIVE THOUGHTS from page 16
clearly associated with immunodeficiency,
such as anal cancer or Hodgkin lymphoma.
These are non-AIDS-defining HIV-
associated cancers. People living with HIV
can also develop incidental cancers unre-
lated to HIV. The good news is that those
who have the virus are living much longer,
but cancer is still a major concern.
What can we do to prevent cancer?
The most important step is to take effec-
tive treatment for HIV. Also, individuals
who smoke should quit or reduce their
smoking. Maintaining a good weight, exer-
cising, avoiding sun exposure and excess
PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 23
The analysis also calls for the estab- Trevor Project urges the SAMHSA, Congress to route calls to organizations with the appro-
lishment of a “simple, easy-to-remember, and the FCC to act on the report’s finding priate specialized services to assist LGBTQ
3-digit dialing code” for a national suicide regarding the need to appropriately address youth in crisis,” he added.
prevention and men- specialized ser- According to The Trevor Project’s 2019
tal health hotline. vices for LGBTQ National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental
The current National youth when Health, 39 percent of LGBTQ youth seri-
Suicide Prevention improving the ously considered attempting suicide in the
Lifeline is accessible National Suicide past 12 months. Among trans and nonbinary
by dialing the 10-digit Prevention youth, the rate rises above 50 percent.
number 1-800-273- Lifeline (NSPL) Similarly, 71 percent of LGBTQ youth
8255 (TALK). and designating reported feeling sad or hopeless for at least
Sam Brinton, head a 3-digit dialing two weeks through the last year. The same
of advocacy and gov- code,” Brinton amount indicated having experienced dis-
ernment affairs for said in a state- crimination resulting from their sexual orien-
The Trevor Project, the ment. tation or gender identity.
world’s largest suicide “The Trevor “There is a suicide epidemic in this coun-
prevention and cri- Project urges try, and it is disproportionately affecting
sis intervention orga- federal officials at-risk populations, including our Veterans
nization for LGBTQ to act quickly to and LGBTQ youth,” said FCC Chairman Ajit
youth, thanked the fed- make the NSPL Pai. “Crisis call centers have been shown to
eral organization for more effective for save lives. … I intend to move forward on
dedicating resources LGBTQ youth by this recommendation [for a three-digit num-
to producing the find- training NSPL ber]. In the meantime, my heart goes out to
ings. counselors in LGBTQ cultural competency anyone facing a crisis. I hope they will con-
“As the process moves forward, The and establishing an integrated voice response tact 1-800-273-TALK for support today.” n
in Pennsylvania has that more and protections.
been “a tremendous more towns “It would protect people in tiny little
struggle,” largely come aboard municipalities in the middle of the state
due to Republican I think indi- where seemingly there may be no one to
lawmakers block- cates that support a young trans person or anyone
ing legislative eventually, it’s that’s LGBT. … We are living in times
attempts. going to hap- where, if not that, there’s a growing number
“It had to be done pen.” of people who are against us...at least we’re
municipality by The exhib- living in a time where it’s more sanctioned
municipality,” he it’s creators for people to spew venom about our com-
told PGN. “That’s similarly hope munity,” Anderies said.
a good thing, but it strikes a According to Loveland, “A lot of people
it’d be a lot better if chord with take for granted that these ordinances have
the Democrats had viewers about been around for many years, and they don’t
the majority in the the impor- think about what it took in terms of sacri-
State House and the tance of con- fices and hard work to get those protections
State Senate. We tinuing the put in place. I hope they will have an appre-
wouldn’t have to TOM WILSON WEINBERG TESTIFYING IN FAVOR fight for state- ciation for what’s been accomplished but
be doing it town by OF LGBTQ NONDISCRIMINATION IN PHILLY IN wide nondis- also an understanding of what’s not been
town, but the fact 1974. Photo: Courtesy John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives crimination accomplished yet.” n
good of a job his boyfriend is doing with that said she sees the potential for improvement: safe spaces and safe environments to care for
now, but I think that’ll be a comfort to know going the extra mile with staff education. them; making sure that the imagery is correct,
that somebody’s there to manage that kind of “I know there are hospices and pallia- that we are using the correct pronouns. That’s
stuff for him.” tive-care agencies around the world that have something that I think we can do a really great
While palliative care offers a more compre- committed to providing more education about job at and continue to strive for.” n
hensive treatment plan for many, Dr. Ansari LGBTQ patients and making sure we have
alcohol and eating a healthy diet can reduce saliva, so avoiding the use of saliva as a sex- als now under way are looking at this issue.
the risk of certain cancers. ual lubricant may lower the risk of getting There are other advances occurring in oncol-
Folks should also get recommended KSHV and developing KS. ogy that can benefit those with HIV who
screenings for cervical and anal cancer. have or are at risk for cancer.
They should make sure they are vaccinated What’s ahead for cancer and HIV? I encourage HIV-positive people with can-
against hepatitis B, and treat hepatitis B and/ A lot of basic research and observations cer to consider participating in clinical trials,
or C if present. are being translated into better therapies. such as those run by AMC or by NCI at the
HIV-positive individuals should discuss For example, research in immune therapy Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. By
with their physicians whether they may ben- for cancer has recently exploded. Novel doing so, people can gain access to promising
efit from the HPV vaccine and, if they are or immune therapies, such as checkpoint experimental therapies and to physicians with
have been smokers, whether to get screened inhibitors, are now yielding remarkable expertise and interest in HIV malignancies.
for lung cancer. They should also discuss results in tumors that were previously felt At the same time, they can help others. n
getting age-appropriate screenings for colon to be untreatable by enabling the person’s
and breast cancer. immune system to fight the cancer. Oriol R. Gutierrez Jr. is the editor-in-chief of POZ
Finally, they should be aware that KSHV, People questioned if these therapies magazine. Find him on Twitter @oriolgutierrez. This
column is a project of Plus, Positively Aware, POZ,
the virus that causes KS, is excreted in would work in those with HIV. Clinical tri-
The Body and Q Syndicate, the LGBT wire service.
24 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 PGN

ARTS & CULTURE
Q PUZZLE: PAGE 26 FAMILY PORTRAIT: PAGE 31
Photo: Michael Ermilio
Tangle offers a commuter’s view from the top
BY LARRY NICHOLS
larry@epgn.com
For the many-flexed performers of
Tangle Movement Arts, next week’s
Fringe spectacle will be somewhat of a
déjà flew.
In previous Fringe Festivals, the aerial
acrobats pushed the envelope by taking
their daring acts outdoors and under
bridges. This time, the group will return
to form by taking flight inside a theater.
“Last year, we made a completely
immersive show where we put the audi-
ence at the center and staged the per-
formance around them in a circle,” said
Lauren Rile Smith, a poet and performer
who founded Tangle eight years ago.
“This year, we are swinging back to a
classic theatrical narrative. We wanted
to get back to the discipline of the form
and follow these characters through their
lives.”
The traditional setting won’t stifle
the movement of this all-female, queer-
themed troupe. For its ninth consecutive
FEATURE
PGN
FILM: PAGE 28
Fringe performance, the circus-arts com-
pany will put a queer spin on something
most Philadelphians do every weekday:
commute on SEPTA.
“Tangle likes to dramatize the ordi-
nary rhythms of life in Philadelphia with
the dramatic movements of circus arts
and a hefty dose of queer romance,” said
Smith.
And while many commuters wouldn’t
describe taking the bus or subway as
particularly romantic, Smith noted the
poetry of a routine that exploits the
democracy of public life.
“No matter where we’re coming from
or going to, when we get on the bus we
all move in the same way, pay the same
fare, deal with the same bad weather
or the same beautiful surprises, like a
busking musician or a long-lost friend.
We all use the same gestures or turns of
phrase to navigate that in-between space
that is transit.”
Hence, “In Transit” will display the
beauty and the frustration of the every-
day trudge to and from work — which,
for the Tangle acrobats, is art imitating
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
SWINGING
INTO
‘HAMILTON’
PAGE 34
COMICS: PAGE 27
sans-trapeze life, as one of the perform-
ers could attest from her experience just
last week.
“She got stuck on an unfamiliar line in
Trenton and a massive summer thunder-
storm broke out,” Smith relayed. “She
was stuck underneath the train station
with sheets of water coming down,
which actually happens to her in the
show, so I said to her, ‘Use it for your
art!’”
Indeed, such basic moments offer sol-
idarity and humor, in addition to frustra-
tion — but they’re hardly boring when
aerial acrobats are interpreting them.
“This is a place where we find the nit-
ty-gritty of ordinary life, and so it’s been
a fun and inspiring challenge to infuse
that with the beauty of circus arts and
queer storytelling of interpersonal rela-
tionships,” said Smith.
To accurately portray the urban com-
mute, “In Transit” is augmenting the
usual circus-arts spectacle with other art
forms to mimic the sights and sounds
of public transportation. These elements
include puppetry and a collaborator
25
ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS: PAGE 30
from New York City in the role of a
busking street musician, in addition to
Tangle’s trapeze magic.
“What I love about the interdisciplin-
ary aspect of our art form is that there
is always a new direction to explore and
grow in,” said Smith. “We keep things
fresh for ourselves and our audiences by
exploring different nooks and crannies
every time.”
For the Tangle founder, that explo-
ration last spring included flying on a
trapeze while pregnant. (She’s taking a
breather for this year’s Fringe.)
“We’re really excited about those rich,
deep relationships that we get to play
out on stage with queer romance as the
backbone, whether it’s a crush on your
barista or an ex who spurns you in pub-
lic. Our lives are brought together in this
in-between public space of transit.” n
Tangle Movement Arts presents “In
Transit,” Sept. 4-7 at Old City’s
Neighborhood House, 20 N. American
St. For more information or tickets, visit
tangle-arts.com or fringearts.com.
26 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 PGN
Q PUZZLE

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ actor brings the

funny to Philly
BY LARRY NICHOLS
larry@epgn.com

Nico Santos is using his sparse down-

time from a busy acting career to hit the
stage with his other talent: standup.
The out Filipino-American performer,
best known as the “pink sheep” of the
family in the film “Crazy Rich Asians,”
will showcase his comedy next week at
Punch Line Philly.
Santos also portrays standout
character Mateo on the hit sitcom
“Superstore,” currently filming its fifth
season, and shares the stage with Susan
Sarandon in the off-Broadway play
“Happy Talk.” And while Oliver, his
role in “Asians,” wasn’t a main char-
acter, Santos received accolades for his
execution.
“I definitely got a lot of love from
audiences,” he said. “But honestly, that
project was just a spectacular expe-
rience. It was like being at a fam- NICO SANTOS
ily reunion. We really bonded over
the course of filming. It felt like a But audiences shouldn’t expect the
paid vacation. We were at these exotic screen version of Santos at his shows.
locales and I was like, I can’t believe His stage schtick is “quite a departure”
we’re getting paid for this. There were from his screen characters.
Q Puzzle 41 Bosom buddy
42 Meadow mur-
4 Cut
5 Warren of Billy
37 1939 Cukor
movie
several pinch-me moments.”
The film’s critical and box-office
“Mateo is very petty and fancy.
When people come to see me at com-
Finding Toni mur Bean’s sport 38 David Sedaris’ success in the United States also had edy shows, you have families who’ve
43 He cared for 6 Frasier’s ex type of writer seen ‘Superstore’ and they expect this
another positive effect, according to
Across Samuel 7 ___ instant 39 TV wife of two cleaner act, and my act is not,” he
44 Skirt edges 8 Outback bounder gay Dicks Santos: It led to more movies featuring
Asian stars and stories. explained. “Comedy is one of those
1 Reproduced non- 45 Some guys do it 9 Game with many 40 Influential mem-
nocturnally openings ber of a tribe “A lot of projects involving Asian- things where people show up for a com-
heterosexually? edy show not being familiar with the
5 Lube brand 47 Brand for cut- 10 “Hold your 41 Idle fancy American characters have been green-
9 Where bulging ting leaves of grass horses!” 46 San Francisco’s lit because of the success of the movie, artist that they are seeing. It’s a strange
pecs are 51 WWII battle 11 Royal lover of Eagle, e.g. which is beneficial for me.” phenomenon. You would never go to a
14 Nathan of “The site, for short Piers Gaveston 48 Like many a Paul Born and raised in the Philippines, concert and randomly choose an artist.”
Good Wife” 52 Cross-dresser’s 12 Sculptor Emma Cadmus painting Santos said he assimilated quickly to Santos added that audiences treat
15 Part of a fruity padding site 13 Solo sex, with 49 Give a loafer a life in California. Inspired by female LGBTQ relationships and sex in com-
drink 53 Personal-ad info “off” new bottom edy differently than if the same material
trailblazing comedians, he started doing
16 “Couldn’t get 55 Title for Oedi- 21 Proposal in a bar 50 Actors with small were coming from a straight comedian.
pus 26 Adam’s partner in parts standup in the San Francisco Bay area.
out of it” “I was a huge fan of Ellen DeGeneres,” “It’s 2019 and people are still a little
17 Silica stone 56 Anti-homopho- gay Eden? 52 Coffee bar of-
bic, e.g. 29 Makes a hole fering he said. “When I moved to America bit shocked when you are an openly gay
18 Cumming on man who is talking about — not even
the stage 58 End of the bigger 54 Beau chaser from the Philippines, she was already
19 Cary of “Robin quote 31 Statesman Ste- 57 “I cannot tell big in standup and then she did her your sex life — just your life as a queer
Hood: Men in 61 “Dirty Dancing” venson ___” show. I was always a fan of hers, and person. All these straight comedians get
Tights” director Ardolina 32 Do-___ situation 59 Mabius of “The L then she came out and that helped on stage talking about eating vagina all
20 Start of a quote 62 Very, to Verlaine 34 Where Caesar Word” change hearts and minds across the day, nobody bats an eye. But when a
from Toni Morrison 63 “Believe ___ went to the bank? 60 Bean town? country. Margaret Cho is a huge idol of gay man talks about being with another
22 Penetrates not!” man, it is all of a sudden so shocking.”
mine, as well as in the Asian commu-
23 WWII zone 64 Woody secre- Those curious about Santos’ brand
tion
nity. I like a lot of female comics like
24 “Xtra”’s prov. Wanda Sykes and Maria Bamford.” of humor, including his unabashed
25 Tammy Bald- 65 “Java” trum-
peter Al But standup eventually took a back- descriptions of queer life, should catch
win’s party symbol his act on this tour — because he’ll
27 Glenn Burke 66 Kunis of “Black seat for the Los Angeles-based actor —
stat Swan” who said he originally wasn’t seeking soon be back in the studio to film the
28 Nero’s land 67 Paid for a hand fame on the big or small screen. “Crazy Rich Asians” sequel.
30 “The Bridge” 68 Problem for “When I first started out, I was just “I know they’re writing the script
poet Crane skin doing standup. I had no interest in right now,” he said. “Hopefully the time
32 Norse war god 69 Perfect serves pursuing acting when I moved to Los will be right. We’re all excited to get
33 Hrs. in P-town from Mauresmo back together and work again.” n
Angeles, but it happened. I’m definitely
35 Deer in Maria’s trying to find a better balance because
song Down Nico Santos performs Sept. 6-7 at Punch
1 State of secrecy comedy is my first love. I miss it.”
36 Where boxers Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St. For more
are visible 2 “Tru” story sub- Now he’s trying to squeeze in as
ject many road shows as possible and is information or tickets, call 215-606-6555
37 More of the
quote 3 Bewitch recording a TV comedy special. or visit www.punchlinephilly.com.

Out classical singer talks upcoming Met performance and Philly opera
BY CAMERON KELSALL
PGN Contributor
Every classical singer dreams of perform-
ing on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.
Later this year, that dream will become a
reality for Zachary James. The out bass will
sing the role of The Scribe in the compa-
ny’s premiere of Philip Glass’ 1983 opera
“Akhnaten,” running in repertory at the New
York City venue Nov. 8-Dec. 7.
A South Philly resident since 2018, James
can be heard closer to home in Prokofiev’s
“The Love for Three Oranges,” presented
by Opera Philadelphia as part of its O19
Festival. On Dec. 13 and 15, he’ll sing the
title role in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” for
Wilmington Concert Opera.
PGN spoke with James about his busy
international schedule, his former career as a
Broadway performer and his decision to put
down roots in Philadelphia.
PGN: I understand you live in Philly full-
time now. How did that come about?
ZJ: I’ve been working here off and on since
2004, and I have a lot of friends here. I’ve
had this long romance with Philadelphia for
15 years, and I’ve been saying I was going
to move here someday forever. Last year, the
timing was just finally right. To be frank, I
was going through a divorce and needed a
place to go. Philadelphia just called to me
and made the most sense. Philadelphia is one
of my top-five favorite cities in the world,
and I’m very happy here.
PGN: You’re going to be returning to Opera
Philadelphia this year as well. Can you tell
me a little bit about the project and your
role?
ZJ: “The Love for Three Oranges” is a
totally crazy piece. I’ve been calling it
“Alice in Wonderland” — it’s a fantastical,
farcical tale with lots of twists and turns and
many magical elements. I play a cook, and
the cook is both a giant and a woman. It’s
my first drag role! I’m very excited about
that. As a bass, I don’t often get to play the
ladies. I’m usually a father, a villain or a
murderer.
PGN: How do you think audiences are going
to react to this opera?
ZJ: I think people are going to absolutely
love it. It’s such a surprise, and very few
people will know what to expect going
in. The music is extraordinary, and it’s a
musical vocabulary we’re all familiar with
— whether you know the piece or know
Prokofiev by name. The Overture is very
famous, and it was featured on a popular
radio show from the 1940s. [Ed. Note: The
March from “The Love for Three Oranges”
was used as the theme song for the CBS
radio drama “The FBI in Peace and War,”
which ran from 1944-58.] It’s an enormous
piece to put on, so it says a lot about Opera
Philadelphia that they’re willing to do it
— they know what kind of base they have,
PGN
COMICS Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 27
ZACHARY JAMES Photo: Matt Madison-Clark “AKHNATEN” Photo: Dolly Brown, English National Opera
cool piece that wasn’t terribly successful, dying to do that I haven’t done is Javert
and that they’re going to show up for cut-
ting-edge work. but we got to do it in London, Madrid and in “Les Miserables.” It’s “Les Mis” —
Brisbane. And that’s how I got back into you’ve got to do it at some point in your
opera full time as a principal performer. That life. In opera, I really want to play Wotan
PGN: You made your debut with Opera
Philadelphia in Missy Mazzoli’s opera relationship continues, because Phelim is the in a full Ring cycle, and Boris Godunov
“Breaking the Waves,” right? director of “Akhnaten,” and this will be my [in Mussorgsky’s opera of the same
seventh Philip Glass production. name] is another dream. But I’ve been
ZJ: I did. It was such an amazing expe-
rience to do a world premiere here. And really lucky to do so many world pre-
PGN: Do you have an opera role you’re mieres and new projects, in both musical
the 1970s costumes were so much fun! I
grew this crazy handlebar mustache for dying to sing, and do you have a role that theater and opera, and there’s nothing like
you’d be willing to go back to musical that. To do something that doesn’t even
the role, and walking around the streets
of Philly; it was the first time in my life I theater for? exist yet and could be beyond any fantasy
ZJ: The only musical theater role I’m is always enticing. n
was called “Daddy.” I’ll always remember
that — “Breaking the Waves” was the
first time I was called Daddy, and it’s
never stopped. It took an opera for me
to know how I was classified in the gay
world!
PGN: Speaking of debuts: I know you
have a big one coming up right after
“The Love for Three Oranges.” What is
it like to prepare to sing at the Met for
the first time?
ZJ: I’ve been involved with this pro-
duction of “Akhnaten” since 2016. We
premiered it at English National Opera,
and it won an Olivier Award for Best
New Opera Production, which was
really stunning. We also did it at Los
Angeles Opera, and we brought it back
to ENO earlier this year — it’s been so
wildly successful there. The Met picked
up the production, and we were all just
over the moon to bring it to New York.
PGN: How did you become involved
with the piece?
ZJ: Strangely enough, it was through
doing “The Addams Family” on
Broadway that I was pulled back to
opera. The director of that production,
Phelim McDermott, works with Philip
Glass all the time. He said they were
doing this weird new opera about Walt
Disney, and he asked me to audition
for Abraham Lincoln — the robot
version at Disney World. I said of
course, and I got the call to go to Philip
Glass’s house. They hired me for that
piece where I played a malfunctioning
Abraham Lincoln robot. It was a really
28 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
AN INSIDE LOOK AT FILM BY GARY M. KRAMER
Teen outcasts find themselves in striking film
“THIS IS NOT BERLIN”
Carlos (Xabiani Ponce de León) and Gera
(José Antonio Toledano) in “This Is Not
Berlin” are two teenagers exploring their
sexuality in 1986 Mexico City. When the
boys visit the underground club, Aztec, the
androgynous Carlos becomes involved with
Nico (Mauro Sanchez Navarro), a queer
artist. Meanwhile Gera finds trouble with
Ajo (David Montalvo) who is into drugs and
sex. This poignant film, which opens August
30 at the Landmark Ritz at the Bourse, will
resonate with viewers who have struggled to
find their place in the world.
Hari Sama, who directed and co-wrote the
film — and plays Carlos’ uncle, Esteban,
drew on his own memories and experiences.
In a recent phone interview, he chatted with
Philadelphia Gay News about making “This
Is Not Berlin.”
PGN: Your film makes a point about finding
one’s own family, and not caring what other
people think. Can you talk about this theme,
which is very common in gay culture?
HS: I tried to make this film as honest as
possible. It is about what I saw and how I
came to be and meet these people. Being an
outcast — I probably still am one — I tend
to search for people who resonate with who
I am and create a family with them. We out-
PGN
FILM
PHOTO: XABIANI PONCE DE LEÓN (LEFT) AND JOSÉ ANTONIO TOLEDANO (RIGHT) IN “THIS IS NOT BERLIN”
casts search for the structure that we did not
find at home, or at school, or in the neigh-
borhood I lived in. I had a need for approval
and love. I was trying to portray that.
PGN: How would you describe your teen-
age life?
HS: I came from a family similar to the one
in the film. My father was not as absent, but
there was a sense of no connection. I found
these people and this artistic outburst and
milieu. I wanted to belong there and com-
pletely let myself go. But I’m not gay. That
was very confusing. I was full of questions.
It was intense and joyful but very painful
at the same time. I didn’t know where to
belong. It took me years to realize I don’t
fit into any category. I had to find my own
personal voice. And that’s OK.
PGN: Can you talk about creating the inti-
macy between the men the film?
HS: Nico’s approach to Carlos was very
sensitive. Nico is punk and powerful but
when it comes to relating to this kid, he’s
very delicate and allows himself to be
vulnerable. I didn’t have that when I was
[Carlos’] age, I had it later. My important
male figures — I was really in love with
them, not sexually, but in every other way. I
wanted this intimacy between two men. It’s
one of the most beautiful things — the tru-
est love you can have. We lose that after our
teenage years. But when you are younger,
you can have a deep level of intimacy.
PGN: What observations do you have about
the depictions of masculinity in the film?
HS: I grew up in this suburban place that
was super violent. Big gangs. It was how
masculinity was “performed.” Finally,
I was able to get out of there and find a
different way to understand masculinity.
Carlos comes from an atmosphere where
masculinity is [performed] like that. You’re
not allowed to be feminine in any way;
that’s seen as a weakness. He’s not gay, but
he’s not masculine. I wanted the audience
to have this mesmerizing effect I had when
I met these people — seeing eyeliner and
painted nails and this androgyny. I was
fascinated by that. The ‘80s were so cool
in that sense. Dressing for a party was a
statement and meaningful. I wanted to share
that.
PGN: Can you discuss your inspiration for
the impressive sequences that showcase art
projects and videos?
HS: A lot of different influences. I had my
actors meet artists to understand how using
one’s body in contemporary art and in phys-
ically painful positions was used to express
something. Mauro, who played Nico, came
up with the idea of them being naked in the
streets with “Fag,” “Gay” and “Dyke” writ-
ten on their bodies.
PGN: What decisions did you make about
depicting nudity and sexuality?
HS: I never intended to make a queer film.
It just happened. That’s my life. What I
wanted to do was be truthful and raw and
see the risk they were taking in the ‘80s —
being naked in the Mexico City streets in
the midst of a terrible dictatorship. You had
to be punk at heart to do that. That’s what
mattered to me the most.
PGN: Was it painful to recreate aspects of
your life on screen?
HS: This is not the first time I’d done it.
But it is interesting for me, and I want to
continue doing that. I want to make myself
vulnerable in my projects. It makes my
films more powerful and more meaningful
for me. In a way, this film is a gift for the
teenage me. I wanted to go back to these
issues, look at them, analyze them and
share them. n

Out director’s new film has Philly lead
“BRITTANY RUNS A
MARATHON”
“Brittany Runs a Marathon” is out
gay writer and director Paul Down
Colaizzo’s appealing comedy-drama.
The film, opening August 30 at the
Landmark Ritz Five, concerns the title
character (Jillian Bell), a Philadelphia
native, who is broke and almost 30.
Living in New York, she decides to take
charge of her life by joining her neighbor
Catherine’s (Michaela Watkins) running
group. It is there she meets Seth (Micah
Stock), a gay man, and the trio convince
themselves to run the New York City
Marathon.
As she trains for the race, Brittany
gains a sense of self-confidence. She
also embarks on a relationship with Jern
(Utkarsh Ambudkar).
In a recent phone interview, Colaizzo
spoke with PGN about his warmhearted
film, admitting that he is no runner him-
self, “I could never run. I have bad ankles,
and standing on the set of the film, my
ankle pain was so bad, that after the film I
had surgery on my ankles. Now, I’m a half
inch taller!” But Colaizzo did compete in
a marathon of sorts, writing and directing
his first feature, getting it into Sundance,
securing a major distributor (Amazon),
and getting a theatrical release. While the film is comedic in its tone,
PGN
FILM
PHOTO: JILLIAN BELL AS BRITTANY IN “BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON”
He observed, “The tacky line is the
whole thing is my marathon, and I’m
almost done. I hope we cross the finish
line well.”
The filmmaker based his idea for
“Brittany Runs a Marathon” on his best
friend. His intention was to put a char-
acter who is often a sidekick or seen as
comic relief in films at the center of the
story.
“The goal of this was to take a ‘hard
partying’ character and allow her to be
seen with dimensions and layers and
desires. I wanted to ask audiences for
empathy and sympathy. Make her the
everyman and give her the hero’s jour-
ney.”
Colaizzo’s intention is to make
viewers think about perceptions of
themselves, but also how they are
seen in the eyes of others. As the film
shows, Brittany’s initial impressions of
Catherine and Jern are critical, but she
comes to appreciate and embrace them
as she comes to know them. Likewise,
Brittany’s friendship with her roommate
Gretchen (Alice Lee) becomes strained
once she starts training and cuts back on
excessive partying.
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
Colaizzo generates much of the humor
from what he calls, “character moments.
There’s nothing broad or slapstick-y.”
He explained, that the characters, “Use
humor to deflect vulnerability. It’s
humiliation and pain and embarrassment
[humor] and the relatable experiences of
wanting and longing. That’s the art of
clowning. We are taking these clowns —
and I mean clowns in the theatrical sense
— who are funny, supporting players,
and deepening all of them. We wanted
to show the humor and joy, pathos and
pain, and humanity. The three-dimen-
sional experience of all the characters by
making something funny and bright and
inspirational.”
As for finding inspiration to make a
change, Colaizzo admits he is as likely
to go hard as he is to go back to bed.
“Every day is a fight,” he declared,
“What the film explores is that change
comes in small steps. How we change is
as important as what we change. Every
day is a step in the right direction, but if
you go in the wrong direction, it is still
against bad behavior.”
The filmmaker grew up in Georgia,
in a Catholic, Southern life. When
he moved to New York, he re-exam-
29
ined who I was. He recalled, “I came
out when my parents divorced, and I
unpacked everything I was taught was a
given. I recreated myself with my own
values and rules. In having to re-exam-
ine myself and create the life I wanted,
I had to change my behavior. Every day
I’m still doing that. That’s what we all
need to do in society. We live in a time
without a lot of hope, and we’re afraid
for the future, but we got here through
change, and we can get out of it through
change, too.”
Colaizzo spent part of his childhood
in the Philadelphia area, and the film
features a few shots and scenes set in the
city. When asked about this, Colaizzo
acknowledged, “I was born in Pittsburgh.
Philly was the enemy — the other big
Pennsylvania city. I lived in Voorhees,
NJ when I was four to eight years old.
We’d go downtown all the time, and my
first memory was of the Liberty Bell.
History is preserved in the life blood of
the people — a feeling of comfort and
camaraderie which is why I used Philly
as a location. And it’s only two hours
from New York. We stole the shots of the
skyline. I paid a guy to let me break in
and take them from his roof.” n
30 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
entertainment listings
THEATER & ARTS
The Art of Collage and Assemblage
Philadelphia Museum of
Art presents an exhibition of
mixed-material works from con-
temporary artists through Sept.
2, 26th Street and the Parkway;
215-763-8100.
Felipe Esparza
The comedian seen on
“Superstore” performs through
Sept. 1 at Helium Comedy
Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-
496-9001.
Harmonious Motion
An exhibition of fluid art by
Kelly Munchel, through 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 Jan. 5, 26th Street and
the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
Horace Pippin: From War to Peace
Philadelphia Museum of Art
presents an exhibition of paint-
ings highlighting Pippin’s
pursuit of a range of themes,
from racial violence and the
alienation of war to the serene
beauty of his home in Chester
County, Penn., through Oct., 2,
26th Street and the Parkway;
215-763-8100.
Luenell
The comedian seen in “Borat”
performs Sept. 5-7 at Helium
Comedy Club, 2031
Sansom St.;
215-496-
9001.
ENTERTAINMENT
Mimi Imfurst Presents Drag Diva
Brunch
Mimi Imfurst and special
guests perform 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Aug. 31 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.
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.
Significant Other
Mauckingbird Theatre
Company presents a heartfelt
comedy about a gay, Jewish
man in his late 20s, searching
for a relationship and commit-
ment, through Sept. 15 at The
Drake’s Bluver Theatre, 302 S.
Hicks St.; www.mauckingbird.
org.
Souls Grown Deep: Artists of the
African American South
Philadelphia Museum of Art
presents a collection of tex-
tile art, sculpture and paintings
acquired from the Souls Grown
Deep Foundation through
Sept. 2, 26th Street and the
Parkway; 215-763-8100.
Steven Castillo
The comedian seen on
“Saturday Night Live” per-
forms, 10 p.m. Aug. 31 at
Good Good Comedy Theatre,
215 N. 11th St.; 215-
399-1279.
Show” host and comedian, Trevor Noah,
brings his politically charged sense of
humor to the stage when he performs 7
p.m. Sept. 1 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino
& Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic
City, N.J. For more information or tickets,
PGN LISTINGS
Q PUZZLE
FOLK WISDOM: Out Grammy Award-winning sing-
er-songwriter, Brandi Carlile, brings the summer
tour for her latest album, “By The Way, I
Forgive You” to town, 8 p.m. Sept. 6 at
The Mann Center for the Performing Arts,
5201 Parkside Ave. For more informa-
tion or tickets, call 215-546-7900.
Venus
An exhibition of new watercol-
ors 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.
Weeding Out the Stoned
The comedy show where the
audience tries to figure out
which performers on stage
are baked lights up, 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 at Good Good Comedy
Theatre, 215 N. 11th St.; 215-
399-1279.
Young Frankenstein: The Musical
Walnut Street Theatre presents
the stage adaptation of Mel
Brook’s classic comedy, Sept.
3-Oct. 20, 825 Walnut St.; 215-
574-3550.
MUSIC
Grunge-A-Palooza
Grunge tribute bands White
Limo, Superunknown and
Purple to the Core perform, 8
p.m. Aug. 30 at World Café
Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-
1400.
Slipknot
The metal band performs 5:30
p.m. Aug. 31 at BB&T Pavilion,
1 Harbour Blvd.; 856-365-1300.
The Alarm
The rock band performs 8 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Keswick Theater,
291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-
7650.
Patty Jackson Party in the Park
The Maze featuring Frankie
Beverly, Big Daddy Kane and
Whodini perform 7 p.m. Sept.
2 at Dell Music Center, 2400
Strawberry Mansion Drive;
215-685-9560.
PULLING NO PUNCHES: “The Daily
call 609-317-1000.
Vampire
Weekend
The alt-rock
band performs,
7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at Mann
Center for the Performing
Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; 215-
546-7900.
Zac Brown Band
The country band performs
Sept. 5-7 at BB&T Pavilion, 1
Harbour Blvd.; 856-365-1300.
NIGHTLIFE
A Very Grand Drag and
Burlesque
An Ariana Grande-themed
drag show where her hits are
performed, 7 p.m. Aug. 30
at L’Etage. 624 S. Sixth St.;
215-592-0656.
Devil Drag
A sinfully hot drag show, 9
p.m. Aug. 30 at Tabu, 254 S.
12th St.; 215-964-9675.
Deviant Dance Party
The industrial, electro, syn-
thpop and dark EDM dance
party returns, 9 p.m. Aug. 31
at Underground Arts, 1200
Callowhill St.; 215-627-1332.
Get Hype!
The feminist variety show
celebrating queer sibling-
hood, brought to you by
curator Farrah Thorne, 8 p.m.
Sept. 4 at Franky Bradley’s,
1320 Chancellor St.; 215-
735-0735.
NOTICES: Send notices at least one week in advance to:
Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA
fax: 215-925-6437 or e-mail: listings@epgn.com.
Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
P a u l a ’s
Drag Kitchen
Paula Deen-White
hosts a drag showcase, 7:30
p.m. Sept. 5 at L’Etage. 624
S. Sixth St.; 215-592-0656.
OUTTA TOWN
Gabriel Iglesias
The comedian and television
star known also as “Fluffy”
performs 8 p.m. Aug. 30 at
the Borgata Hotel, Casino &
Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata
Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-
317-1000.
Miranda Lambert
The country singer originally
from Texas performs 7 p.m.
Aug. 31 at the Borgata Hotel,
Casino & Spa Event Center,
1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City,
N.J.; 609-317-1000.
There, There: A Tribute to
Radiohead
The Radiohead tribute band
performs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31
at The Queen, 500 N. Market
St., Wilmington, Del.; 202-
730-3331.
Norm Macdonald
The Canadian comedian
known for his time on SNL
performs 9 p.m. Sept. 6 at the
Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa
Music Box, 1 Borgata Way,
Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-
1000. n
19147

FAMILY PORTRAIT | SUZI NASH |
Dana Suleymanova: Helping you wield Cupid’s bow
Philly’s Fringe Festival is an almost month-
long festival that happens every September
here in the city of Brotherly Love and Sisterly
Affection. The festival is wide and varied
with performances taking place in both main-
stream theaters and places that are a little
more on the… fringe. Those offbeat shows
are my favorites. In past years, I’ve seen a
show staged in the back of a giant Mac truck,
a play acted out in the bathroom of a pizza
shop and I’ve followed dancers through the
back alleys of Old City and through grave-
stones in Christ Church Cemetery.
The whole festival is a little bit queer, but
there are several shows and performers that
are especially of interest to our community,
and we’ve featured quite a few of them over
the years. This year has newcomer artist and
performer Dana Suleymanova performing
“Dear qupid” — a free interactive perfor-
mance where Suleymanova doles out love
advice to anyone in need on Sept. 9, 15 and
22, 2019 in Love Park.
PGN: Where do you hail from?
DS: I was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
When I was around six years old, my par-
ents decided to move to the U.S. So I’ve
been here for most of my life, but my par-
ents are and my first language is Russian. I
grew up in a very Russian environment.
PGN: Where did you land in the States?
DS: We moved to Cleveland, Ohio.
PGN: Do you have any memory of living
in Uzbekistan?
DS: Some, mostly related to kindergar-
ten, just doing typical kids things. It’s a
little hazy since it’s been so long, but I do
remember some of the food…delicious. I
wish I had the funds to go back for a visit,
but it’s a little expensive, not to mention all
the paperwork. We’ve moved most of the
family over, but some of my grandparents
are still there.
PGN: What was or is a favorite Russian
meal?
DS: One of the best is a dish from
Uzbekistan called plov. It’s a fried rice
dish with shredded carrots, chickpeas and
beef, garlic and golden raisins. There are
a lot of dried fruits and nuts in that part of
the world, and they use a lot of them in the
cooking.
PGN: I grew up originally near New York
and my parents used to take me to the
Russian Tea Room where I loved the pier-
ogis. They even had a drink named after
me, the Suzi-Q! It was probably just a
Shirley Temple but they called it that when
I was there.
DS: Yeah, I’m finding there’s a big
Russian population in Philly too. Well, at
least compared to Cleveland and Texas
where I went to college! It’s cool to be out
PGN
PROFILE
and about in Philly and hear people speak-
ing Russian on occasion.
PGN: Did you always have an artistic
bent?
DS: I think so; my parents were always
supportive. From ballet to opera to the
fine arts, Russian culture has always been
very supportive of the arts. More than in
the U.S. I would say. My dad is a transla-
tor but we always had music in the home.
They met in the theater where they were
both actors. They both loved the arts and
encouraged me in my love for sculpture
and drawing as I was growing up.
PGN: Any siblings?
DS: Yeah, I have an older sister who lives
in D.C. She’s 30 and I’m 23 but we’re
really close.
PGN: So tell me about Cleveland.
DS: They call it “The Mistake on the
Lake,” but I think it’s underrated. There are
a lot of cool things about Cleveland.
PGN: Who was your best friend as a kid?
DS: I used to do synchronized swimming
and one of my best friends was my duet
partner. I did it for about seven years and
competed on a national level. It’s kind of
weird I guess, but I guess I’ve always been
performing in a way.
PGN: I just saw an actress on a talk show
who said she did synchronized swimming
and didn’t shave her legs because the hair
helps with buoyancy.
DS: Interesting, I never heard that. We all
shaved our legs as per the societal norm.
It’s a strange sport. I think some people
think it’s not a real thing, just something
that’s seen in tampon commercials, but it’s
for real and very difficult actually.
PGN: It really takes strength and talent!
DS: Yeah. Similar to gymnastics and fig-
ure skating, it’s a real blend of artistry and
athletics, which is something I really enjoy
about it.
PGN: I think people don’t realize that
through the whole thing, upside down,
sideways, jumping in the air, your feet
never touch the bottom. What was your
hardest move?
DS: Pretty much anytime you were upside
down, there were a lot of pointed toes and
straight legs while trying to spin at the
same time. There’s a lot of difficulty in
balancing while treading water. You have
to flail your arms in a way that circulates
your body around while keeping the legs
moving smoothly. There’s a lot with breath
control too.
PGN: Do you sing? You must have amaz-
ing lungs after all that!
Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
DS: Just a little choir in school, but I
never really fit in. I dabbled in a lot of
stuff. After a while, I moved away from
synchronized swimming too. There were
aspects of it I wasn’t crazy about.
PGN: What didn’t you like?
DS: The sequins! And the hyper-femi-
nine aspects of synchro, they were really
uncomfortable for me as I was navigating
my own feelings.
PGN: Where did you go for college?
DS: I went to the University of Texas in
Austin and just graduated about a year
ago. I got a BFA in Studio Art and a cer-
tificate in Digital Arts and Media.
PGN: What brought you to Philadelphia?
DS: I really wanted to move to the East
Coast. After being in Texas for a while, I
wanted to have seasons again and though
I have friends in New York, Philly seemed
more manageable, and I’d heard a lot
of good things about Philadelphia’s art
scene.
PGN: Have we lived up to your expecta-
tions?
DS: Oh yes, I love it here. I love how
walkable the city is; I love how hon-
est people are about their feelings here.
[Laughing] I see a lot of loud, heated
altercations on the street. Down South
people just give those backhanded com-
pliments, “Bless your little heart” types
of things. No one is really going to tell
you what’s going on. But the accents are
kind of weird here! Water or “wooder”
is not my favorite word to hear in Philly.
People will say it and I’m not sure what’s
being said; it takes a minute to register.
PGN: Let’s talk about your Fringe show,
“Dear qupid”
DS: It’s a free love advice service that’s
kind of like a cross between a janky
childhood play and a lemonade stand.
Cardboard props and poorly con-
structed costumes, etc. I’ll
be sitting on a ladder
dressed in a baby
cupid dia-
per
31
giving out love advice. It takes place in
Love Park which is a perfect setting.
PGN: What makes you the love expert?
DS: Nothing! I don’t really know any-
thing about love, which was really brought
home the first time I did it and people
much older than me were asking ques-
tions that were above my pay grade. But
that’s kind of the satire — that this baby
in a diaper is the symbol for something
as sophisticated as love and is in charge
of putting people together by randomly
shooting off arrows. There’s a lot of
humor in the piece. I make fun of myself
and the ideas of shame and embarrassment
as I’m sitting in public looking ridiculous
in a diaper. There’s a lot of camp in the
show.
PGN: Do you read a lot of “Dear Abby”
to learn how to respond?
DS: I’ve been watching a lot of “Sex in
the City.” I do read a lot of “Savage Love,”
which I like, and I’ve been going to love
advice columns on the Internet. It’s inter-
esting to see how people listen to random
“experts” online without ever questioning
their credentials.
PGN: How would you describe yourself:
performance artist, actor, fine artist?
DS: I wouldn’t say an actor, I don’t
really have any authority in that depart-
ment. I’ve definitely been getting more
into performance art. It’s a weird niche
thing, and I have a complicated relation-
ship with it and its controversial history.
It can be really esoteric and weird, but it
can also be exciting and intradisciplinary
and interesting. But sculpture is a first
love and always something I’ve been
interested in. I’ve done gallery
shows with that, and I also
do drawings and video
animation. I
do stop
PAGE 34
32 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 MUSICAL
PGN

The Local entertainer parodies absurdities

Guide to the in ‘Les Misérables’
Gayborhood
The Philadelphia Gayborhood is roughly
centered at Locust and Camac streets. Look for the
rainbow street signs at intersections and remember
to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go.

Boxers Toasted Walnut Woody’s Voyeur The Bike Stop

1330 Walnut St. 1316 Walnut St. 202 S. 13th St. 1221 St. James St. 206 S Quince St.
facebook.com/ 215.546.8888 215.545.1893 215.735.5772 215.627.1662 Levi
boxersphl Festively lit woodysbar.com voyeurnightclub.com Leather men’s
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ERIC JAFFEE WITH CAST OF “GAY MIS”
would get to play a Jean Valjean role. I
m BY GARY L. DAY was used to playing the best friend or some
m Walnut St.
PGN Contributor such.”
<— The protégé has nothing but praise for
m m Chancellor St.
If just one word were required to describe Jaffe’s creative process — and said he’s
Eric Jaffe? also having a damned good time working
Juniper St.

m m St. James St.

Fun. with his mentor.
The born-and-raised Philadelphian has “Sometimes we have to stay as close to
m been a regular on the local drag circuit for the script as possible, but sometimes we
about two years and is world-renowned just crack each other up with the ideas we
Locust St.
m for his ukulele skills. Years before, he was throw out,” said Malone.
Latimer St.
known on the cabaret scene. Cast member Kathy Babe Robinson
Jaffe’s newest scene is writing and direct- is working with Jaffe for the first time,
Camac St.

Quince St.

m ing, and he’ll debut “Gay Mis” — his origi- though she’d parodied “Les Mis” in her
13th St.

12th St.

11th St.

<—
m nal musical parody — as part of the annual own cabaret show. She said she arrived
r Manning St.
Fringe Festival. at the audition with some of her original
r m Obviously a riff on “Les Misérables,”
the piece is actually Jaffe’s second parody
material in hand and was cast within 24
hours.
Spruce St. musical. His first, “Thweeney,” a take on “I am having the time of my life,” said
Sweeney Todd, made its successful debut Robinson. “The cast is just so funny and
Pa. bars close at 2 a.m. unless they have a last January. so talented. And Eric has provided us with
Cypress St. private-club license. Please drink responsibly. The genesis of “Gay Mis” was a bit con- such a safe space to be ourselves. There’s a
m voluted, Jaffe said. little bit of everybody in this show.”
“I didn’t like ‘Les Mis’ at first, because I Jaffe said the unexpected success of
Writer’s Block Rehab William Way U Bar Knock didn’t understand it at first — not at all,” he “Thweeney” and optimistic prospects for
1342 Cypress St. LGBT Community 1220 Locust St. 225 S. 12th St.
267.603.6960 Center 215.546.6660 215.925.1166 confessed. “I was in the eighth grade when “Gay Mis” have him planning the creation
A cozy, comfortable bar 1315 Spruce St. Relaxing corner knockphilly.com I first saw it. I saw it again a few years later of his own gay-theater company.
and lounge perfect for 215.732.2220 bar, easy-going Fine-dining restaurant with a professional touring company, and “One of my goals in building a real the-
escaping the norm waygay.org crowd, popular for and bar, outdoor seat- I picked up on a few things but not a lot. ater company is to provide a space for older
A resource for all happy hour and ing, piano in back room Then I started listening to it repeatedly, gay theater artists,” he noted. “You don’t
Frankie Bradley’s things LGBT window watching because I loved the music, and I started to often see older queer theater artists in the
1320 Chancellor St. absorb some things. But it wasn’t until I theatrical nightlife, and there are so many
215-735-0735 saw the movie that I figured it out.” amazing people that have so much to offer
Resaturant, dance Tavern on Camac Tabu Jaffe admitted he still finds parts of the that I want to bring into the fold.”
club, live performers 255 S. Camac St. 254 S. 12th St. famed musical ridiculous, adding his show “Gay Mis” will be performed at Franky
and entertainment 215.545.8731 215.964.9675 will highlight what he adores and finds Bradley’s, a venue Jaffe praises: “They’ve
Piano lounge with tabuphilly.com absurd about it. got a great stage, great lights and they
Three floors with a
upstairs dance floor; “Also, as with all the shows I do, I make us feel very welcome.”
<— <— Tavern restaurant dance floor,, drag
wanted to make spaces for all kinds of And while “Gay Mis” also will take the
below is open late. shows, lounge and
rootop deck. queerness,” he said. stage for one night at Fishtown’s Punch
West of Broad Street Jaffe’s focus on queerness extended past Line Philly, the auteur said the Gayborhood
Bar X the show: He cast a wide net to secure queer location of Franky Bradley’s is significant
Stir Lounge The Attic Youth performers. As a result, “Gay Mis” features for the longer run of the show.
1705 Chancellor St. Center 255 S. Camac St.
collaborators with whom he previously “I want to be as accessible to queer
215.732.2700 255 S. 16th St.
worked, along with newcomers. people as possible,” Jaffe said, “so why
stirphilly.com 215.545.4331 Bar and dancefloor
atticyouthcenter.org Brennan Malone, a self-described “Jaffe not perform where most of them live and
Fun two-bar
lounge, DJ in the Safe space and programs alumnus,” snagged the role of “Parmesan,” play?” n
back, regular for LGBTs age 16-23 the Jean Valjean equivalent. He said it
poker games and weekday afternoons and caught him by surprise when Jaffe offered “Gay Mis” runs Sept. 7-15 at Franky Bradley’s,
specials evenings him the role. 1320 Chancellor St., and Sept. 22 at Punch
“I had never played the lead in a show Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St. For ticket informa-
before,” Malone said. “I never thought I tion, visit theericjaffee.com
 SCENE
PGN
IN PHILLY Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 33

MILK & COOKIES

D R A G B R U N C H AT M I L K B O Y P H O T O S B Y K E L LY B U R K H A R D T

Sa mantha Sayten Icon Ebony-Fierce

Comedian Nicole Phoenix Bartenders Aaron, Ari and Dan Sinnamon

Duby Sosa-Heydet Noh Wan and DJ Delish DJ amd Déjah

34 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019
PORTRAIT from page 31
motion and teach animation to kids some-
times.
PGN: So has your dad figured out how to
translate “cofefe”?
DS: I love that word. I’m thinking about get-
ting it as a tattoo.
PGN: I see you have a few already, which
was the first one?
DS: It’s a contour of a moth. My grandfa-
ther was an entomologist and used to collect
butterflies, beetles and moths — so that's for
him. I have two scissors, scissoring. My sister
has the same one; she's very queer as well.
PGN: [Laughing] Subtle, I like it.
DS: Yeah, a lot of people just think I cut hair.
PGN: Are you single?
DS: I am not. I moved here from Texas with
my partner. She’s in the arts as well. She also
does a lot of video and sculpture. She’s very
talented.
PGN: Is she enjoying Philly too?
DS: Oh yeah, she loves it. But she’s lived in
Texas her whole life, so we’ll see what hap-
pens when the first snowstorm hits.
PGN: What’s your favorite piece of clothing?
DS: I’m a real sneakerhead, so my favorite
thing is a pair of Jeremy Scott wing sneak-
ers, white with black embroidered wings
attached. They’re pretty [cool], I only wear
them once or twice a year when I want to feel
flashy.
PGN: What’s a quote your parents used a lot?
DS: There are a lot of Russian proverbs.
One that’s kind of sad or self-deprecating is,
“We wanted what’s best, but it turned out as
usual.”
PGN: Would you take free skydiving les-
sons?
DS: Skydiving? Yes. Bungee jumping, no.
PGN: Ever have any paranormal experi-
ences?
DS: No, but I work at the Mütter Museum
now, and they have a lot of dead bodies
around so hopefully that will change soon.
THEATER
PGN
PGN: You have your own talk show, who are
your first three guests?
DS: LeBron James, he’s my favorite per-
son. Drake would be cool, and I think Andy
Warhol would be a fun guest.
PGN: What’s the most mischievous thing you
did as a kid?
DS: I got in trouble when we first moved
here. Some boy was teasing me so I kicked
him in the butt, which apparently was accept-
able to do in Russia but frowned upon here.
My parents got called in to the office and it
was a big deal, but privately my mother told
me she was proud of me for sticking up for
myself. It was very dramatic; I was sent to
detention and everything.
PGN: What kinds of pets did you have as a
kid? Their names?
DS: I had a pet chinchilla named Dunya
for 16 years. She was my true love, and I
miss her dearly. She was extremely soft and
adorable but also very sassy. I also have had
parakeets my whole life growing up and
they’re probably some of my favorite animals
because of their ability to talk and repeat
back anything I tell them.
PGN: Scariest moment?
DS: One of the scariest moments of my life
was when a bug crawled into my ear while I
was sleeping and wouldn’t stop flying around
in my head. I had to wash it out with a water
and oil mixture. I haven’t been the same
since.
PGN: What’s your hidden talent?
DS: I used to write raps when I was 10 years
old and record music videos with my friend.
I wasn’t great, but I’d like to think I wasn’t
awful.
PGN: The accomplishment I’m most proud
of is…
DS: Probably getting a chance to perform
this qupid piece at Love Park. I’ve always
had a love for performance but just never
thought it could manifest into a large public
work such as this with such institutional sup-
port. Especially being young and just gradu-
ating college, I’ve been getting my fair share
of rejections from jobs or other art opportu-
nities, so getting a chance to do this is pretty
exciting for me. n
Swinging into ‘Hamilton’
BY A.D. AMOROSI
PGN Contributor
Everyone in Philly knows Lin-Manuel
Miranda’s Tony Award-winning “Hamilton”
is in town. Nearly every block in Center City
bears the banner; nearly every shop displays
the signage.
And while most theater-lovers are familiar
with its hip-hop patois, multicultural char-
acterizations and celebrity performers like
Miranda, Daveed Diggs and Philadelphia’s
own Leslie Odom Jr., the touring cast at large
has remained far less elusive.
Avery Sobczak, a Colorado native, per-
forms one of the musical’s most crucial roles:
the Swing — the actor and dancer covering
all six men in the ensemble cast, includ-
ing the characters of Charles Lee, Samuel
Seabury, George Eacker and James Reynolds.
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr are the
glittering front faces of Hamilton’s American
Revolution, but you don’t get through his-
tory — or this show — without its supporting
cast.
The out Sobczak spoke to PGN the
night before Philly’s Aug. 27 opening of
“Hamilton” at the Forrest Theatre.
PGN: When did you come out?
AS: At the end of high school. I was pretty
lucky my mom’s older sister identifies as a
lesbian, so it wasn’t an issue with my family.
The summer between high school and college
is when it all changed for me.
PGN: I know you attended Ithaca College
for Musical Theatre. What was your theater
background before “Hamilton”?
AS: I moved to New York City four years
ago, where I’ve been working regionally and
Off Broadway. The coolest thing I’ve done is
worked with a group called Jennifer Jancuska
and The BringAbout. It’s a group of artists
that work together to workshop new musi-
cals. The workshops, called ASTIR, com-
pletely stage a couple of numbers to aid the
creative process for the team attached to the
show. Recently, a fully realized new musical
adaptation of “Anne of Green Gables” went
up at Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival,
which started as one of The BringAbout
workshops. I love to be a part of new stuff
from the ground up.
PGN: Are you a big hip-hop fan?
AS: I am! I grew up on Dr. Dre and Eminem.
Now I listen to a lot of women rappers —
they are fierce. Big fan of Lil’ Kim, Nicki
Minaj, Cardi B, Leikeli47. Also Chance the
Rapper [a male] is pretty amazing.
PGN: What are the parallels between hip-hop
and Hamilton’s life?
AS: I always associate Hamilton’s song “My
Shot” with “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. I
used to listen to it before auditions to get in
the zone. I feel like both these songs have a
relatable struggle of not throwing away your
one chance to succeed and lay the foundation
for your future. I feel like Hamilton’s life
really fits with the music that tells his story.
Many rappers have at least one song in their
repertoire that has a rags-to-riches moment.
That’s basically what the story is boiled down
to in its simplest form.
PGN: The Swing is essential to any show, as
you are covering several characters’ ground.
How do you make your character yours as
opposed to any other actor who has portrayed
it?
AS: This is a tricky question. Since I am not
the original cast, I am replacing other peo-
ple who created the tracks in the show. So,
there isn’t much leeway with what you can
do when you have to hit a certain mark or
a step has to be executed in a certain way.
During improvisational moments, you can let
your own essence shine through in your own
movement that’s specific to your own body.
Also the way a person interprets the lyrics
and choreography is already singular. I feel
like they look for that during the audition
process.
PGN: Have you spoken to Lin-Manuel
Miranda? If so, what was it like?
AS: Lin saw the show when we were in
Detroit. I was lucky enough to be on as
Charles Lee. He met with the cast at a bar
afterwards. He was incredibly inspiring. It
always helps to gain perspective on why we
do what we do in the show and how much it
really does mean to an audience. It’s always a
great reminder to never lose perspective and
to continue to do your best when you may
not feel your best. He really is an awesome
guy.
PGN: You’re in Philadelphia now — one of
the most prominent homes to the real-life
Hamilton. Does it offer any context?
AS: I’m really excited to visit the sight
where Hamilton’s home was, Independence
Hall and the original post office. It’s always
exciting to visit the actual places where these
people lived and thrived. He had such a hand
in the financial structure of this country. It’ll
be very informative to see and be in some of
the places where it all started.
PGN: So much has been said — debated,
even — about Hamilton. What should future
audiences know about the show?
AS: The show is fast-paced so it is a good
idea, coming into the show, knowing some
of the music or the gist of Hamilton’s life.
Audiences should come with an open mind
and an open heart. They are about to see the
life of one of the most underrated founding
fathers played out before their eyes with an
incredibly diverse group of humans telling
it. The message the show delivers is strong,
demanding equality and acceptance from
its audience members. It really is such an
important message, especially right now,
going into this next election. It feels import-
ant to tell this story and be able to tell it to so
many people across the country. n
 PGN Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 35

Classifieds
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Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended. Title VIII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits
discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in
other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national
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36 Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2019 PGN