PHI LADELPHIA GAY NEWS
est. 1976
January 3-9, 2020
OUTLAW 2 0 1 9 : LGBTQ year in review
Gay man
files antibias
complaint
against CHOP
TIMOTHY CWIEK
timothy@epgn.com
A Philadelphia gay man has
filed an antibias complaint
against the Children’s Hospital
of Philadelphia, claiming he was
illegally fired from his job as an
order filler due to his sexual ori-
entation and HIV-positive status.
On Dec. 26, “John Doe” filed
a 17-page complaint with the
Pennsylvania Human Relations
Commission. Doe, 38, worked at
CHOP from January 2018-July
2019. His job involved locating
medical equipment and supplies
in the basement of CHOP for use
elsewhere in the facility.
Doe claims he was subjected
to a hostile work environment
throughout his employment. For
example, a coworker alleged-
ly referred to Doe as a “fa--ot,”
and a supervisor criticized Doe
for being gender nonconforming
in his mannerisms. A male tech-
nician simulated a limp wrist
in Doe’s presence, apparently
to mock Doe. Also, a cowork-
er allegedly rammed a cart into
Doe as he was selecting medical
supplies for use elsewhere in the
facility, according to the com-
plaint.
In February 2019, Doe, who
is HIV-positive, requested and
was granted time off to be treat-
ed for rectal cancer. Doe had a
tumor removed on March 25,
2019. In May 2019
management pres- page 16
sured Doe to return
TARA LESSARD: COMMUNITY
ACTIVIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER
Tara Lessard of Morrisville, Pennsylvania, died on Dec.
26, 2019, at age 47, in her home after a five-year fight with
metastatic ovarian cancer.
PGN’s People of the year The end
F r o m t o p t o b o t t o m , l e f t t o r i g h t : K e n d a l l S t e p h e n s , M a r y G r o c e , T i f f a n y P a l m e r, Z a c h W i l c h a a n d
“The crux of my advocacy
work is helping those that need
some guidance, that just need
a helping hand, get past a point
in their lives that is very diffi-
cult for them.”
— Kendall Stephens
JESS BRYANT
jess@epgn.com
Every year, PGN selects a
group of people to be honored
as our “People of the Year.” This
year held no shortage of folks who
qualified; the decision on who
to include was difficult. How-
ever, after much consideration,
those members of our communi-
ty whose labor has created much
change — and offered hope in a
PA G E 8
TRANS MAN SUES STATE FOR DELAY
IN GENDER-AFFIRMING SURGERY
A trans man has filed suit against Pennsylvania, claiming
a lengthy delay before the state’s health-insurance provider
would cover his bilateral mastectomy caused suffering.
HONESTY . INTEGRITY . PROFESSIONALISM
V ol. 44 N o. 1 pgn
PAG E 1 5
of a queer
decade
VICTORIA A.
BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
“It was the best of times, it was
the worst of times.” Charles Dick-
ens was a straight, cisgender white
man, and the year was 1859, but
that quintessential opening of “A
Tale of Two Cities” could not be a
more accurate assessment of how
the decade of the 2010s was if you
were LGBTQ.
Along with huge gains for
LGBTQ people over the past de-
cade, there were also frequent
checks on LGBTQ political prog-
ress.
In December 2010, President
Obama signed the Don’t Ask Don’t
Tell Repeal Act, allowing gay men
Chris Bar tlett and lesbians to serve legally in the
military.
“It wasn’t easy to be gay and
“Youth are not con- In 2011, Secretary of State
have kids. We shouldn’t forget
strained — we have to Hillary Clinton became the high-
that. We shouldn’t forget all
be open to innovation; est-placed political figure in the
this history we have and the
we have to trust them world to state before the United
work that has been done to get
to run with it.” Nations General Assembly in Ge-
us here.”
— Chris Bartlett neva — contravening anti-gay laws
— Mary Groce
everywhere — that “gay rights are
human rights, and human rights are
time when it’s needed — include nary mascot, Roary. She also vol-
Kendall Stephens, Chris Bartlett, unteers at Morris home and gives gay rights.” Clinton made interna-
tional headlines: “The U.S. vows to
Zach Wilcha, Mary Groce and so much of herself, tirelessly, to
fight for homosexual rights abroad
Judge Tiffany Palmer. our community. Read more about by using foreign aid and diploma-
Kendall Stephens is a name that, Stephens on page 2. cy, declaring gay rights an inalien-
if you haven’t heard, you should Chris Bartlett, the executive able human right,” read the BBC
and likely will soon. She co-fa- director at William Way, secured World News.
cilitates TransWay’s transgender a $1 million grant this year from In 2013, a native Philadelphian,
support group with Elizabeth Gov. Tom Wolf and an additional Edie Windsor, won her Supreme
Williams at William Way LGBT Pew Grant. With the funds, Wil- Court case making DOMA — the
Community Center and is one of liam Way opened the Arcila-Ad- Defense of Marriage Act — un-
the people behind Community ams Trans Resource constitutional in its page 16
page 16
College of Philadelphia’s nonbi- Center and will ren- restrictions on lesbian
PA G E 9 PA G E 1 2
DUNKIN’ SEEKS DISMISSAL OF
TRANS EMPLOYEE’S LAWSUIT
A Dunkin’ Donuts shop in Bethlehem has asked a federal
judge to dismiss the antibias lawsuit of a trans woman of
color who claims a hostile work environment.
2 LOCAL
RESOURCE LISTINGS
LEGAL RESOURCES
PHILADELPHIA COMMISSION ON
HUMAN RELATIONS —
Rue Landau
215-686-4670
PHILADELPHIA POLICE
LIAISON COMMITTEE
215-760-3686
ppd.lgbt@gmail.com
SPARC — STATEWIDE
PENNSYLVANIA RIGHTS COALITION
717-920-9537
ACLU OF PENNSYLVANIA
215-592-1513; aclupa.org
AIDS LAW PROJECT OF PA
215-587-9377; aidslawpa.org
AIDS LAW PROJECT OF
SOUTH JERSEY
856-784-8532; aidslawsnj.org
EQUALITY PA
equalitypa.org; 215-731-1447
OFFICE OF LGBT AFFAIRS —
EVAN THORNBURG
215-686-0330
evan.thornburg@phila.gov
COMMUNITY CENTERS
THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER
255 S. 16th St.; 215-545-4331
atticyouthcenter.org
For LGBT and questioning youth
and their friends and allies.
LGBT CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF PENNSYLVANIA
3907 Spruce St.; 215-898-5044
center@dolphin.upenn.edu
RAINBOW ROOM: BUCKS
COUNTY’S LGBTQ AND ALLIES
YOUTH CENTER
Salem UCC Education Building
181 E. Cour t St., Doylestown
215-957-7981 ext. 9065
rainbowroom@ppbucks.org
WILLIAM WAY
LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER
1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220
www.waygay.org
H E A LT H A N D H I V T E S T I N G
ACTION WELLNESS
1216 Arch St.; 215-981-0088 ac-
tionwellness.org
AIDS TREATMENT FACT LINE
800-662-6080
AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
1211 Chestnut St. #405
215-971-2804; HIVcare.org
AIDS LIBRARY
1233 Locust St, aidslibrar y.org
BEBASHI-TRANSITION TO HOPE
1235 Spring Garden St
215-769-3561; bebashi.org
COLOURS
coloursorganization.org
215-832-0100
CONGRESO DE LATINOS UNIDOS
216 W. Somerset St
215-763-8870
GALAEI
149 W. Susquehanna Ave
267-457-3912, galaei.org
Spanish/English
HEALTH CENTER NO. 2
1720 S. Broad St
215-685-1821
LGBT ELDER INITIATIVE
1315 Spruce Street, 4th Floor
lgbtelderintiative.org
215.720.9414
MAZZONI CENTER
1348 Bainbridge St
215-563-0652
mazzonicenter.org
NOVUS ACS
MEDICAL SERVICES
11 DUANE RD, STE A
DOYLESTOWN, PA
267-454-7086
NOVUSACS.COM
PHILADELPHIA FIGHT
1233 Locust St.; 215-985-4448
fight.org
WASHINGTON WEST PROJECT OF
MAZZONI CENTER
1201 Locust St.; 215-985-9206
TRANSGENDER HEALTH ACTION
COALITION
215-732-1207
OTHER
INDEPENDENCE BRANCH LIBRARY
BARBARA GITTINGS GAY AND
LESBIAN COLLECTION
215-685-1633
INDEPENDENCE BUSINESS
ALLIANCE
215-557-0190, independence-
businessalliance.com
LGBT PEER COUNSELING
SERVICES
215-732-TALK
PFLAG: PARENTS, FAMILIES AND
FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS
(PHILADELPHIA)
215-572-1833
PHILLY PRIDE PRESENTS
215-875-9288
Person of the Year:
Kendall Stephens
LAURA SMYTHE
laura@epgn.com
After high school, Kendall Stephens had
the world ahead of her. She had several col-
lege acceptance letters under her belt, along-
side a diploma with honors, a freshly broken
Penn Relays record and the unveiling of her
trans identity.
“I went and told my family because I was
so excited: ‘I know what I am! I know what’s
going on here! I’m definitely transgender!’”
said Stephens, now 33. “The response I got
back was, ‘Well, if you continue down this
road, then we’re going to pull all support for
you.’”
The opportunities Stephens had set up
for herself began to crumble. She lost her
college scholarships because her mother re-
fused to fill out the FAFSA forms. Instead of
heading to a dorm room, Stephens wound up
experiencing homelessness, finding herself
in and out of shelters, couch surfing and liv-
ing on the streets in the “very most degrad-
ing experience of [her] life.”
But the trans woman of color, a lifelong
Philadelphian living in Point Breeze, didn’t
let adversity keep her down. Driven by
memories of sleeping on park benches in
the freezing cold and having to wash out her
only pair of underwear each night, Stephens
is now a powerhouse in the city’s LGBTQ
community.
Since 2015, she has served as co-facilita-
tor of TransWay, a two-hour weekly support
group for trans and gender-nonconforming
people at William Way LGBT Communi-
ty Center, which honored Stephens with its
New Emerging Leader Award in October.
Stephens also facilitates support groups and
assists yoga classes as an intern at Morris
Home, the Southwest Philadelphia recovery
center for trans and gender-nonconforming
folks with addiction.
The LGBTQ advocate juggles her com-
munity work with studying behavioral health
and human service at Community College of
Philadelphia, where she ranks on the honor
roll and dean’s list and acts as president of
the school’s LGBTQ club.
“The crux of my advocacy work is help-
ing those that need some guidance, that just
need a helping hand, get past a point of their
lives that is very difficult for them,” Stephens
said. “If I can give that hand to them and help
them help themselves, then it’s mission ac-
complished for me.”
Stephens can be found every Thursday
night opening a TransWay session with a
health and wellness check-in for the approx-
imately 20 group members. Folks are able to
discuss the happenings in their lives and seek
advice from other participants in an environ-
ment Stephens described as “akin to being in
your dining room around the table amongst
family.”
Elizabeth Williams, a 71-year-old trans
woman who has known Stephens for sever-
al years, co-facilitates TransWay. Stephens
and Williams met via the support group, and
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020
KENDALL STEPHENS WITH ROARY, THE MASCOT
Williams describes their leadership as “com-
plementary.” The two are of different gener-
ations and ethnicities, but each focuses on
promoting inclusivity, Williams said.
Stephens is “extraordinarily poised, fierce-
ly intelligent and her intelligence transcends
book learning,” Williams told PGN, noting
Stephens is happy to share her success and
lead by example.
“She’s like the perfect storm coming to-
gether to create a success story, but none of
it is by accident,” Williams added. “Any suc-
cess that she has had has been through inten-
tion and through showing up and doing the
work, whatever that work may be.”
Vincent Scarfo, a nonbinary trans per-
son who works as the coordinator at CCP’s
MarcDavid LGBTQ Center, has known Ste-
phens for roughly two years through Phil-
adelphia’s queer advocacy scene. The duo
worked together following the unveiling
of the school’s new nonbinary lion mascot
Roary to urge students to see the furry icon
as a symbol of inclusivity, Scarfo told PGN.
They are collaborating with the institution’s
marketing and communications team to
bring Pride-themed college swag to the cam-
pus bookstore in 2020.
Scarfo described Stephens as “relentless.”
Some activists “burn out because they try
things and they get shot down,” but Stephens
continues pushing for change, Scarfo said.
“[That] is what we really need from our
activists and from our advocates for the com-
munity because without people really push-
ing the envelope and standing up and saying,
‘This is not right,’ or, ‘This needs to happen,’
it’s never going to change,” they added. “I
admire her tenacity and her ability to really
keep pushing things when she feels they’re
important.”
While Stephens acknowledges it is “very
frightening” being openly trans in today’s
climate, she encourages young people to
come out when they feel safe enough to do
so. Living authentically creates a sense of
freedom and empowerment, Stephens said.
“I really want everyone to understand that
whatever hatred or confusion or judgment
that you may have to any community, if you
could put that aside for a moment and try to
see people as just people, the world would be
a much better place,” she added. “We would
all exist in harmony.” n
JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
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4 LOCAL
Person of the Year: Chris Bartlett
pgn VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
Publisher Chris Bartlett has been the executive di-
Mark Segal (ext. 204) rector at William Way LGBT Community
mark@epgn.com Center (WWCC) for a decade — a fraught
and complicated decade that has also been
Office Manager/ the most tumultuous for LGBTQ people
Distribution since the AIDS pandemic. The changes with-
in those 10 years have demanded the kind of
Don Pignolet (ext. 200) nuanced approach Bartlett has brought to the
don@epgn.com
center. While other agencies have seen turn-
Editor over and strife, Bartlett helmed the center
with a calm, yet active hand.
Jess Bryant (ext. 206) Throughout his tenure at WWCC, Bart-
editor@epgn.com
lett has created what he hopes has been an
Staff Writers atmosphere of inclusion and outreach that
has both broadened the scope of the WWCC
Laura Smythe (ext. 215) and also helped to make it the focal point it
laura@epgn.com
should be for the diverse Philadelphia com-
Larry Nichols (ext. 213) munity.
larry@epgn.com This year, he expanded the center to ad-
Timothy Cwiek (ext. 208) dress more and more issues impacting the
timothy@epgn.com community, securing two critical grants and
setting up both the Trans Resource Center
Photographer and the Leadership Pipeline.
Kelly Burkhardt Bartlett secured a $1 million grant from
burkhardtkelly@gmail.com Gov. Tom Wolf for renovation and new con-
struction of the center at 1315 Spruce Street
Art Director in the heart of the Gayborhood. He explained
Sean Dorn (ext. 211) how the work he has done over his years at
sean@epgn.com WWCC and the manner in which the center
has functioned “has developed a lot of polit-
ical goodwill. We had a lot of political sup-
Graphic Artist
port for this grant. People do know the work
Ash Cheshire (ext. 210) we are doing and how much it is helping,
ash@epgn.com how many people are being served.”
Bartlett enumerated who had helped in
Advertising Sales securing the grant, mentioning Senators
Joe Bean (ext. 219) Farnese and Street, Congressman Evans,
joe@epgn.com Mayor Kenney, State Rep. Sims and many
Prab Sandhu (ext. 212) others. “We’re taking on the work of re-
prab@epgn.com building our center to meet the growing and
evolving needs of our diverse LGBT com-
National Advertising munities,” he said.
Bartlett explained how the rating from
Rivendell Media:
212-242-6863 HRC with the perfect score for WWCC
was a factor by highlighting nationally what
WWCC is doing locally.
“It’s smart for political leaders to support
Phone: 215-625-8501 PGN us,” he said, noting of the grant, “It’s a big
Fax: 215-925-6437 505 S. Fourth St. win.”
E-mail: pgn@epgn.com Philadelphia, PA
Web: www.epgn.com 19147-1506 Doing this work was not what Bartlett had
planned for his future. He trained in classics,
Philadelphia Gay News with degrees in classics from the Ivy League
is a member of: Brown University and the University of Ox-
The Associated Press
Pennsylvania Newspaper ford in England. But his career as a classics
Association
Suburban Newspapers professor was derailed by the AIDS pandem-
of America ic.
A “Philadelphian born and bred,” Bartlett
The views of PGN are expressed only in the unsigned said that the AIDS pandemic “hit me person-
“Editorial” col­umn. Opinions expressed in bylined col-
umns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the ally in 1987.” The death and dying around
writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of
PGN. The appearance of names or pictorial represen- him was too much — he joined ACT UP. “It
tations in PGN does not necessarily indicate the sexual turned me into an activist.”
orientation of that named or pictured person or persons.
Bartlett noted how local icons of activism
Copyright © 1976 - 2019 Copyright(s) in all materials — Barbara Gittings, Kiyoshi Kuromiya and
in these pages are either owned or licensed by Masco
Communications Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliate compa- Anna Forbes — influenced him, as did the
nies (Philadelphia Gay News, PGN, and its WWW sites.) queer liberation movement. Bartlett said he
All other reproduction, distribution, retransmission, mod-
ification, public display, and public performance of our discovered “there was joy to be had in this
materials is prohibited without the prior written consent
of Masco Communications. To obtain such consent, email
community” and that embracing his gayness
pgn@epgn.com. Published by Masco Communications Inc. as well as activism was something “I felt I
© 1976-2019 Masco Communications Inc. ISSN-0742-515 could dive into.”
Bartlett details how
his activism and at-
tachment to gay liber-
ation was very much
an embrace of “the
intersection of move-
ments.” That intersec-
tionality included re-
productive rights and
anti-racism, fighting
homelessness, as well
as fighting AIDS. He
said, “In ACT UP, all
these issues are inter-
secting.”
It was ACT UP that
also determined where
he was going to live.
“I was not going to
have any geographic
angst,” Bartlett said.
“My commitment was
going to be the community and in this city.”
More than 30 years later, the community
continues to receive the benefit of Bartlett’s
decision.
As Bartlett evolved from a young activ-
ist to a seasoned elder, his mission has co-
alesced into one of “harmony and communi-
ty.” He said that his role has grown into one
of “mediator and mentor.” In a community,
city and era whose multifaceted issues can
lead to intense strife and demand nuanced
resolutions, Bartlett is striving to be some-
one who can “jump into dissension and di-
visiveness and hopefully have something to
contribute to help resolve whatever problem
we are facing.”
Part of the work Bartlett is doing includes
mentoring the next generation of activists
and LGBTQ leaders. And that, Bartlett ex-
plains, often means knowing when to step
back and allow other voices to be heard.
“How to be a humble elder,” Bartlett said,
is often just knowing when to stay silent
and “not say ‘Oh we tried that and it didn’t
work,’ but to be very engaged without being
condescending.”
Bartlett said, “Youth are not constrained
— we have to be open to innovation; we
have to trust them to run with it.”
Creating the Leadership Pipeline was
among Bartlett’s most pivotal work in 2019.
He said the need to be sure there would be
activists and leaders to do the activist work
for the next queer generation was impera-
tive.
“Through the Leadership Pipeline, in part-
nership with IBA, DVLF and the Mayor’s
Commission, we were able to place 20 grad-
uates of a rigorous leadership development
program on the boards of local LGBT and
ally organizations.”
Bartlett said, “I have a long history of
working on leadership development —
mostly because I know strong communities
depend upon new generations of leadership
taking the reins. We always need new lead-
ership.”
Over his decade tenure, Bartlett said,
“One of the complexities and challenges has
been negotiating so many identities.”
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020
There can be conflicts, Bartlett said, but
notes he has striven to have a diversity of
volunteers and board members to create bal-
ance and inclusion. Another achievement for
Bartlett in 2019 was establishing
the Trans Resource Center at WWCC.
“This was inspired by the lifetime work
of trans ancestors Charlene Arcila and Jaci
Adams — both of whom were friends and
colleagues of mine,” said Bartlett. “At the
Trans Resource Center, we hope to create
sanctuary — a peaceful respite — for trans
people from the hostility at the White House,
statewide and in the city.”
Bartlett said, “We learned about sanctuary
from Juntos — the local activist organiza-
tion addressing immigration activism. Our
visionary Program Director Celena Morri-
son has already done a great job preparing
the space, and we are thrilled to have it avail-
able for trans communities in the region.”
Bartlett said people are always coming
into WWCC looking for that space to be
safely trans in a city and society where trans
people often feel unsafe and where there had
even been anti-trans violence in the neigh-
borhood near the center. “I wanted a space
where people would feel safe just to come
and hang out,” he said.
In addition to the governor’s grant, Bart-
lett secured a Pew Grant for the Remem-
brance Project for WWCC — “to tell the
stories of Philadelphians who lost their
friends and families to AIDS, and how re-
membrance of those lives is an important
part of our community history and imagin-
ing our future.”
Bartlett said, “In this work, I was inspired
by my first boss, Heshie Zinman, ACT UP
member and dear friend Waheedah Shaba-
zz-El, Reverend Jeff Haskins, Michael Hin-
son and many other mentors who taught me
the value of honoring our elders and ances-
tors.”
Bartlett hopes that a new decade will only
serve to make WWCC stronger, a buffer
against the harsh realities LGBTQ people
face daily. And that the grants and programs
that he has established in 2019 will make
2020 better for the entire LGBTQ commu-
nity — especially those who need it most. n
JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
Person of the Year: Tiffany Palmer
VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
For years Philadelphians have known Tiffa-
ny Palmer as a visible member of the LGBTQ
community, frequently at events with her wife
and daughter. A family law and civil rights
attorney, Palmer often worked on complex
LGBT cases. A partner and founding member
of Jerner & Palmer, P.C., a Germantown law
firm specializing in family law and estate plan-
ning, Palmer also founded the first LGBT fam-
ily law direct services program in the country.
There was intense excitement over Palmer’s
candidacy within the community. How big a
role LGBTQ votes played in the election was
unclear, because queer voters are not tabulated
in exit polling. Palmer said, “It is hard to know
the direct impact [of the LGBTQ vote], but my
numbers in Center City and Mt. Airy where
there are larger LGBTQ populations of voters
was very high — coming out as the first- or
second-highest vote-getter in many divisions.”
When she was running for the Court of
Common Pleas, Palmer explained how her
background in family law would benefit Phil-
adelphians if she were elected. After 20 years
as an attorney, she said, “I believe now is the
time for me to step up for public service in our
courts as a judge. I believe I have something
unique to give to improve our system of jus-
tice.”
Palmer said judges are integral to how the
system of justice works and also to who gets
LOCAL
5
justice — a question longer be gone in the evenings and weekends
frequently raised for at campaign events. My parents and sisters are
LGBTQ people when very proud and happy for me.”
they enter that system, Grassroots campaigns are increasingly the
for whatever reason. only way to get progressives on the ballot and
“We cannot forget the into the political arena. Palmer said, “For me,
unique and important running a judicial campaign that directly tar-
role judges play in our geted voters themselves was always the type
family court system,” of campaign I had envisioned.”
Palmer said. “The ma- Voters have said the judiciary is the aspect
jority of people in Phil- of government they least understand.
adelphia face custody, “We set our own course and worked to
child support cases and reach voters and educate them about the
domestic violence in importance of the judiciary and in electing
family court without an highly qualified judges,” Palmer explained. “I
attorney. It is up to the was able to connect with voters about the im-
judge to be sure they portance of Family Court and electing judges
understand the proceed- with experience in family law and a commit-
ings, to ask the right ment to promoting equal justice for Philadel-
questions and to be sure phia’s families.”
they have a chance to As an attorney, Palmer said her most pivotal
be heard. With my legal her life in the law. family law case was in 2015, with far-reach-
background, I have an understanding of the Palmer said the campaign itself had been ing impact for LGBTQ families. “Even though
law and a caring commitment and compassion grueling for her family but that they were ex- I was not representing an LGBTQ client, the
to those coming to the court for help.” cited she had won the judgeship. Baby S. case I litigated in 2014-2015 resulted
Palmer won the primary in May and was “My wife, Lee Carpenter, has been my part- in a ruling that gestational surrogacy contracts
elected in November with the highest number ner in life for 20 years, and I could not have are legally enforceable in Pennsylvania,” she
of votes of any Court of Common Pleas can- achieved this goal without her incredible sup- explained. “This case has had a major impact
didate. She told PGN she was “excited to be port all along the way,” Palmer said. “She has on LGBTQ family-building by ensuring surro-
able to win by running a campaign based on been there for me since the beginning of my gacy remains an option in Pennsylvania.”
progressive values and integrity.” career as a public interest lawyer. She believed Palmer added, “I have also handled
As she prepares to take the bench, Palmer in me and always told me I could win the elec- many custody cases over the past 20
talked with PGN about her campaign and what tion, even when the odds seemed otherwise. years. I have also finalized
she hopes to accomplish in this next chapter of Our daughter is very relieved that I will no more than 500 adoptions for
page 16
6 LOCAL
Person of the Year: Zach Wilcha
VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
Zach Wilcha, executive director of Inde-
pendence Business Alliance (IBA), had a
good year. He read 74 books, which he re-
viewed in a beautiful and vivid thread on
Twitter for what should be a much wider fol-
lowing. Wilcha reads a vast array of books,
and it would be easy to focus on literary
Wilcha and the man who spends the holidays
visiting friends and family. But he has anoth-
er side, which includes working hard to make
business more LGBT inclusive.
In the four years since Wilcha took the
helm of the fledgling Independence Busi-
ness Alliance, Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT
Chamber of Commerce, he has been respon-
sible for expanding the IBA and broadening
its reach in the business community — all
while reading omnivorously, among other
creative pursuits.
Wilcha centers his work ethic and life
ethos in the same place: compassion and in-
clusion.
One focus for Wilcha has been working
to achieve a more balanced membership for
IBA and diversification of the organization’s
board. Wilcha’s success has meant, “The or-
ganization looks and feels more like Phila-
delphia’s queer community than it ever has
before,” Wilcha said.
The IBA provides opportunities, access
and resources to LGBT professionals and
allies and promotes economic development,
growth, diversity and leadership in the Phil-
adelphia area. It is a membership-based
business advocacy organization dedicated to
making the Philadelphia region an influential
and diverse LGBT business community with
an impact on economic development, equal
rights and policy issues. The IBA is an offi-
cial affiliate of the National Gay and Lesbian
Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
“The IBA has already made powerful
progress in the economic advancements and
opportunities for the LGBT business com-
munity of greater Philadelphia,” said Wil-
cha. IBA works with more than 40-certified
LGBTQ business enterprises based in 11
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020
counties across Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and Delaware.
In 2019, Wilcha created Intersections, a se-
ries of programming for Philadelphia’s Afri-
can American, Asian American and Hispanic
American communities done in partnership
with PHL Diversity.
Wilcha also partnered with Chris Bartlett
at William Way Community Center to form
the Leadership Pipeline to train LGBTQ peo-
ple of color, youth, trans people and seniors
about board service and match them with
leadership positions at local nonprofits.
In order to remove the financial and so-
cial barriers associated with obtaining an
LGBTQ leadership position, the pipeline
program was free. Participants spent six
months receiving training on strategic lead-
ership, finances and development, personal
branding, public relations and other skill
sets applicable to effectively serving on a
board. Amber Hikes, former executive di-
rector of the Philadelphia Office of LGBT
Affairs, worked with Wilcha and Bartlett
on the Leadership Pipeline. “Obviously we
know from anecdotal evidence and also re-
search that in this city, LGBTQ people of
color are underrepresented in terms of our
leadership in LGBTQ organizations,” Hikes
said. “We’ve seen this problem progressing
for quite a while,” but “never have we taken
such an intentional approach” in terms of de-
veloping leadership capability.
Wilcha also formalized TransWork in
2019, a program which had been two years
in the planning and organization. TransWork
is a job resource program benefitting the
city’s trans and nonbinary communities.
Throughout the fall, TransWork offered job
preparedness workshops focused on sessions
on resumes, interviews, entrepreneurship,
plus a legal segment outlining the workplace
rights of trans employees. “I think [the legal
segment] is going to give folks some idea
of what their rights are specifically related
to their gender expression and what organi-
zations have to provide in terms of protec-
tions locally for folks who
have either transitioned or are page 7
mid-transition,” said Wilcha
JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
Person of the Year: Mary Groce
VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
Mary Groce is a writer, illustrator, ac-
tivist and the 2019 Verville Fellow at the
Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Mu-
seum in Washington, D.C. She is also im-
mensely charming — one of those people
with whom one feels an immediate connec-
tion and affinity. Groce is warm, engaging
and full of stories to tell, from her personal
run-ins with Donald Trump as a contrac-
tor at two of his casinos in Atlantic City to
her activism in a series of crucial political
movements to how she discovered, she is
the great-niece of the first licensed Black
pilot in the U.S., Emory Malick.
It is Groce’s discovery of Malick that led
to her fellowship at the Smithsonian and the
publication of her children’s book, “Lila
Tells the Story of Emory Conrad Malick,
Our First Licensed Black Pilot.”
In an interview with PGN, Groce spoke
in detail about her work at the Smithsonian,
her work as an archivist and her deep love
for and activism in the LGBTQ community.
She’s a prototype for making the personal
political.
A youthful and vibrant 70, Groce is a
mother of four and, with her partner of 25
years, Suz Atlas, 76, who has three children
of her own, the two are grandmothers of
six. The couple lives in the John C. Ander-
son apartments, an LGBTQ-friendly senior
housing development, where their activism
has expanded to create more of a sense of
community within the housing complex.
Groce calls Anderson, “our Nirvana, our
escape place.” A series of serious health is-
sues — “we both had heart attacks, we both
had cancer, and now Suz has cancer again”
— led them to Anderson. An affordable,
accessible place, with a built-in queer com-
munity, the building is located in the heart
of the Gayborhood. Atlas is currently bat-
tling a rare cancer and going through che-
motherapy, and that has been the focus of
the couple’s lives for several months. Groce
took a sabbatical from the Smithsonian, de-
spite Atlas’ urging that she stay in D.C.
Yet even in the midst of this crisis, Groce
and Atlas are activists.
As Groce explains, “We had all this
LGBTQ history right here in this place [An-
ZACH WILCHA
from page 7
of the program.
TransWork’s board and advising commit-
tee are entirely trans, as were the multiple
focus groups that informed the program’s
lengthy production process. The idea for the
initiative originated with trans man Marcus
Iannozzi, TransWork’s founder and co-chair
and principal and owner of local web design
company The Message Agency.
“It was his idea to bring an economic em-
powerment program for trans folks to the
Philadelphia area that would concentrate
LOCAL
derson] — we needed to tell those stories.”
Groce, who is passionate about telling
stories and about charting LGBTQ history,
started a newsletter for the complex, with
monthly featured bios detailing the histo-
ries of notable tenants. She and Atlas also
started a writers group and instituted pot
luck dinners for residents to get to know
each other and “just create a more active
community.”
Queer community means a lot to Groce,
who went through two complicated mar-
riages to men before she was able to come
out as a lesbian in 1975 — but wasn’t able
to live her gay
life until later.
Her story
is similar —
and similarly
painful — to
many women
of her gen-
eration who
were, like the
iconic lesbi-
an film “Car-
ol,” forced to
choose be-
tween their
lesbian identi-
ties and their
children at a
time when les-
bian mothers
always lost
their children
in custody bat-
tles.
“I would do
anything to keep my baby son,” she said
she realized when she came out to herself
but was unable to leave her marriage or the
closet. “Anything.”
Groce tells her story calmly and without
a hint of self-pity, but the pain of denying
who she was to protect her children and her
motherhood is still a shocking narrative,
and one Groce thinks we need to remember.
She said she and Atlas had similar experi-
ences — going back in the closet, and then
when they were finally able to be out, “we
vowed we would never hide again.”
“It wasn’t easy to be gay and have kids,”
she said simply at the end of her tale. “We
on both employment and entrepreneurship,”
said Wilcha.
A native Philadelphian, Wilcha brought a
diverse resume to IBA, which has served the
agency well over the past four years. With
a Bachelor of Arts in International relations
from St. Joseph’s University and a law de-
gree from Villanova University, Wilcha
clerked in the Philadelphia Court of Com-
mon Pleas and worked as a project attorney
in an area law firm.
But it was at Habitat for Humanity Phil-
adelphia where Wilcha built a new branch
of that agency’s fundraising and develop-
ment department. He was selected by Hab-
shouldn’t forget that. We shouldn’t forget
all this history we have and the work that
has been done to get us here.”
Groce spent years writing poetry and put-
ting it away — her feelings poured out on
those pages. She engaged in other activist
work — protesting the Vietnam War and
fighting for the rights of women.
Unlike Carol, Groce’s personal story has
a happy ending. She met Atlas, and the two
have been together for 25 years.
The concept of hidden lives and histo-
ries took on a wholly different context a
few years ago when Groce discovered her
grandmother’s brother was Black.
As Ancestry and other businesses fo-
cused on DNA profiles have sprung up in
recent years, more and more Americans are
discovering complicated racial histories
like Groce has.
“I’ve learned through my own experience
what it is to be hidden from history,” Groce
said. “My great uncle was hidden from his
own family because he was Black. I only
found him buried in papers in the attic.” She
paused, then said, “I was nine when he died
— I could have known him.”
And so Groce is making sure he is hid-
den from history no longer. Her mission to
itat for Humanity International to be a guest
speaker at their national conference, and
his model of successful development work
at Philadelphia’s affiliate was emulated
across the country — ideas that he brought
to IBA, which has increased its budget from
$200,000 to $300,000 under his aegis.
On the podcast “Hidden Human: The Sto-
ries Behind the Business Leader,” host Kelly
Meerbott interviewed Wilcha on an episode
titled “Supporting and Leading Diverse
Business Leaders.” He said, “Whether it’s in
movies, literature or books, you know you
are valued when you are represented some-
where.”
7
tell his story has consumed her work for the
past five years, culminating in the fellow-
ship at the Smithsonian.
In 1912, Emory Malick was flying planes
over central Pennsylvania. His accomplish-
ments helped lay the foundation for gener-
ations of Black pilots, including the Tuske-
gee Airmen, the first Black U.S. military
pilots in World War II.
According to the details Groce uncov-
ered over the past six years, Emory Conrad
Malick would have been the first licensed
Black aviator, earning his F.A.I. License,
#105, on March 20, 1912, while attending
the Curtiss School of Aviation on North Is-
land, San Diego, California.
Malick was also the first pilot to fly a
powered plane over central Pennsylvania.
His first recorded flight was on July 24,
1911, near Shamokin, Northumberland
County, where he made headlines again
in 1912, and again over Snyder County in
1914, “to the wonderment of all!” He flew
that biplane (which he constructed himself,
improving upon the original design), a Cur-
tiss “pusher,” over the town of Selinsgrove,
where Groce grew up, and where her father,
at age three, had moved with his family ear-
lier in 1914.
Malick, who grew up in nearby Sunbury,
also flew his homemade gliders across the
Susquehanna River to his job as a farmhand
on Cottie Weiser’s farm.
All these details will now be part of his-
tory at the Smithsonian’s National Air &
Space Museum. In February, Groce will be
the keynote speaker at the NASM for Black
History Month, talking about Malick and
his contribution to Black History.
Groce describes the affinity and passion
she feels about Malick’s story succinctly, “I
am gay, and he was Black,” Groce said. “He
was isolated [due to his race], and I was dis-
owned for being gay.”
She said, “These stories, these histories,
are ones that have been kept from the peo-
ple who most need to know about them. If
there is anything I want people to know,
it’s that — tell the stories that haven’t
been told.” n
For more information about Groce’s re-
search and Malick’s place in history, visit
www.emoryconradmalick.com.
On Twitter, Wilcha makes that point re-
peatedly in subtle ways. On Dec. 20, he not-
ed, “Hey Free Library, I stopped in to pick
up some books today and was thrilled that
the person checking my books out was wear-
ing a pin letting me and others know her pro-
nouns. What a great, inclusive touch.”
The man running the LGBT Chamber of
Commerce goes to the library for his books
and never stops supporting and striving for
inclusion everywhere. n
You can find Wilcha’s reading list at @itson-
lyzach on Twitter and reach the IBA at 215-
557-0190.
8 O B I T U A RY
Tara Lessard: Cancer activist
and community photographer
Read the stories at
mazzonicenter.org/stories VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH
PGN Contributor
1 Death is so long
The red fox runs
No night sets
As heavy as this
We reach
LET'S TALK
She fades
A marker
Not a grave
Ineffable
— A poem for Tara Lessard by her friend,
ABOUT
activist Susan DiPrinio
Tara Lessard of Morrisville, Pennsylvania,
died on Dec. 26, 2019, at age 47 in her home
after a five-year fight with metastatic ovarian
cancer.
PrEP, BABY.
"Tara was the definition of a warrior spir-
it. Through all that she was facing, she never
lost her strength or her love and compassion
for her community. May we all take a piece
of that spirit and a bit of Tara's strength into
the new year," said longtime Philadelphia
trans-identified activist Deja Alvarez.
Lessard was from Jamaica, Queens, New
One pill. Once a day. Prevents HIV. York City, and lived in Bucks County since
she was 10. She began working as a teenager
at her family's chiropractic practice, Lessard
Chiropractic Center, but she is most known in
the LGBTQ community for her photography
and upbeat personality.
PrEPdelco.com "Tara gave her all to her community and was
the hardest worker I have ever met. You could
Chester: 610.872.9101 fill a museum with all of the photos she took
of the LGBTQ community over the years. A
lover, a fighter and the dearest friend. I will
Sharon Hill: 610.583.1177 miss her more than I have yet allowed myself
to consider," said Elicia Gonzales, executive
director of Women's Medical Fund.
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020
Owner of Freedom G Photography, Les-
sard, took thousands of photographs of
LGBTQ events, recording the community's
history. Her specialty was event photography,
capturing historic spontaneous moments in
the LGBTQ community in Philadelphia and
environs. Her work has appeared in PGN and
other local news sites.
Lessard was an on-staff photographer for
Philly Gay Calendar, and she covered signif-
icant events, including Philadelphia Equality
Forum, Philadelphia and New Hope Pride
Festivals, the Fourth of July Independence
Day Parade and Lilith Fair. Her photos of the
Philly Dyke March are iconic.
"I've been struggling to find words for this
loss the last few days, and words still escape
me. I can't stop thinking about how, in all of
her grace and kindness, Tara always captured
our collective joy, our struggle, our lives in her
art," wrote Amber Hikes, ACLU's chief equi-
ty and inclusion officer and former executive
director of LGBT affairs in Philadelphia, on
Facebook.
She also captured weddings and produced
both portraiture and outside event coverage
of Democratic State Representative and City
Council officials. Lessard was part of Rep.
Brian Sims' (D-Phila.) Philly Chit Chat group
for which she was a photographer, and she
was both a friend and supporter of Sims and
his work.
Before her career in photography, Lessard
was in an electro-industrial band, Brainclaw,
which toured regularly in the tri-state area.
The band released two albums and even had
two songs — "Insekt/Angel" and "When the
Dark Rains Come" — used on the DVD re-
leases of the films "The Matrix Revolutions,"
"The Matrix Box Set" and "Spider-Man Col-
lector's Edition."
Lessard was also an avid page 9
boxer with a brown belt in
JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
Trans employee sues state for delay in gender-affirming surgery
TIMOTHY CWIEK
timothy@epgn.com
A Dauphin County trans man has filed suit
against the state of Pennsylvania, claiming
a lengthy delay before the state’s health-in-
surance provider would cover his bilateral
mastectomy caused him excessive pain and
suffering.
“John Doe,” 39, is an employee of the State
Department of Human Services. He receives
his health coverage through the Pennsylva-
nia Employees Benefits Trust Fund, which
administers health benefits for eligible state
workers.
Doe has worked for the state since May
2008. He’s currently assigned to the Office
of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Ser-
vices, which is part of DHS. He tried to get
coverage for a bilateral mastectomy from ear-
ly 2016 until January 2018, when the cover-
age was granted.
Doe is seeking compensation for a rough-
ly two-year period when he sought coverage
OBITUARY: TARA LESSARD
from page 8
Kenpo and a racquetball player.
After her initial diagnosis with Stage 4
ovarian cancer in 2015, Lessard became an
activist for the disease, which has no early
testing and is often diagnosed in its later stag-
es. She was a frequent guest on local radio
programs and podcasts to talk about the dis-
ease and her experience with it. When she was
diagnosed secondarily with spleen and pelvic
cancer, she was treated at Cancer Treatment
Centers of America and became a spokesper-
son for CTCA.
Before her cancer diagnosis, which en-
tailed 39 separate chemotherapy treatments
in her most recent round of care, Lessard was
known for her long black hair. She spoke with
Philadelphia Magazine and various other lo-
REGIONAL
for a bilateral mastectomy but was denied. It
wasn’t until March 2018 when Doe finally
had a bilateral mastectomy, according to his
lawsuit.
Doe previously was denied coverage be-
cause the medical plan administered by the
Pennsylvania Employees Benefits Trust Fund
excluded coverage for trans-related surgeries,
including mastectomies for trans men.
On Dec. 23, Doe filed suit in federal court
for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “It
is clear that these [anti-trans] exclusions are
discriminatory, and the result of bare discrim-
inatory animus against transgender people —
on their face — as they expressly single out
for exclusion — and bar — medically neces-
sary treatments and services sought by trans-
gender people because they are transgender,”
Doe’s 58-page lawsuit states.
Doe’s lawsuit emphasizes that his bilateral
mastectomy was a medical necessity. “Doe
had been receiving gender-affirming medical
and behavioral health treatment since May
2014,” the lawsuit states.
cal publications and on radio programs about
how hard losing hair is for patients. She had
been working with CTCA's onsite salon to
find an appropriate wig before her death.
"Tara was not just a fierce activist and ad-
vocate; she was a vital part of Philadelphia's
LGBTQ+ community. She was so selfless,
giving 110 percent of herself whether she was
the photographer documenting almost two
decades of parades, festivals, rallies, protests
and drag and burlesque shows, or as an orga-
nizer and leader helping create positive pro-
gramming that provided safe spaces for many.
And even when she could no longer partake in
physical activities, Tara was then the biggest
cheerleader for all of us," said photographer
and longtime friend of Lessard's Kelly Bur-
khardt.
"Tara will forever remain one of the best
humans I have ever had the pleasure of know-
Doe suffers from gender dysphoria, which
increased during his two-year waiting period.
“The distress and anxiety resulting from de-
fendants’ conduct exacerbated Doe’s gender
dysphoria and greatly negatively affected his
social life. Doe spent most of his time indoors
and alone. Doe experienced profound isola-
tion and loneliness,” the lawsuit states.
Doe also developed body dysmorphia due
to the two-year delay. “[The state’s] conduct
exacerbated Doe’s gender dysphoria and
caused Doe to experience severe emotion-
al distress, in the form of body dysmorphia
and immense psychological trauma attendant
thereto, causing Doe to lose sleep, lose ap-
petite, become physically ill, causing Doe to
use sick leave from work due to illness, and
causing intense physical pain, body dysmor-
phia, suicide ideation, embarrassment, hu-
miliation, mental anguish, and severe emo-
tional distress.”
For a lengthy period of time, Doe’s gender
dysphoria greatly limited his ability to enjoy
life, according to the lawsuit. Doe avoided
ing. She lived her life on purpose, with inten-
tion. She manifested her dreams, joys, and
found deep fulfillment in making connections
with and between others she loved. She was
the embodiment of generosity, compassion,
wisdom and grace. Tara lived out loud in big
and small ways," said Gonzales.
Artist, activist and advocate Susan DiPro-
nio spent an evening with Lessard on Dec. 23
“knowing it would be the last time. Yet still
hoping for a miracle, trying to breathe, heart
aching.”
As usual for Lessard, DiPronio said, “she
reached and took my hand to hold and com-
fort me. As difficult as if was for her to speak,
she asked about, remembered, the story I was
working on and said, ‘go write.’ Tara always
said that she believed in me. Her support and
kindness will be missed by all us — I cannot
fathom how to go on.”
9
recreational, sports and outdoor activities.
He also engaged in “binding” to reduce the
appearance of his breasts, which the lawsuit
alleges was physically painful.
Doe is seeking damages in excess of
$150,000. The case has been assigned to U.S
District Judge Sylvia H. Rambo of the Mid-
dle District of Pennsylvania. A jury trial has
been requested.
Justin F. Robinette, an attorney for Doe,
said his client was the victim of anti-trans dis-
crimination. “My client suffered substantial-
ly without the surgery,” Robinette told PGN.
“He continues to suffer to this day. We’re
hoping a jury hearing all of the facts will
conclude that what my client experienced is
a form of discrimination, and that it is com-
pensable.”
J.J. Abbott, a spokesperson for Gov. Tom
Wolf, said in an email: “At this time, we are
reviewing the lawsuit but decline further
comment due to it being active litigation.”
Erin James, a spokesperson for DHS, also
declined to comment. n
Lessard was the mother of Ian Thomas
Kurtz. She is survived by her parents, Sara
and Claude Lessard; her brother, Jeremy Les-
sard and his fiancée, Teresa Merk; her sister
and brother-in-law, Sabrina Lessard and Ga-
briel Velazquez Zazueta; her biological father,
Robert Wagenhoffer, and his children, Thom-
as Wagenhoffer and Melanie Wagenhoffer.
A private Mass and interment will be cel-
ebrated for family. A "warm and wild cel-
ebration honoring her rich legacy" will be
planned for the new year. In place of flow-
ers, donations in memory of Tara Lessard
may be made in support of ovarian cancer
research to The Clearity Foundation. Please
make checks payable to The Clearity Foun-
dation and mail to The Clearity Foundation,
434 West Cedar Street, Suite 300, San Di-
ego, CA 92101, or donate online using the
online donation form. n
10 EDITORIAL
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020

EDITORIAL BY JESS BRYANT

OUR LIVES ARE NOT FOR LAUGHS
Every week, I research all things
gay news, both locally and nation-
ally, to decide what might be appro-
priate for an editorial. This week,
more than any — or perhaps it feels
like more than any due to recover-
ing from the holidays — I stum-
bled across so much anti-LGBTQ
violence and rhetoric. When will it
cease? When will our identities and
our lives be respected and valued
and stop leading to our deaths or
humiliation?
Black trans woman Yahira Nesby
and trans woman Julie Berman
were both killed in the last two
weeks. Trans teen Nikki Kuhnhau-
sen’s body was found earlier this
month after disappearing in June.
A 12-year old boy died by suicide
after repeated bullying. His mom
said the school did nothing to sup-
port him. A gay man was beaten
to death and then robbed. Another
gay couple was beaten after hold-
ing hands at a food truck. This is a
devastating list of events, but one
that must be acknowledged and
mourned.
During this same period of time,
Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais
tweeted, “Those awful biological
women can never understand what
it must be like for you becoming a
lovely lady so late in life. They take
their girly privileges for granted.
Winning at female sports and hav-
ing their own toilets. Well, enough
is enough.” He mocked Caitlyn
Jenner during the 2016 Golden
Globes, using her deadname and
mocked a transgender activist
on Halloween of 2019. He offers
many excuses but few apologies.
Gervais isn’t alone. Several co-
medians, actors, television shows,
commercials, movies, and even our
own family and friends use trans
folks’ lives — along with butch
women, nonbinary folks, gay men,
bisexuals and truly any member
of the LGBTQ community — as a
mechanism for demeaning humor.
Those who use our lives as hu-
mor should also read our news,
particularly the news of the trans-
gender community, who the Trump
administration continues to strip
of their rights and who face sig-
nificant violence and systemic op-
pression. Unfortunately, many of
the stories, from local sources like
PGN and national outlets, are of
violence, bullying, oppression and
anti-LGBTQ legislation. Our bod-
ies and spirits are constantly ridi-
culed, and after the holidays, many
of us return wondering what hap-
pened and what compromises we
should or should not make to be
with family — if we have biolog-
ical family in our lives at all.
The degradation of LGBTQ
folks is not funny, and making fun
of trans women is incredibly inap-
propriate, as these women face not
only what the rest of our commu-
nity faces but also transmisogyny.
We are hurt — emotionally,
mentally, physically, financially
— every day, and we express our
hurt and live in our pain, because
we know that helps us heal. We are
also strong, excellent and most of
all resilient, but it would be nice
if our resilience wasn’t tested so
often. n

CREEP OF THE WEEK BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI

DONALD TRUMP
As I write this, it is the day before Christ-
mas Eve and the second night of Hanuk-
kah. In our house, we celebrate both not
only because we have Jews in our extended
family but also because my wife and I like
to celebrate traditions with our son. It’s our
goal to raise him to be a feminist who em-
braces a variety of cultures and celebrates
diversity. He is also fluent in Spanish. Basi-
cally, we are everything conservatives fear
when they imagine a boy being raised by
lesbian parents. We are quite proud of that.
So, 2019. What a year, eh? A lot of aw-
fulness. Honestly, it’s hard to think of good
news because there’s an orange cloud
hanging over everything. And that orange
cloud is named Donald Trump.
It is still incredible to me that someone
so proudly ignorant, dishonest, narcissistic,
racist, misogynistic and cruel is the pres-
ident of the United States. It’s like a bad
dream I can’t wake up from.
Trump is instructive when it comes to
how I do NOT want my son to turn out.
It’s a strange position to be in as a parent,
looking at something Trump does or says
and then having to explain to my son how I
would be so ashamed if he were to behave
that way.
When I told my son that Trump had been
impeached he got very excited. Because
he, like many Americans, mistakenly un-
derstood impeachment to be synonymous
with removal. It, of course, is not. A pres-
ident can be impeached but not removed.
On Dec. 19, Trump sent an absolutely
batshit-insane letter to House Speaker Nan-
cy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in which he protested
the impeachment.
Trump wrote, “[Democrats] are the ones
interfering in America’s elections. You are
the ones subverting America’s Democracy.
You are the ones Obstructing Justice. You
are the ones bringing pain and suffering to
our Republic for your own selfish personal,
political, and partisan gain.”
In other words, “I know you are, but what has become synonymous with being a pain in that sen-
am I.” the ass and a hardship. Elect people who want tence.
He also wrote, “You have developed a full- to reform our justice system for the better, T h e y
fledged case of what many in the media call folks). won’t.
Trump Derangement Syndrome and sadly, Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell (R-Ken- To ev-
you will never get over it!” tucky) has publicly said he plans to work di- eryone
Super presidential. rectly with Trump’s legal team. holding
It’s all up to the Senate now, which is con- And yet Republicans are calling for Sens. t h e i r
trolled by Republicans who all maintain that Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders breath hoping that Republicans care at
they love Trump, it’s True Love Forever, sit- (D-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobu- all about the rule of law, you need to start
ting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G, gonna have his char (D-Minn.) and Michael Bennet (D-Co- breathing again right away. We need you
babies and if loving Trump is wrong they’re lo.) to recuse themselves since they’re all alive to vote in 2020. n
proud to be right. running to be Trump’s Democratic challeng-
There was a time when people like Sen. er. They’d probably prefer that Sen. Kamala D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and co-
Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was calling Trump Harris (D-Calif.) sit this one out, too. median living in Michigan with her wife and
“a kook.” But hey, maybe Republicans will surprise son. She has been writing about LGBT poli-
In Feb. 2016, Graham told Fox News, “I us. Maybe they will rise to the occasion and tics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter
think he’s crazy. I think he’s unfit to be pres- do the right... Oh, man. I can’t even finish @MamaDWitkowski.
ident.”
Then on May 6, 2016, Graham
Tweeted, “If we nominate Trump,
we will get destroyed, and we will
deserve it.”
But that was then. Now Graham
is basically worshipping Trump as
a god. In fact, Chris Hayes, host
of MSNBC’s “All In,” called Gra-
ham “one of the most devoted and
self-abasing acolytes of the presi-
dent.”
It’s an apt description since Trump
has become a cult leader. Unques-
tioned, unchallenged, unchecked.
What could possibly go wrong?
Regarding his role as a juror in the
upcoming trial in the Senate, Gra-
ham said, “I’m not trying to pretend
to be a fair juror here.”
In other words, he has no inten-
tion of doing his job. Definitely try
that next time you get called for
jury duty and see how it works out.
(Though I would like to point out
that jury duty is incredibly import-
ant and a sign of how messed up our
justice system is that being on a jury
JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
OPINION
11

MARK MY WORDS WITH MARK SEGAL

Goals for the new year we

wanna
know
We’ve survived three years your action this year is how you can make it bauchery and have blocked any attempt at
of this administration, but it count. accountability, there is only one way that can
has done damage to both the Let’s take a phrase that many Republicans change. You need to vote Democrat not only for
country’s reputation and our and right-wingers like to use and turn it on the presidential election — which is incredibly
community. And if you feel them: 2020 is the year we take our country back important this year — but also in both the Sen- What are the
that way, 2020 is your year to and, to make it clear, back to inclusivity and ap- ate and House races. greatest LGBTQ
correct that path. preciating diversity. And most importantly, let’s So there is no confusion, the election I’m re- accomplishments of
This New Year’s, you have bring back our sanity and accountability. ferring to is the November election, not the pri- the last decade?
reason to celebrate because it Now, here’s where you come in. You only maries. The situation we are in now happened
is the year of resistance, and you are a part of need to do one thing to make 2020 a stellar because few people came out to vote. If you
that resistance. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been year. want to be part of the resistance, or just want
to a demonstration, posted on social media or Vote! a solution to this madness, make voting in the
protested any of the hate-filled actions of Don- And let’s be even clearer: Since many Re- 2020 General Election your New Year’s resolu-
ald Trump’s tenure. None of that counts, but publicans have been part of this country’s de- tion. That will make it a great 2020. n
The Mayor’s
Commission on
LGBT Affairs
releasing the
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: In re: “Democratic debate shows why we need queer media,” Victoria Brownworth misstates history by More Pride
calling Pete Buttigieg “the first out gay man to run for president.” Joan Jett Blakk ran on the Queer Nation ticket in 1992 and ‘96. So did David campaign.
McReynolds in 2000, for the Socialist Party. And Fred Karger sought the Republican nomination in 2012.
Eric Hamell

TRANSMISSIONS BY GWENDOLYN ANN SMITH

2020: The stakes have never been higher
As you read this, we are usher-
ing in 2020, and it seems all-too-
clear that we live in some very
challenging times.
The president, vice president
and all his cronies have spent
the last three years recasting the
government of the United States
into a body rife with corruption,
ignorance and bigotry. Trans peo-
ple were barred from the military,
while other federal departments
attempted to roll back trans
rights, seemingly at every turn.
Frankly, the actions this ad-
ministration has taken against
transgender people feel tame
compared to what’s being done
to children in cages along the
Southwest. Nonetheless, a bleak
picture is being painted for all of
us in this community.
Meanwhile, the religious right
has made every attempt to legis-
late against transgender people,
up to and including an upcoming
ruling at the Supreme Court that
could effectively strip trans and
nonbinary people of some of our
most basic rights in this country.
In this environment, we are
seeing an increase in anti-trans
bigotry and violence. Murders
and other hate crimes are on
the rise, and our allies are over-
whelmed by everything else go-
ing on in this country. They are
likely to assist when they may
not understand us and don’t care
enough to help amid so much
other awfulness.
I should hasten to add that
one of our larger trans rights or-
ganizations at the federal level,
the National Center for Trans-
gender Equality, is in a tailspin
amid accusations of racism and
union-busting, leaving us without
an effective, exclusive voice fed-
erally.
I’ve brought this up before, but
as we head into a new year, it’s
important to be honest about the
terrible landscape ahead. Things
are most definitely not good.
Yet as bleak a picture as I’ve
painted, I want you to know one
important thing: we can foster a
better world. In a time when no
one is going to rush in and save
us against all these machinations,
it becomes all the more critical
that each of us become our best
selves.
Now, our community should
learn to work together, provide
support and assistance for each
other, open doors and hearts to
one another. More than ever,
we have to rely on each other to
make it through these times.
We also need to look to our al-
lies, and the many others trying
to make it through these times.
Even as shell groups try to tear
apart the LGBTQ community, we
need to stand together. We should
look to the sex worker commu-
nity, abortion rights activists and
many others with whom we can
build strong alliances.
In short, we need to start think-
ing strategically like never be-
fore.
Also, yes, we need to support
the organizations who can work
for us. I have been quite smitten
with the work the ACLU has been
doing over the last few years on
behalf of transgender and nonbi-
nary rights; I think the nonprofit
deserves our support. We can use
ACLU’s loud voice, both locally
and at the federal level.
What’s more, for every big or-
ganization doing big things, there
are scores upon scores at the lo-
cal and state level who could use
your help. Give your time, money
and other resources. As we see
losses at the federal level, it is
your city or county or state that
could preserve your rights. Don’t
forget them.
We also need to speak out
more. We need to talk about our
rights and needs while pushing
back at droves of misinformation
about transgender people want-
ing to attack people in restrooms
and dominate women’s’ sports.
We truly are our best advocates
and need to rise up.
Of course, there is one big
thing I didn’t mention that is spe-
cial about 2020, and that is the
presidential election.
If I’m to be honest with myself,
I fear that Donald Trump can in-
deed be re-elected, even after the
impeachment. While a majority
do feel he should be removed,
the electorate has a short mem-
The growth
of legalized
non-hetero-
normative
ory and a fickle temperament. As marriages
long as enough people are willing around the
to maintain the status quo, he has world.
a better than fighting chance of
remaining in office.
No, I wouldn’t say I like that,
but I think the sooner we ac-
knowledge that this is a far better
than average possibility, the bet-
ter prepared we will be to fight
back.
It is vital, right now, that we Legal right to
begin to look for a candidate that marry.
best represents us, who can be
our best hope against a Trump-
Pence second term. It’s important
to follow our hearts, and no mat-
ter what, support a candidate who
can beat him.
I do not know who that can-
didate is, but whoever they are,
we must show up at the polls this
coming November and vote for
them, no matter how safe you The possibility
feel in your state. While I am not of marriage.
one for conspiracy theories, we
need to be prepared for massive
attempts of voter suppression and
other shenanigans that could fur-
ther affect the vote.
No matter what happens, again,
we need to be there for each
other. We must hold each other
up and keep that spark of hope —
no matter how dim it may grow
follow us on instagram
— alive. n to participate in our
social polls and questions:
@phillygaynews
Gwen Smith feels that 2020 is
going to be even more of a chal-
lenge than 2019 ever was. You’ll
find her at www.gwensmith.com
12
Dunkin’ Donuts seeks dismissal of trans employee’s lawsuit
TIMOTHY CWIEK
timothy@epgn.com
A Dunkin’ Donuts shop in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania has asked a federal judge to dis-
miss the antibias lawsuit of a trans woman of
color who claims a hostile work environment
prevented her from doing her job properly and
resulted in her illegal firing.
From March 2018 to May 2018, “Jane
Doe” worked as a cashier at the Dunkin’ Do-
nuts shop on the 200 block of West Fourth
Street in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem is a city located about 48 miles
northwest of Philadelphia in the Lehigh Val-
ley, with about 75,000 residents. It has an
LGBT-inclusive antibias law.
Doe’s Nov. 8 federal lawsuit claims she was
subjected to anti-LGBT slurs shortly after she
began working at the donut shop. Slurs hurled
at her by coworkers and customers include
“f--king fa--ot,” “tr---y,” “dude,” “b---h,” and
“n---a.”
Doe alleges that because coworkers rou-
Wedding Services Directory
REGIONAL
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020
tinely misgendered her, cus- A manager told federal EEOC investigators
tomers would do so as well, that Doe was fired because she did not give
despite her protests. Doe also two-weeks notice before taking a sick day.
was denied use of the store’s Doe, who is HIV-positive, alleges that giving
women’s restroom, after a two-weeks advance notice for a sick day is
customer complained about unreasonable, according to the lawsuit.
her using the facility, accord- In a Dec. 20 motion to dismiss, Dunkin’
ing to the suit. Donuts maintains it didn’t unlawfully dis-
In one incident, a customer criminate against Doe. The filing emphasizes
refused to interact with Doe that Dunkin’ Donuts can’t be held liable for
at the cash register. “I don’t the alleged wrongdoing of customers. “No
want him serving me at the legal authority can be found where liability
register,” the customer al- is created for failure to address or correct the
legedly told managers. As a conduct of a customer [who mistreated Doe],”
Photo: Cour tesy Google Maps © Google 2019
result, the defense brief states.
Doe was temporarily In May 2018, three customers threatened Dunkin’ Donuts also asserts that Doe didn’t
moved to the rear of the store, where she was Doe with physical violence, and one of them work in a hostile environment. The filing
out of the view of the customer, according to pushed her. Doe reported the threats to a store claims that “gender misidentification” of Doe
the lawsuit. manager who said, “If you don’t feel safe, go doesn’t constitute discrimination under feder-
In another incident, a customer complained home,” according to the lawsuit. al law. “Claims for gender misidentification
that Doe wanted to be referred to as a wom- When Doe said she would go home, her have not been recognized as a legal cause of
an. A store manager sided with the customer name was temporarily removed from the action in [federal antibias law],” the defense
and did not correct the person, according to schedule. A few days later, Doe was fired filing states.
the lawsuit. from her job, according to the lawsuit. Additionally, the defense fil- page 14
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MOMBIAN
LGBTQ parenting year in review
DANA RUDOLPH
PGN Contributor
2019 saw many challenges to LGBTQ
equality, but there was still some progress.
Let’s review the parenting-specific news of
the year.
Some Setbacks
The Trump administration’s Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) was per-
haps the biggest antagonist of the year. HHS
began in January by granting South Carolina
a waiver so that federally funded adoption and
foster care agencies in the state may discrim-
inate based on a person’s religion, LGBTQ
identity or other factors that do not fit with
the religious or moral beliefs that the agency
espouses.
HHS proposed another rule in April that
would abandon the collection of data relat-
ed to the sexual orientation of youth, parents
and guardians connected to the foster care
system, except when a caseworker knows
that this is related to the reason a child was
removed from their home. LGBTQ and child
welfare organizations said the fuller data
would have helped to serve LGBTQ youth
more effectively.
In May, HHS finalized a rule that allows
health care workers — from doctors to cler-
ical staff — to deny medical treatment, infor-
mation and services to patients because of the
worker’s personal religious or moral beliefs,
even if their institution takes federal funds
like Medicare or Medicaid. The rule focuses
mainly on abortion, sterilization and assisted
suicide, which is bad enough, but it could also
lead to health care workers refusing to serve
LGBTQ people or their children, to deny
them fertility treatments, treatment or preven-
tative care for AIDS or HIV, or care related to
gender transitions.
In November, however, just a couple of
weeks before the rule was set to go into ef-
fect, three federal district courts in California,
New York and Washington, said the rule was
unconstitutional and completely vacated it. It
remains in effect in other districts, however,
and HHS could appeal the decisions.
On Nov. 1, HHS also issued a new rule that
similarly would allow discrimination against
LGBTQ people and others by all recipients of
HHS grants, including foster care and adop-
tion agencies as well as programs dedicated
to youth homelessness, HIV, sexually trans-
mitted infections and substance abuse preven-
DUNKIN’ DONUTS LAWSUIT
from page 12
ing claims that Doe didn’t experience gender
stereotyping while working at Dunkin’ Do-
nuts. “The conduct attributed to employees is
gender misidentification, not gender stereo-
typing,” the defense brief states.
As for Doe’s complaint of being told by a
COLUMN
tion, among others. While 10 states — Ala-
bama, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, North
Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Texas and Virginia — already allow
child service agencies to discriminate in fos-
ter care and adoption similarly, the new HHS
rule would enshrine such discrimination at the
federal level and extend it to the full range of
HHS services.
The State Department also showed its an-
ti-LGBTQ side. Two married, two-dad cou-
ples sued the department for refusing to rec-
ognize the U.S. citizenship of their children,
born via surrogacy abroad, even though the
parents are all citizens. These families join
two other same-sex couples, each of which
has at least one U.S. citizen parent who has
been fighting the department over their chil-
dren’s citizenship for several years.
On the state level, both New York and
Rhode Island saw the failure of bills that
would have more effectively protected fam-
ilies formed through assisted reproduction
by offering cheaper and easier ways to en-
sure firm legal recognition of nonbiological
parents. The New York bill would also have
legalized gestational surrogacy — when the
surrogate does not contribute the egg.
In Michigan, two same-sex couples filed a
lawsuit against the state after two Christian
adoption agencies rejected them with state
contracts. In a March settlement, Michigan
said it would require all state-contracted child
welfare agencies to accept all qualified fam-
ilies, including same-sex couples. Then in
May, one of the agencies sued the state in
turn, claiming it had a constitutional right to
be exempt from that requirement. A federal
district court agreed with the agency in a Sep-
tember injunction, allowing it to maintain its
contract while refusing to work with same-sex
couples and unmarried people while the case
is fully litigated.
In a separate case in April, however, a Cath-
olic child service agency in Philadelphia was
denied a similar injunction by a federal ap-
peals court. That’s good — though the case
could now be appealed to the U.S. Supreme
Court, and the Michigan case could ultimately
find its way there as well.
Signs of Progress
The Equality Act, a comprehensive feder-
al LGBTQ civil rights bill, passed the U.S.
House in May. It offers protections against
discrimination in foster care and adoption as
well as in employment, housing, public ac-
coworker to use a men’s restroom, Dunkin’
Donuts points out that management didn’t
make the request. “Notably, neither a manag-
er nor assistant manager are alleged to have
compelled Doe to use any particular bath-
room,” the filing states.
Moreover, Dunkin’ Donuts refutes Doe’s
claims of disability discrimination, noting
that management wasn’t informed that Doe
commodations, public education and other
areas.
More focused on children and family, the
Every Child Deserves a Family Act was in-
troduced in both houses for the sixth Con-
gress in a row. It prohibits discrimination
in foster care and adoption on the basis of
sexual orientation, gender identity and mar-
ital status, as with past versions, but also
bans it on the basis of religion; bans conver-
sion therapy; directs HHS to assist states,
tribes and agencies in improving services to
LGBTQ and two-spirit foster youth; and re-
quires HHS to collect data on the sexual ori-
entation and gender identity of children and
parents connected to the foster care system.
The bill would counter many of HHS’ moves
this year but looks unlikely to pass the Re-
publican-controlled Senate.
The American Bar Association, the “na-
tional representative of the legal profession,”
in January adopted a resolution that “Oppos-
es laws, regulations, and rules or practices
that discriminate against LGBT individuals
in the exercise of the fundamental right to
parent.” While that clearly didn’t stop HHS,
it’s good to know that many of the nation’s
lawyers view HHS’ moves as discriminatory.
On the state level, Connecticut, New Jer-
sey and Oregon each enacted laws that ex-
tend paid family leave with broad definitions
of who’s in a family.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court not only
ruled in favor of a nonbiological mother in
a child custody case in June but established
guidelines for future cases, writing conclu-
sively, “A nonbiological same-sex parent
stands in parity with a biological parent.”
Arizona, in April, repealed an an-
was disabled due to her HIV status and gen-
der dysphoria. Thus, it had no obligation to
offer reasonable accommodations for her con-
ditions. The filing concludes, “Based upon the
foregoing, the defendant respectfully asks the
court to grant its motion to dismiss.”
Doe seeks more than $150,000 in compen-
satory and punitive damages. As of presstime,
U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. of the
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020
ti-LGBTQ law that had banned instruction
in public school health curricula that “Pro-
motes a homosexual life-style” or suggests
there are “safe methods of homosexual sex.”
More than three dozen queer parents
elected in 2018 took office in January 2019
at all levels of government. Additionally, in
April, two lesbian moms were elected may-
ors: Lori Lightfoot in Chicago and Jane Cas-
tor in Tampa, Florida.
Financial giants J. P. Morgan and Mass-
Mutual each announced expanded fertility
benefits to help LGBTQ employees start or
grow their families. Among other features,
these benefits are offered without requiring a
medical diagnosis of infertility — useful for
single people and couples who don’t have
both egg and sperm.
In a major reversal of policy, the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the
Mormons) in April said that children of
LGBT parents may now be blessed and
baptized in the faith and that same-sex cou-
ples in the LDS Church will no longer be
considered “apostates,” although marrying
a person of the same sex is still “a serious
transgression.”
This was also another banner year for
LGBTQ-inclusive children’s books in quali-
ty and quantity — too many to list here, but
I’ve rounded up some of the best at mombi-
an.com.
A Loss
Sharon Mattes, known as Sharon Bottoms
when she fought to overcome anti-LGBTQ
bias in a legal battle for custody of her son in
the 1990s — a headline case for queer par-
ents — died in February at age 48.
Looking Ahead
While it’s easy to get disheartened over
the significant political setbacks, I hope we
can take heart at the progress that has been
made, even if it is less than we would like.
Next year may be similar— but it is also an
election year. We may never have a perfect
candidate, but we can still vote for the one
most likely to make a positive difference for
ourselves and our families.
Wishing you joy and love this holiday sea-
son, and a more equitable new year for us all. n
Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of
Mombian (mombian.com), a GLAAD Media
Award-winning blog and resource directory
for LGBTQ parents.
Eastern District of Pennsylvania hadn’t ruled
on the dismissal request.
Victor E. Scomillio, an attorney for Dunkin’
Donuts, couldn’t be reached for comment.
“We’re confident that the law is on our
side,” said Justin F. Robinette, an attorney for
Doe. “We’re optimistic that Judge Leeson will
deny the motion to dismiss and allow my cli-
ent her day in court.” n
JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
2019: LGBTQ YEAR IN REVIEW
ANGELA GIAMPOLO
PGN Contributor
The fight for LGBTQ rights has been
tougher than ever this year, and support for
our community is stronger than it has ever
been. Just as with any significant, important
movement, there are highs as well as lows.
2019 has been ripe with celebrations of vic-
tory, but we have also encountered setbacks
and faced opposition with the current Admin-
istration.
New Jersey became the 2nd
state in the U.S. to require pub-
lic schools to teach LGBTQ and
disability-inclusive material
On Feb. 1, New Jersey passed a law that
will require all public schools to teach ma-
terial that is inclusive of LGBTQ history.
The content will be incorporated into mid-
dle and high school curricula starting in the
2020-2021 school year. Private schools do
not have to comply as they are not state-reg-
ulated. “The Governor believes that ensuring
students learn about diverse histories will
help build more tolerant communities and
strengthen educational outcomes,” the gover-
nor’s office said in a statement. Before New
Jersey, California was the only state that had
such a law. In May, Colorado followed suit
passing a similar law.
New York banned the use of
gay and trans panic legal de-
fense strategies
On June 30, New York became the sixth
state to ban a defense tactic allowing a de-
fendant to blame a violent act on the fact that
they were highly distraught about the victim’s
sexual orientation or gender identity. Upon
signing the bill into law, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
stated, “New York has always been the home
of the LGBTQ equality movement, always. It
all started here. It started at Stonewall. It start-
ed when we hosted the first Pride Day ever.
And we’ve kept that legacy alive.” The only
other states that currently ban gay and trans*
panic defense strategies are California, Rhode
Island, Illinois, Nevada, and Connecticut.
New Jersey is likely to pass a panic-defense
ban early in 2020.
Illinois joins the bathroom
neutrality fight
On July 26, Gov. Pritzker signed a bill into
law requiring all single-occupancy bathrooms
to be labeled as gender-inclusive. Sen. Me-
linda Bush, who sponsored the legislation,
told the Chicago Tribune that, “[m]aking
single-occupancy restrooms gender-neutral
is inclusive, but it also just makes sense. It’s
a small change that will make a big impact
for thousands of Illinoisans.” The law passed
unanimously in the state Senate and with a
COLUMN
vote of an overwhelming 109-5 in the State-
house. The law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Pennsylvania allows residents
to select “X” on state-issued ID
cards and driver’s licenses
On July 31, the Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that
Pennsylvanians would no longer have to check
male or female when filling out their driv-
er’s license or state ID card application. The
change takes effect in October 2020. Some
opponents of the change fear that this will af-
fect compliance with the Real ID program;
however, many airlines are now beginning to
allow nonbinary options for passengers. Gov.
Tom Wolfe fully supports this move.
Billy Porter became first gay
Black man to win an Emmy for
best lead actor in a drama series
T R A N S G E N D E R M U R D E R S A R E I N C R E A S I N G A N D S P R E A D I N G F E A R I N T H E C O M M U N I T Y.
On Sept. 22, Billy Porter won the Emmy
award for his work on the FX drama “Pose.”
The pioneering show is in its second season
and features a highly diverse LGBTQ cast —
as well as more transgender scripted regular
actors than on any other show in television
history. The show is set in 1990 and portrays
the HIV/AIDS epidemic as well as discrimi-
nation, poverty and pervasive harassment of
the LGBTQ community. Porter included a
strong message for acceptance in his speech,
“[w]e are the people. We, as artists, are the
people that get to change the molecular struc-
ture of the hearts and minds of the people
who live on this planet. Please don’t ever stop
doing that. Please don’t ever stop telling the
truth.”
Transgender murders are
increasing
As of November, there were at least 25
transgender murders in the United States,
including Philadelphia’s Tameka “Michelle”
Washington. Mind you, there is no definitive
way to confirm the actual number of murders
of transgender and nonbinary folks because
all crime-related information is voluntarily
provided to the government from state and lo-
cal authorities, and there is no federal source
that reports on the deaths or crimes against the
transgender community. Also, the numbers
are likely even higher because victims are of-
ten misgendered and, therefore, not reported
as a murder or act of violence against a trans-
gender person.
This infographic, with information provid-
ed by the Human Rights Campaign, highlights
the horrific trend in the murders of transgen-
der people. As we can see, the victims are dis-
proportionately Black women under the age
of 30 from the South. Florida and Texas are
currently tied for the states with the most fa-
talities.
Since 2013, there have been at least 157
transgender fatalities due to violent crime in
our country, and of these fatalities, at least 70
Data from the Human Rights Campaign
percent have been Black transgender women.
The numbers are not declining — and the year
is not even over. In 2018, there were at least
26 fatalities due to violence against trans-
gender people compared to 25 in 2017, 23 in
2016, 22 in 2015, and 13 in 2014.
The Trump Administration not enforce, and plans to repeal, regulations
and the LGBTQ Community in prohibiting discrimination based on gender
2019 identity, sexual orientation and religion in all
The Trump Administration has continued
to anchor in and set the LGBTQ communi-
ty’s fight for equality and fairness back.
Jan. 23: The Department of Health and Hu-
man Services (HHS) granted an exemption
to adoption and foster care agencies in South
Carolina to allow religiously affiliated ser-
vices to discriminate against current and as-
piring LGBTQ caregivers.
April 12: The Department of Defense
(DOD) reinstated a ban on transgender ser-
15
O U T L AW
vice members. This ban causes the discharge
of any service members that either come out
or are found to be transgender.
April 19: The HHS announced a proposed
rule to abandon the collection of data about
the sexual orientation of youth in the foster
care system, as well as foster and adoptive
parents.
May 2: The HHS ruled that hospital offi-
cials, staff and insurance companies can and
should deny care to patients, including trans-
gender patients, based on their religious or
moral beliefs.
May 14: President Trump announced that he
opposes the Equality Act (H.R. 5). This act is
federal legislation that would strengthen our
nation’s current civil rights protections for
LGBTQ citizens.
May 22: The Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) announced that
it plans to abolish regulations prohibiting
discrimination against transgender people in
HUD-funded homeless shelters.
July 3: HUD removed the requirements
that applicants for homelessness funding
maintain anti-discrimination policies and
demonstrate efforts to serve LGBTQ people
and their families, who are more likely to be
homeless.
Aug. 14: The Department of Labor an-
nounced that it is proposing a rule to expand
the ability of federal contractors to exempt
themselves from equal employment opportu-
nity requirements by allowing for-profit and
non-profit employers to impose “religious
criteria” on employees that could include
barring LGBTQ employees.
Aug. 16: The Department of Justice filed
a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, which
argues that federal law “does not prohibit
discrimination against transgender persons
based on their transgender status.”
Nov. 1: The HHS announced that it would
HHS grant programs.
From Billy Porter’s pioneering energy
in Hollywood to teaching LGBTQ history
in schools to gender-inclusive bathrooms
to President Trump — it has been quite a
year! We have a lot of work to do to protect
the LGBTQ community in the workplace,
schools, housing and abroad, but hopefully,
this new decade will bring opportunities to
cease the blatant disregard for equality we’ve
been enduring. The groundwork has been
laid, and now it’s time to drive the movement
forward in 2020! n
16
CHOP LAWSUIT
from page 1
to work, against Doe’s wishes. Doe was told
he would lose his job if he didn’t return to
work, according to the complaint.
Doe requested less strenuous work and
fewer hours while he continued to recover
from surgery to no avail. He eventually re-
turned to work in May 2019, but when he
requested more time off, he was fired in July
2019, according to the complaint.
“Doe agreed to return to work despite the
fact that he was still fighting rectal cancer
and convalescing, experiencing pain in his
QUEER DECADE IN REVIEW
from page 1
and gay couples who were married in states or
countries where same-sex marriage was legal.
In 2015, in Obergefell v. Hodges, another
SCOTUS ruling made same-sex marriage legal
throughout the nation. That night, Obama lit the
White House in rainbow colors in honor of the
historic ruling.
The mantra “Love Wins” flooded social me-
dia, joining the 2010 It Gets Better Project with
hopeful memes.
While lesbians and gay men won the rights
to marry and serve in the military, trans people
were fighting for and achieving visibility, with
two Black trans women, Laverne Cox and Janet
Mock, as standard-bearers in mainstream me-
dia. Cox and Mock told their stories in mem-
oirs and on TV. In 2014, Laverne Cox, in all
her high-fashion beauty, was on the cover of
TIME for a story titled “The Transgender Tip-
ping Point.”
TV took up the mantle of both gay and trans
visibility. Shows like “The L-Word,” “Modern
Family,” “Transparent,” “Queer Eye,” “Pose”
and others featuring LGBTQ characters and
stories won awards and normalized LGBTQ
lives for straight America — some with more
nuance than others. In 2019, GLAAD’s annual
report on the status of LGBTQ visibility on TV
PEOPLE OF THE YEAR
from page 1
ovate and add-on to the nonprofit’s current
building. He also implemented — along with
Zach Wilcha (also on our list) — the Lead-
ership Pipeline program, along with the Re-
membrance Project. Read more about Bart-
lett and William Way’s initiatives on page 4.
Zach Wilcha is the executive director of In-
dependence Business Alliance, Greater Phil-
adelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Under his leadership, IBA has increased its
TIFFANY PALMER
from page 5
LGBTQ families.”
Adoption cases were her final cases as an
attorney. “I was sworn in on Dec. 20 by Judge
Walter Olszewski, the supervising judge of
Family Court,” she said. “It was very exciting
and relieving that this day had finally arrived.
I had my mother and my wife with me, as
well as some close friends and colleagues. It
PGN
rectum and continuing to have nosebleeds
on account of his cancer on a regular basis,”
the complaint states.
Doe’s return to work was physically
painful. “Doe also recalls that he would
frequently have nosebleeds at work, that
other co-employees and supervisors would
observe this and react with revulsion, and
that Doe would continue to work through his
nosebleeds,” the complaint states.
Doe claims that CHOP failed to offer
him a reasonable accommodation — such
as part-time work — so that he could return
to work without jeopardizing his health. By
firing Doe, CHOP placed Doe in a difficult
put queer, trans and nonbinary characteriza-
tions at an all-time high of 10 percent.
Women brought sports out of the closet.
Out lesbians ruled soccer, with Abby Wam-
bach winning the World Cup and two Olym-
pic Gold medals while the men won none. In
2019, Megan Rapinoe won the Ballon d’Or as
the World’s Best Player and a World Cup of her
own. Wambach and Rapinoe were the greatest
soccer players in the world, and they each made
concerted pleas for LGBTQ rights in that role.
As the decade drew to a close, U.S. soccer
stars Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, who had
met on the soccer field in 2010, tied the knot in
Miami on Dec. 29.
Throughout 2019, Pete Buttigieg rose
through the ranks of 25 Democratic presiden-
tial candidates to land in the top tier — the first
openly gay candidate of a major political party
in U.S. history ranked first in polls in the early
states at year’s end.
But even as these dramatic social and legal
changes were happening, the fact of LGBTQ
oppression remained. The exciting progress
wrought throughout the Obama years have been
all but vitiated under the Trump administration.
No more declarations of Pride month from the
White House as there were under Obama — not
even for the historic Stonewall 50 celebration.
Trump also banned rainbow flags outside U.S.
embassies.
budget, formalized a job resource program
benefitting the city’s trans and nonbinary
communities, along with a series of program-
ming for Philadelphia’s African American,
Asian American and Hispanic American
communities done in partnership with PHL
Diversity. His values of inclusion and equity
have lead to a more diverse board and pro-
grams targeting the many intersections in the
LGBTQ community. Read about Wilcha and
IBA on page 6.
Mary Groce is a ferocious woman, writer
and historian who was given Smithsonian’s
was also bittersweet as I had finished my last
five adoption cases of my career as an attor-
ney. I will miss these cases the most, as I have
truly enjoyed helping my clients secure and
legally protect their families.”
Palmer said her new role is equally, if dif-
ferently, crucial for the community.
“I feel it is critically important that the ju-
diciary reflect the demographics of the popu-
lations that come before the courts,” she said.
“Philadelphia has a diverse judiciary, and
situation according to the complaint.
“CHOP not only left Doe without any
income during this extremely challenging
time of his diagnosis and treatment, but Doe
is not in a position where he can afford to
continue medical benefits under COBRA,
and has therefore been placed in a precar-
ious position with respect to his diagnosis
and treatment,” the complaint states. “Doe is
also unsure how he will be able to afford his
HIV medications to manage his condition.”
In October, Doe was awarded state unem-
ployment compensation benefits. However,
his award is being challenged at the state
Unemployment Compensation Board of Re-
And that much-vaunted declaration by Sec-
retary Clinton in 2011 has been renounced as
well: nine of the top 10 recipients of U.S. for-
eign aid criminalize homosexuality, making it
punishable by prison or even death.
President Trump instituted a ban against
trans people in the military. Trump has cham-
pioned so-called religious freedom laws, poli-
cies that have impacted every aspect of LGBTQ
life from employment to healthcare to buying a
wedding cake.
Bathroom bills have been championed by
Republican lawmakers in the states and by
Betsy DeVos in Trump’s Cabinet. The Equal-
ity Act, which would protect LGBTQ people
from discrimination, was passed by the House
in June 2019 but has been sitting in the Senate
ever since. And while it sat, the Trump adminis-
tration challenged two gay cases and one trans
case of employment discrimination before the
Supreme Court in October.
Violence is an increasing fact of LGBTQ life.
Trans women of color have been murdered at a
disproportionate rate. The Human Rights Cam-
paign counted 25 deaths of transgender folks
in 2019, primarily trans women of color. The
2018 FBI Crime Report released in Novem-
ber showed a dramatic increase in hate crimes
against LGBTQ folks with nearly one in five of
all such crime victims identifying as LGBTQ.
While the It Gets Better Project was found-
2019 A. Verville Fellowship from the Nation-
al Air & Space Museum. A longtime activist,
Groce and her partner of 25 years, Suz Atlas,
have also been busy creating queer communi-
ty at the John C. Anderson apartments, start-
ing a newsletter, potluck dinners and a writ-
er’s group. Read more about Groce on page 7.
Judge Tiffany Palmer, newly appointed,
was the only LGBTQ candidate to have a
victory in Philadelphia’s 2019 election cy-
cle. Not only did she do well in the prima-
ries with a grassroots campaign, winning
over other favorites, she received the most
LGBTQ judges are a part of that. I am proud
that I will be another openly LGBTQ judge to
join the First Judicial District.”
Palmer said she has specific goals as a
judge for what she wants to achieve.
“The most important thing I can do as a
judge is to ensure that those that come be-
fore the courts are afforded equal justice,”
she said. “My role as a Family Court judge
is especially important as the cases that
come into that court have such a profound
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020
view, according to the complaint.
Doe is requesting damages in excess of
$75,000 and reasonable attorney’s fees.
“My client was treated callously on ac-
count of his health,” said Justin F. Robi-
nette, an attorney for Doe. “No one should
be treated like this. We allege that my cli-
ent’s status as an HIV-positive gay man was
the motivating factor for his discharge. And
that’s clearly against the law.
Camillia Travia, a spokesperson for
CHOP, said in an email: “In response to
your inquiry, Children’s Hospital of Phila-
delphia has no information: We do not com-
ment on matters involving litigation.” n
ed in 2010 to counter the rise in suicidal ide-
ation among queer and trans youth, The Trevor
Project released a study in 2019 showing that
LGBTQ youth were self-harming at rates far
above their straight peers and had suicidal ide-
ation at nearly double that of straight teens.
Poverty is on the rise among LGBTQ people
with women and trans people most impacted.
LGBTQ elders face a higher rate of homeless-
ness than their straight peers.
In December 2019, a study showed straight
Americans thought LGBTQ people’s issues
were getting sufficient attention in news media
or even too much attention, but GLAAD and
HRC found LGBTQ issues are being covered
less, not more.
But as the 2010s ended, LGBTQ activism
surged. And in 2018 and 2019, more LGBTQ
people were elected to office than in U.S. his-
tory in a “rainbow wave” that included the first
Black lesbian mayor of Chicago and the first
out trans woman in the Virginia House of Del-
egates. In 2019, in Philadelphia, an out trans
woman, trans man and lesbian were on the
ballot, and an out queer woman was elected as
judge.
As the 2020s begin, impeachment and an
election provide opportunities for LGBTQ
people to fight on. It’s a new decade, and
LGBTQ rights remain at stake — and worth
fighting for. n
votes of any Common Pleas candidate in
the general election. An attorney who fought
for LGBTQ+ rights her entire career, Palm-
er now expands her impact as a judge in the
Court of Common Pleas. Read more about
Palmer on page 5.
Throughout our pages in this issue, read-
ers will learn more about some of 2019’s
pillars in our community. Remember their
names and stories, and hear their histories,
as each of these folks has fought diligently,
sometimes against all odds, for the LGBTQ
community. n
impact on people’s personal lives. My im-
mediate goal is to help the court address
custody cases and help families get the an-
swers they need from the courts to structure
their lives accordingly.”
Palmer added, “I also want to work to
continue to ensure our courts are a safe and
welcoming place for all the many kinds
of people that come before it, including
LGBTQ families and gender-nonconform-
ing people.” n
 Arts & Culture
Q PUZZLE : PA G E 2 2 FILM : PA G E 2 0 HOROSCOPES :
F A M I LY P O R T R A I T I n c e l e b r a t i o n a n d r e m e m b r a n c e o f Ta r a L e s s a r d
Local — Breaking Glass has been com-
mitted to acquiring and promoting
LGBTQ films (among other titles).
indie film “We vowed when we started that
we would attempt to release one
LGBTQ title per month,” Ross said
distributor in a recent phone interview. “We’ve
eclipsed that, but looking back over
the years, we surpassed what we set
celebrates out to do.”
He continued to reminisce about
10 years of
the early days, “There was so much
product at the time we started, and
only a few [distribution] compa-
LGBTQ nies releasing LGBTQ films. There
were so many great films. We knew
there was a pipeline for the genre
inclusivity and that there were people who
needed to see these films.”
Many of the films in Breaking
GARY M. KRAMER Glass Pictures’ library were dis-
PGN Contributor covered or promoted at film festi-
vals. The company has long been
The Philadelphia-based inde- a sponsor of qFLIX, Philadelphia’s
pendent film distribution compa- LGBTQ+ film festival.
ny, Breaking Glass Pictures, just Ross indicated, “We absolutely
celebrated its 10-year anniversary. believe a fest launch is essential.
Co-founded by Richard Wolff and When we sign a film, we immedi-
the openly gay Richard Ross — and ately ready it for festival launch. We
named after a David Bowie song especially love the small festivals,
“ B AT H R O O M S TA L L S & P A R K I N G L O T S ”
PA G E 1 9 EVENTS :
“ B O DY E L E C T R I C ”
where we know the audience is
clamoring for this type of product.”
Ross also effused about the
people and features he has been
involved with over the years, “It’s
enticing to bring a filmmaker into
the fold, work with them and antic-
ipate their next project. We consult
with them on artwork, the trailer
and marketing. We like to get them
involved.”
The company has distributed
three films with local connections:
“Straight & Butch” a documentary
directed by local filmmaker Butch
Cordora; “Into the Lion’s Den,” a
locally set and shot feature, written
by Ross’ former assistant, Philip
Malaczewski, about three gay men
who encounter trouble on a road
trip; and “Lazy Eye,” a sexy roman-
tic drama produced by out gay Phil-
adelphia native Todd Shotz.
When asked which films he con-
sidered “essential viewing” from
his decade of distribution, Ross cit-
ed: “An Englishman in New York,”
“Edie and Thea: A Very Long En-
gagement,” “Taxi zum Klo,” “Lau-
rence Anyways,” “Out in the Dark,”
PA G E 1 8 SCENE IN PHILLY :
“Lyle,” “Sand Dollars,” “Esteros,”
“Heartstone,” “B&B,” “Rift,” “Call
Her Ganda,” “Cherry Grove Sto-
ries,” “Kanarie,” and “Socrates.”
He also singled out films and
filmmakers that were of particular
importance to him as a distributor.
“Joshua Lim has a style that is
very unique — maybe too slow
for some — but I love his films,
‘The Seminarian,’ and ‘Godless.’
The Spanish-language film, ‘Four
Moons,’ was incredible. If we had
lost it, I would have been devastat-
ed.”
He added that “Geography Club”
is “essential viewing for high
school students about loneliness
and looking for acceptance. It was
another film that broke loose and
should move into the mainstream.”
“A smaller film that exploded,”
he said, “was ‘My Best Friend.’ It
was one of the biggest sellers of the
year, and the audience grew far be-
yond what I thought it would be.”
Finally, he cited “The Falls by
Jon Garcia — “We worked with him
and gave consulting advice and en-
couraged him to finish the trilogy.”
“SOMOS TR3S” / “WE ARE THR3E”
PA G E 2 1 pgn
PAG E 2 3
“ T H E R E V I V A L”
Part of the success of Breaking
Glass has been the company’s rela-
tionship with filmmakers.
Scud, the Asian auteur, sent a
testimonial via WhatsApp about
his relationship with the company,
“Richard Wolff wrote me about dis-
tributing ‘Utopians,’ followed by
‘Voyage’ and then ‘Adonis,’ which
topped the Amazon LGBT sales
chart for months. It’s fair to say
Breaking Glass brought my work to
America.”
The company now has the distri-
bution rights to Scud’s entire cata-
log. This month, they are releasing
a box set of his first four films:
“City Without Baseball,” “Perma-
nent Residence,” “Amphetamine”
and “Love Actually…Sucks!”
Likewise, actor-turned-film-
maker Gerald McCullouch is very
grateful to have a working rela-
tionship with Breaking Glass. He
said, “They distributed my first
narrative feature, ‘Daddy.’ Our
relationship continued with them
distributing and getting behind my
two ‘All Male, All
Nude’ documenta- page 26
18
THEATER & ARTS
CROSSING BORDERS: PAINTING IN
THE CROWN OF ARAGON, 1400–
1500
Philadelphia Museum of Art pres-
ents an exhibition exploring a vast
Mediterranean region encompassing
much of present-day Spain and Italy,
through Feb. 23, 26th Street and the
Parkway; 215-763-8100.
DESIGNS FOR DIFFERENT FUTURES
Philadelphia Museum of Art presents
an exhibition exploring visionary
and sometimes controversial designs
that promise to transform how we
live, eat, heal, travel and even love,
in any number of possible futures,
through March 8, 26th Street and the
Parkway; 215-763-8100.
DANCING WITH THE STARS LIVE
Contestants from the hit TV show
perform 8 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Borgata
Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center,
1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.;
609-317-1000.
DIEGO RIVERA: FRESCOES
Philadelphia Museum of Art pres-
ents an exhibition of murals the re-
vered Mexican artist created in New
York for display in an exhibition at
the Museum of Modern Art in 1931,
through spring, 26th Street and the
Parkway; 215-763-8100.
DISNEY’S FANTASIA LIVE IN CON-
CERT
The classic animated film is screened
and the score performed live by The
Philadelphia Orchestra, Jan. 3-5 at
Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad
St.; 215-893-1999.
DRAG DIVA BRUNCH: MADONNA
Mimi Imfurst and special guests get
into the groove with a Madonna trib-
ute, noon Jan. 4 at Punch Line Philly,
33 E. Laurel St.; 215-606-6555.
ELF: THE MUSICAL
Media Theatre Company presents
the stage adaptation of the holiday
comedy film, through Jan. 12, 104 E.
State St., Media; 610-891-0100.
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.
KOGEI: ART CRAFT JAPAN
Philadelphia Museum of Art pres-
ents an exhibition celebrating Japa-
NOTICES: Send notices at least one week in advance to: Out & About Listings, PGN, 505 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 fax: 215-925-6437 or e-mail: listings@epgn.com. Notices cannot be taken over the phone.
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
nese kogei — one-of-a-kind, hand-
crafted objects made with traditional
techniques and natural materials,
through summer 2020, 26th Street
and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
MADE BY HAND: CONTEMPORARY
KOREAN CRAFT
Philadelphia Museum of Art pres-
ents an exhibition where artists find
inspiration in Korea’s acclaimed tra-
dition of handmade objects and add
their own visual language to the rich
mix of techniques, materials and
form, through Jan. 12, 26th Street
and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
MARISA MERZ
Philadelphia Museum of Art pres-
ents an exhibition of sculptures and
drawings celebrating the life and
legacy of the pioneering Italian art-
ist, through summer, 26th Street and
the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
OFF THE WALL: AMERICAN ART TO
WEAR
Philadelphia Museum of Art pres-
ents an exhibition of works by
mixed-media artists exploring non-
traditional materials and methods to
create adventurous, deeply imagina-
tive works, through May 17, 2600
Benjamin Franklin Parkway; 215-
763-8100.
SAM JAY
The writer for “Saturday Night
Live” performs 8 and 10 p.m. Jan.
10 at Good Good Comedy Theater,
215 N. 11th St.; https://goodgood-
comedy.com.
SHREK: THE MUSICAL
Walnut Street Theatre presents the
stage adaptation of the hit animated
film about an ogre on a quest to res-
cue a princess, through Jan. 5, 825
Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.
THIS IS THE WEEK THAT IS
1812 Productions presents the an-
nual political satire stage show,
through Jan. 5 at Plays & Players
Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place; 215-
592-9560
MUSIC
MONICA AND ASHANTI
The R&B singers perform 8 p.m.
Jan. 3 at The Met, 858 N. Broad St.;
info@TheMetPhilly.com.
LIVE AT THE FILLMORE: ALLMAN
BROTHERS TRIBUTE
The music of the southern rock band
is celebrated, 8 p.m. Jan. 10 at World
Café Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-
222-1400.
SEE SOME EVIL:
Now that it’s cold out and
the holidays are over, why not
celebrate the idea of not going
outdoors with a screening of
the classic Hitchcock suspense
thriller, “Rear Window,” which
follows the adventures of a
homebound photographer whose
wandering voyeuristic eye spots
trouble in his neighborhood,
Jan. 5-6 at The Colonial Theatre,
227 Bridge St., Phoenixville. For
more information or tickets, call
610-917-1228.
It’s a night of ladies-first conver-
sation and humor when comedian
Deborah Frances-White records
her popular “The Guilty Feminist”
podcast live in front of an audience,
8-11 p.m. Jan. 7 at Punch Line Philly,
33 E. Laurel St. For more information
or tickets, call 215-606-6555.
…AS CHARGED
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020
events
NIGHTLIFE
GENDER QUEERY: TRANS & NON-
BINARY DRAG SHOW
Yari, Mercury, Icon Ebony-Fierce,
Ron Binary, Beary Tyler Moore,
Samantha Sayten and Paula Deen
White perform, 8-11 p.m. Jan. 3 at
Stir Lounge, 1705 Chancellor St.;
215-732-2700.
BEARLESQUE
The bear-themed burlesque show, 9
p.m. Jan. 3 at Tabu, 254 S. 12th St.;
215-964-9675.
THE FOURTH ANNUAL PHILLY
DRAG AWARDS
Vinchelle and Eric Jaffe host the fes-
tivities, 7-11:30 p.m. Jan. 3 at Voy-
eur Nightclub, 1221 Saint James St.;
215-735-5772.
BEV’S BITCHFEST
The drag show hosted by BEV warms
things up, 10 p.m. Jan. 4 at Tabu, 254
S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
AMATEUR DRAG NIGHT
New Philly drag performers perform,
8 p.m. Jan. 5 at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth
St.; 215-592-0656.
OUTTA TOWN
HOUSE
The Japanese horror film is screened,
9:45 p.m. Jan. 3 at The Colonial The-
atre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville;
610-917-1228.
HIGH NOON
The southern rock/Lynyrd Skynyrd
tribute band performs 8 p.m. Jan. 4
at Sellersville Theater, 24 W. Temple
Ave.; 215-257-5808.
VAN HALEN NATION
The tribute band performs 8 p.m. Jan.
4 at The Queen, 500 N. Market St.,
Wilmington, Del.; 202-730-3331.
HERMAN’S HERMITS’ PETER
NOONE
The classic rock singer performs 8
p.m. Jan. 5 at Sellersville Theater, 24
W. Temple Ave.; 215-257-5808.
JESSE VALENZUELA (OF THE GIN
BLOSSOMS)
The rock musician performs 8 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Sellersville Theater, 24 W.
Temple Ave.; 215-257-5808.
CASH UNCHAINED
The Johnny Cash tribute band per-
forms 8 p.m. Jan. 10 at The Queen,
500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.;
202-730-3331.
JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
BY INEZ CARVALHO
ARIES
(Mar. 21 - Apr. 20)
Guidance comes from an unex-
pected source this week, perhaps
from someone you have even
discredited in the past. You may
pride yourself on your indepen-
dent thinking, but every once in a
while, it’s worth it to tune into someone’s frequency and
take it seriously. Everybody knows something no one
else does, and that’s what makes the world go around.
TA U R U S
(Apr. 21 - May 21)
This week feels very sleepy and
dreamlike to you, as if you are
sleepwalking through your daily
activities. The moon in Taurus
early this week is the culprit.
This isn’t a bad thing, you just
need to rest and take things piece-by-piece at the mo-
ment. Now is a great time to be daydreaming and cre-
ating. Your imagination is ahead of the game, even if
other things feel kind of slow and sticky. Don’t press
yourself to be 100 percent on it all the time.
GEMINI
(May 22 - Jun. 21)
Avoid nitpicking and arguing
over insignificant matters this
week. Walk away from is both-
ering you. Doing so will save
you time and spare you much
frustration. Mercury in Capri-
corn has you feeling a little crusty around the edges;
be cautious of your word choice with loved ones. On
the bright side, your job and financial sectors are high-
lighted in this transit, so focus on being productive.
CANCER
(Jun. 22 - Jul. 22)
You seem to have a lot of ques-
tions these days. Remember, an-
swers don’t arrive in neat little
packages every time. And some
things are forever a mystery. As
we progress into the New Year,
guide your curiosity toward practical topics, and don’t
get caught up in the semantics. Mincing words will
get you nowhere. It may be tempting to start a debate
with someone this week as Mercury does its thing, but
arguing is not a sport everyone enjoys.
ASTROLOGY
LEO
(Jul. 23 - Aug. 22)
A pensive mood washes over you
this week. You’ve been looking
ahead and into the future a lot,
making new friends and arriv-
ing in new places. While that has
served you well, you may find
your mind wandering, which is not a bad thing. People
close to you may get a rare glimpse at your other side.
The quiet and sentimental part of you stored away most
times is out to wax poetic. Now is a great time to become
better acquainted with yourself.
VIRGO
(Aug. 23 - Sep. 23)
One of your biggest challenges in
life has always been coming out
of your shell. You are squeamish
about getting your hands dirty and
afraid to make mistakes or look
silly. No one is scrutinizing you
as severely as you are. Get out there, and make a mess
for once. You will be surprised at how charming those
around you may find it.
LIBRA
(Sep. 24 - Oct. 23)
Don’t let your sense of responsibil-
ity weigh you down now! This new
year is more about being dynamic
than bulldozing straight ahead. You
are often driven by guilt to complete
certain tasks in life, which has rare-
ly felt satisfactory to you. There is nothing wrong with liv-
ing a simple, understated life and doing that which makes
you happy. You don’t have to capitalize off of every idea
or hobby you have, although society may imply otherwise.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)
You have more energy this year, com-
pelling you to tie up loose ends. You
are not someone who likes to feel
obliged or indebted to anyone or any-
thing. In fact, it scares you, so take
your time. You have been doing the
work, and it will be good for you to reflect on how far you’ve
come. Move forward with less of a sense of urgency and a more
effortless flow. You are so good at your job that no one even
notices you are doing it sometimes, not even you.
19
S A G I T TA R I U S
(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21)
You’ve walked all the way to
the top of a mountain and now
you are standing there think-
ing, “What now?” There isn’t
a simple way to answer your
query. Staying in the moment
is your best bet. Looking too far ahead or behind
causes a particular anxiety or grief for you. You have
succeeded already and will continue to do so.
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)
Nothing will be lost by putting
yourself out there. Audition
for that role you’ve only ever
dreamed about, whether liter-
ally or metaphorically. Rejec-
tion can be difficult to process,
but it can also be what leads to something that suits
you even better. Lately, you have been focusing on
your material wellbeing, but self-love and self-for-
giveness is the real move for 2020.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19)
Your nature as the zodiac’s one
and only fixed air sign means
you may get caught in loops
of doing things the same way
over and over and being frus-
trated with getting the same re-
sults every time. It’s hard for you to catch yourself in
this pattern. Be honest with yourself about what you
want, and what changes goals things may require.
Slowing down this week may be to your benefit.
PISCES
(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20)
Many exciting, new things are
in store for you as we get into
2020, however this week has
you feeling tender and sensi-
tive — even more than usual. It
is important to feel and explore
those feelings; sit with them like they are old friends,
but be sure to avoid nursing old hurts, as that always
leads down a dark path. There is no such thing as good
or bad feelings, and we will never feel one way forever.
20 FILM
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020

Out choreographer’s complex

work dazzles on screen
GARY M. KRAMER
PGN Contributor
“Cunningham,” Alla Kovgan’s entrancing
documentary about out gay choreographer
Merce Cunningham, celebrates its subject by
tracing his work over 30 years, from 1942 to
1972. (His career spanned 70 years). The film,
which was shot in 3D, opens in 2D format to-
day at the Landmark Ritz Five cinema.
Fans of the dancer and choreographer will
certainly swoon as Cunningham’s life and
work are fabulously showcased. In many
scenes, contemporary dancers recreate some
of Cunningham’s famous pieces, including
“Suite for Five” and “Crises,” among many
others. The performances take place in all
kinds of venues, from tunnels, to studios and
theatre stages, as well as inside houses and
even on rooftops — shot via helicopter from
above. Kovgan appropriately films most of the
dancing full-bodied rather than in close-up,
which provides viewers with the opportunity
to grasp the complexity of the choreography
while also marveling at the beautiful bodies
in motion.
“Cunningham,” however, may be less in-
teresting to viewers who do not connect with
the distinctive style of dance being performed.
Throughout the film are discussions of nega-
tive reactions to Cunningham’s work. In Par-
is, some folks threw eggs and tomatoes. But
Kovgan uses archival footage to let Cunning-
ham explain his style — to the extent that he
will. The choreographer rejects categorizing
his dance as “modern” or “avant-garde,” call-
ing it simply, “dance.” He wants the bodies
and movement to be a pure form of visual
expression. He took the grace of ballet in the
legs and paired it with the “modern” dance
torso to emphasize a kind of flexibility. It is
the lithe bodies, bending and twisting, diving
and shimmying, that make his work so re-
markable. Moreover, Cunningham indicates
that he wants to “present” dance, rather than
provide some kind of “interpretation.” The
film gets this point across clearly in its early
scenes.
Kovgan also delves, perhaps too briefly,
into Cunningham’s relationship with com-
poser John Cage. The love letters the men
exchanged and archival photos depicting their
romance are wonderful.
In addition, “Cunningham” features inter-
views with members of the choreographer’s
company. The last original member left in
1972, which is why the film ends that year.
The dancers talk about how they worked with
the choreographer, who explains he often
trusted them and encouraged expression and
eschewed having a structure or routine for his
work. He often relied on the excitement of
chance and acknowledged that sometimes it
worked, and sometimes it didn’t. One of the
most fascinating sequences in the documen-
tary has Cunningham working with Sandra
Neels and Gus Solomons, Jr. as they perform
a fall while their bodies are intertwined.
Few moments offer a discussion in detail
about the technique of the choreography.
When “Suite for Five” is performed, Cun-
ningham talks about using a stopwatch —
anathema in the dance world! — to gauge the
timing and movement. This also prompts a
comment that detractors find Cunningham’s
work “cold” and “inhuman.” But for many,
the timing, beat and rhythm of this work is
unique and exciting. His staging of “Antic
Meet” had a dancer tie a chair onto his back,
and the routine is recreated for the film.
One person attracted to Cunningham’s (and
Cage’s) talents was the artist Robert Raus-
chenberg. He claims he connected more with
these artists than he did with his fellow paint-
ers. Rauschenberg, who was bisexual if not
gay, spent years collaborating with Cunning-
ham and Cage, designing sets and costumes
for several productions before he quit work-
ing with them in 1964.
The gay historical tidbits are interesting,
but it is the performance scene where “Cun-
ningham” really excels. It is not just that
Kovgan stages each dance scene in a highly
stylized fashion, but that the film dedicates
Cour tesy of Magnolia Pictures
sufficient screen time to the productions to
allow viewers to get caught up in the perfor-
mance. One of the best sequences in the film
is “Rainforest,” which is staged with giant,
floating, silver pillows — meant to resemble
clouds — from Andy Warhol’s Factory. The
dancers move between the pillows wearing
flesh-colored bodysuits that have been ripped
and torn — by out gay artist Jasper Johns (in
the original).
Another highlight is the dazzling work
“Winterbranch,” which is staged almost in
darkness as various spotlights circle the danc-
ers. The performance here is meant to suggest
violence, but Cunningham leaves it up to view-
ers to ascribe specific meaning to the work.
In addition, the performance of “Second
Hand” is also notable as dancers in bright cos-
tumes perform on a black, reflective stage in a
riot of color and movement.
“Cunningham” is ultimately a feast for the
eyes. It may prompt viewers to watch — or
learn — more about Cunningham after the
credits roll. n

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JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
S C E N E I N P H I L LY
21

VINCHELLE’S KWANZAA
CELEBRATION AT TABU PHOTOS BY KELLY BURKHARDT

M z Pe a c h e s VinChelle

I c o n E b o ny - F i e r c e Pa u l a D e e n - W h i t e

Josh
22 Q PUZZLE Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020

From astrophysics to acting

of astrophysics. I was un-
reasonably fascinated by the
study of the ginormous and
the miniscule, the way that
heavenly bodies move, the
fabric of the universe. When I
got to college, my main goal
was to become the next Ein-
stein. But that wasn’t in the
cards for me. In terms of high
school, I was kind of a hotshot
in math and science, but when
I got to my fancy college, I
realized that I was woefully
behind. Ultimately, the math
became too much for me. My
plan had always been to be a
CAMERON KELSALL theater minor. Though I loved theater, the
PGN Contributor way I was brought up didn’t allow me to
imagine theater as a legitimate career path.
Jo Vito Ramírez traded a major in astro- One of the things college taught me — per-
physics for a life in the performing arts, haps the most important thing my time at
and the genderqueer actor and performance Haverford/Bryn Mawr taught me — is that
artist hasn’t looked back since. A special- I have to live my life fearlessly. Many of the
ist in theater for young audiences, they are privileged kids I went to school with grew
currently appearing in “The Snow Queen,” up believing the world was their oyster, and
the latest work in the children’s series at they carried themselves very lightly. They
Arden Theatre Company. Ramirez plays a thought they deserved to be wherever they
variety of roles, from a troll to the Prince were. I wanted that — and theater was the
of Summer. The new production is based thing that made me feel most comfortable
on a fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen and something I seemed to have a knack
— the same one that inspired the Disney for. I decided this is where I am, where I’m
Q Puzzle material
46 Like Machu Pic-
8 He smoothes out
his lipstick
partner
36 He blew on pipes
mega-musical “Frozen.”
PGN recently spoke with Ramírez about
happy, and where I choose to be.
chu 9 Sundance’s Place 38 Avian Aussie
TEAM USA-LGBTQ 47 Doe in Disney’s 10 Tyler of “The Talk” 40 Box with a tail
their background and education, goals as Can you tell me a little about “The
“Bambi” 11 What to wear on 43 Eating away a performer, and what draws them to chil- Snow Queen” and your roles in it? Ev-
Across 48 Most abrupt nudist beaches 44 Headway dren’s theater. Some responses have been eryone in “The Snow Queen” (except The
1 With 69-Across, 50 “ ___ Pinafore” 12 Some of Mary’s 45 “Good grief!” condensed and edited for clarity. Snow Queen herself) plays a troll, so I play
Olympic athlete who 51 USMC barracks lambs 48 Partner of Caesar, a troll. I also play Fred, the prince of sum-
just came out as bisex- boss 13 Go in only partway, in comedy How did you first become interested in mer; one of the flowers of spring; and the
ual/pansexual 53 Uses a gifted at the beach 49 Sault ___ Marie the performing arts? I started perform- Laughing Robber, who is an inhabitant of
6 “How can ___?” tongue 19 Actor Omar 52 Yields ing when I was in middle school, and that autumn. We cycle through different seasons
10 From the top 55 Another mis- 21 “Gigli” actress, 54 Hooch maker in was entirely because the folks who were in “The Snow Queen,” so those of us in the
14 Antonio Bandera’s characterization of briefly Gomer’s Mayberry in the performing arts were the exuberant ensemble have the job of cycling Gerda
meat bisexual women, per 23 Nat. counterpart 55 Ingrid’s “Casa- weirdos. They were the ones who wouldn’t (the main character) through the seasons
15 Get soft 1-Across in MLB blanca” role make fun of me or each other. It was a little, and building out the world of the show.
16 Early caucus state 58 Animal groups that 25 Faux pas 56 Drag queen’s leg
beautiful, strange community — and com-
17 “Great Caesar’s cruised with Noah 26 Cocktail ingredient need
ghost!” 62 Tabled 27 Claim 10 inches, 57 The race ___ munity is the reason I do theater in the first You have done several of the children’s
18 Demonstrated for 63 Rock Hudson/ for example 59 Corduroy rib place. The first show that I did was “West shows at the Arden over the past few
gay rights, e.g. James Dean flick 29 Month for Kahlo 60 What comes after Side Story.” Ironically, and perhaps prob- years. What draws you to this form of
20 Flintstones’ pet 64 They say it matters 31 Get the cappuc- “Come...” lematically, I was the only Puerto Rican theater? I feel particularly suited to this
21 Mischaracteri- 65 Where to find hot cino foamy 61 A Brit soldier may person in the production, and I played Riff, work. I find that particularly at the Arden,
zation of bisexual buns 32 Picks up shoot it off the leader of the Jets. Maybe they were the children’s theater productions I have
women, per 1-Across 66 Grant of “Weeds” 34 Abner’s comic strip 63 Not swallow easily overcompensating. been a part of are story-based, and that’s
22 Artful Dodger 67 Hawkish deity part of their mission statement. It’s sto-
target 68 Untouchable head Did you know right away that theater ry-forward work. Of course, the social cri-
24 Swan Lake step 69 See 1-Across was the path you wanted to focus on? tiques and the political relevance are there,
25 “Can you ___ little Well, there weren’t many opportunities for but they come out of the story in a really
faster?” D ow n the arts in my schooling. I grew up in the soulful way. The reason I like children’s
28 Pilgrims to Mecca 1 Served like Billie
30 Poet who inspired Jean
Bronx, and I was definitely given a math theater is because, as a performer, you have
“Cats,” initially 2 Christmas three- and science track for most of my educa- to give a fully embodied performance. Your
33 Avoid going some tion. STEM was a heavy influence. In high work is fully steeped in the world. I prefer
straight 3 Part of a healthy school, the arts weren’t really available, an artistic process that is free of artifice.
35 BrontÎ’s Jane stud muffin? so I started a drama club that I believe is Children’s theater seems to be generally
36 Gyro bread 4 Give a large bosom, still going at the school. We played improv less pretentious, and I like to work that way.
37 With 39-Across, e.g. games, did some scenes, and eventually it It lets the heart of the story come through. n
1-Across as an Olym- 5 Hi-___ graphics started being called “The Gay Club.” We
pic athlete 6 Some have sex on wore that term in stride. “The Snow Queen” continues through Jan.
39 See 37-Across this 26, 2020, at the Arden Theatre Company.
41 Variety 7 Without wasted Did you study performance in college? For tickets and information, visit ardenthe-
42 Sexy clothing words I was accepted to college under the pretense atre.org.
JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
In celebration and remembrance of Tara Lessard
The community lost a special light this hol-
iday season. Our community’s beloved Tara
Lessard lost her hard-fought battle against
cancer on Dec. 26. She was 47. A friend
asked me how so many people seemed to
know Tara, and I guess it was in part be-
cause of her devotion to the community and
the fact that through her company, Freedom
G Photography, Tara was there to chronicle
so many people and events in the commu-
nity. That and her indomitable spirit, along
with a kind and upbeat personality. As a
celebration of that spirit, we’ve decided to
reprint, with some edits, the interview PGN
did with Tara back in 2013.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory
of Tara Lessard may be made in support
of ovarian cancer research to The Clearity
Foundation. Please make checks payable to
The Clearity Foundation and mail to The
Clearity Foundation, 434 West Cedar Street,
Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101, or donate
online using the online donation form.
A private Mass and interment will be held
for family. A warm and wild celebration
honoring her rich legacy will be planned for
the new year.
Tell me about yourself. I was born in
Jamaica, New York and lived a few years in
South Carolina when my dad was in college
before moving to Pennsylvania. I’ve never
actually lived in Philadelphia. I still live in
Bucks County, near where I grew up.
Really? All these years, I’ve seen you at
every function in town, and I just as-
sumed you lived here or near. That’s
one heck of a commute. I know! I’m in
Philly four to six days a week. I put a lot of
mileage on my car. My full-time job is with
the family business; my dad’s a chiroprac-
tor, and my brother and I both work in the
office, where I’ve been working since I was
14 years old. I put in 40-plus hours a week
in Bucks County, and then I come into the
city and work some more!
That’s crazy! Do you do chiropractic
work? I do everything but adjustments. In
the office, I do all the marketing; I run the
front desk and all the insurance admissions
and all the office stuff. Out of the office, I do
lectures and spinal screenings in the com-
munity a few days a week.
Something you did for fun with the
family? Honest to god, we worked. We
had a 100-percent work ethic all the time.
As far as family vacations were concerned,
we didn’t take weeks off. We’re all really
hard workers, and we weren’t about accru-
ing vacation memories, we were about be-
ing professional and doing good work. It’s
the reason I can’t stop working. I definitely
have that same driving force and work ethic
in me.
PROFILE
And your mom? She’s an interior de-
signer. She was just doing it for fun, includ-
ing changing around the office interior ev-
ery six weeks, and then in 2010, she opened
her own business right around the time I
started the photography business.
Any other siblings? I have a sister, too,
who is an artist married to another artist liv-
ing in New York. I’m the oldest of the three.
There seems to be a lot of creativity in
the family. Which parent do you get it
from? I think from both, but the crazy
thing is, I recently found out that my biolog-
ical father is a photographer! So I guess it’s
both nature and nurture. He lives in Canada,
and I just met him for the first time a few
“I DON’T TAKE IT LIGHTLY THAT
I’VE BEEN ABLE TO COME THROUGH
HARD TIMES AND INTO A POSITION
TO HELP OTHERS AND GIVE SOME
EXPOSURE TO WHAT WE DO AND
WHO WE ARE.”
years ago. It turns out I’m the oldest of three
on that side of the family too.
Were you adopted, or was he from a pre-
vious relationship with your mom? She
was married to him, but I never knew that
side of the family growing up. I adopted my
dad — the one I work with — and he’s pretty
awesome. What’s funny is that I’m more like
him than my brother and sister, who are bio-
logically his.
What was your favorite class as a kid?
English. I wasn’t so much into the grammar
aspect, conjugations and dangling participles,
etc., but I loved writing.
What were your extracurricular activi-
ties in school? I was into two things: dance
and drumming. I took dance classes and did
recitals and performances for seven years.
I played sports like racquetball, and I also
was totally into music and loved playing the
drums. I went on to be in the music industry
in an electro/industrial band for a while.
I read about it! You guys were rather
well-known. I had no idea you had that
past life! Yeah, Brainclaw, we did pretty
well. We toured quite a bit in the tri-state
FA M I LY P O R T R A I T
area, released two albums and even had two
songs: “Insekt/Angel” and “When The Dark
Rains Come,” which were used on the DVD
releases for the movies “The Matrix Rev-
olutions,” “The Matrix Box Set” and “Spi-
der-Man Collectors Edition.”
As in Toby Maguire’s “Spider-Man” and
Keanu Reeves’ “The Matrix”? Pretty
cool! Yeah, it was. It didn’t earn us any
money but gave us some serious street cred.
We were also on a Depeche Mode tribute CD,
“Bright Lights, Dark Room.”
When people see you at functions, you
are so affable and personable, so I was
surprised to read that your music was so
... [laughs]. I saw it described as “elec-
tro-violence.” One person described
your voice as ranging from “whispery,
scary little girl to screaming banshee.”
[Laughs.] Have you heard any tracks? It’s
more industrial. Think Nine Inch Nails, more
goth than anything. I’d been a huge metalhead
in high school. I loved heavy metal and punk
rock and then transitioned to goth and indus-
trial during my career.
I was reading that a platoon of soldiers
in Iraq used the song “Strike” from
your “Dead Monsters” CD
as the soundtrack to a
video they made of
themselves
23
in battle. Yeah, it was crazy. A lot of people
made their own videos of our songs, and they
got thousands of hits.
Amazing. And you box too. When did you
start that? I didn’t come out until 2009,
and my first relationship ended with some do-
mestic-abuse issues. It happened twice. The
second time I left, I was really affected by it.
I had been such a positive person all my life,
and after that, I became very small and weak
and unsure of myself. In order to recover —
physically, emotionally, spiritually, all of that
— I embraced boxing. It was a lifesaver. I
don’t compete; I train and spar at the gym,
but the training that I got and the people that
I met put me back on the right path. The dis-
cipline that it takes to be an athlete is tremen-
dous, and to be surrounded by people who
were so focused and driven was monumental
for me. There was a lot of drama surrounding
me coming out. I was previously married and
then got into a bad relationship, and boxing
helped me become the person I am now. I’m
also a brown belt in Kenpo.
Glad to hear you’re not fighting matches.
Although I wouldn’t mind meeting Laila
Ali if you took her on. [Laughs.] No, I
respect and love the sport, but I like my nose
too much to do a bout.
On to your photography, how did you
get started shooting in the LGBT com-
munity? Philly Gay Calendar was the first
connection I had to the community when I
first came out. I was single at the time, and
I wanted a way to be involved and give back,
and PGC gave me a purpose. It gave me a rea-
son to go to events even though I was by my-
self. It was an awesome gift from Steve Mc-
Cann. I was an OK photographer, not
the greatest, but I loved doing
it, and he was just like,
“Show up and do
your best.”
I did
page 24
24 PGN
FAMILY PORTRAIT
Health and Wellness Directory from page 23
well with people and turnaround
times, and over time, I’ve evolved.
I now shoot for Stimulus, Mazzoni
Advertise your business Center, LICK. I’m the staff pho-
tographer for a production com-
in our directories pany that produces the films se-
ries, “Crazy. Sexy. Cool,” that my
girlfriend Shanel was in. I’m on
for only $25 per week staff for the radio program “Queer
when you run for to the T.” I shoot on occasion for
a minimum of 8 PGN. There are so many amaz-
ing connections that I’ve made in
weeks. the community over the years. It’s
very cool. I do four to six shoots
a week and take about 8,000 pic-
tures a month. I don’t take it
lightly that I’ve been able to come
through hard times and into a posi-
tion to help others and give some
exposure to what we do and who
we are.
And you shoot outside the
community as well. Yes, I
shoot MMA fighters monthly for
“Xtreme Fight Events” at Harrah’s
Casino in Chester. It’s awesome
because I train with a lot of the
guys who are competing. I’ve seen
a lot of them grow from amateur
SAY
THEIR
NAMES
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN REPORTS 25 TRANSGENDER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
VIOLENTLY KILLED IN 2019. PGN WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THEIR NAMES.
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020
to pro over the last four years, and I am currently in love with my food
I’ve been able to document their dehydrator. I was a vegetarian for 10
progress. years, and I love being creative with
dehydrating veggies. My fave these
What’s your favorite MMA pic- days is kale dipped in a creamy mix
ture? There’s a fighter, Anthony of raw cashews, lemon, salt and pep-
Terrell, who had a kick to the face per.
that caused a knockout, winning
him the match. It was a 28-second Best concert experience? That
fight, and I just happened to get the would have to be Pink Floyd’s “The
shot perfectly as his foot was mak- Wall.” I saw it three times, and each
ing contact! time was a moving journey com-
plete with tears. It is a very powerful
Let’s do some arbitrary ques- show!
tions. If I could switch places for
a day with one person, it would You are chosen to make dinner
be... Brian Sims. He’s on a roll for a very special guest. What
right now. He’s beautiful to watch will you cook? Dinner for a special
as far as the role he’s taken in the guest is a tough one because I am a
community, politically and through foodie and love to experiment. Right
the connections he’s making with now, I would say a Waldorf salad,
and for people. I’m enamored of roasted chicken, mashed sweet po-
his position in the community. The tatoes and kale. [Laughs] It’s winter
support and love, as well as backing and I happen to be hungry!
that he gets from the people and how
he uses it to the best of his ability You’re making me hungry! Fa-
for the good of the community ... I’d vorite piece of clothing? Right
love to be in that position to effect now, my favorite piece of clothing is
change. a tight black shirt I have that makes
my chest look great!
Two of your favorite things? I
love hats. I have a huge collection Well, on that happy note,
and wear them as often as possible. Happy New Year to all! n
YAHIRA NESBY
JULIE BERMAN
NIKKI KUHNHAUSEN
DENALI BERRIES STUCKEY
TAMEKA “MICHELLE” WASHINGTON
ZOE SPEARS
BROOKLYN LINDSEY
BAILEY REEVES
BEE LOVE SLATER
JAZZALINE WARE
ASHANTI CARMON
CLAIRE LEGATO
MUHLAYSIA BOOKER
CHYNAL LINDSEY
CHANEL SCURLOCK
JORDAN COFER
PEBBLES LADIME “DIME” DOE
JAMAGIO JAMAR BERRYMAN
ITALI MARLOWE
TRACY SINGLE
BUBBA WALKER
KIKI FANTROY
PARIS CAMERON
DANA MARTIN
BRIANNA “BB” HILL
JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
A RT S
25

2019 in review:
“KEEP GOING,
What the celebs said KEEP PUSHING. AND
WHEN THE OPPOSITION “I DON’T EVEN
“One of the wonderful things
about the LGBTQ community is
IS STRONGER, WE HAVE KNOW WHAT
CHRIS AZZOPARDI TO PUSH BACK TWITTER OR that they kind of throw caution
@chrisazzopardi STRONGER.” TWATTER IS! to the winds, and it’s a moment
— ADAM LAMBERT AND I
In 2019, out glam-rocker Adam Lambert encouraged us to REALLY DON’T where people get together and
keep fighting, out musician Ben Platt talked about authentic- WANT TO.” celebrate the positive rather
ity, out actress Anna Paquin underlined how film and TV can — DIONNE than the negative.”
change minds and out “Schitt’s Creek” creator Dan Levy was in WARWICK
— Anjelica Huston on Pride
awe of his show’s resonance. Country music superstars Trisha
Yearwood and Miranda Lambert also chimed in on LGBTQ is-
sues, speaking out on their LGBTQ allyship. Meanwhile, A-list
screen allies like Laura Linney, Amy Poehler, Charlize Theron
and Laura Dern discussed everything from their queer-inclu- “What if we could just
sive movies to their activism. Here’s a look back at 2019’s most
memorable quotes: stay in the place of “You know, no one’s coming up to me going, ‘Oh god, that was
being completely open?” fantastic!’ I mean, it’s so far gone. It’s far in the past. Who cares!
But it’s nice to hear, and I hope somebody
– Judith Light enjoyed it. It’s like, maybe Goldie enjoyed it. Or Bette!
They’ve had more interesting lives.” — Diane Keaton
on “The First Wives Club” now
“I THINK THAT PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT
PEOPLE THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND
THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT. THAT’S ONE
OF OUR MOST POWERFUL TOOLS FOR
BRINGING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR OWN
BUBBLE AND THEIR OWN WORLD.”
“THE OLDER I GET,
— ANNA PAQUIN
THE MORE I REALIZE
“It was so special, and when he was giving
I FEEL MUCH MORE me permission to post about it, we both
COMFORTABLE IN cried because it was such a big moment. I
MENSWEAR. I LIKE see now, talking about it, why it’s a big
THE FEEL OF IT. I moment for other people: because
FEEL MUCH it was a big moment for us too.”
MORE MYSELF.” — Miranda Lambert on posting WorldPride
“THE IDEA OF JUST BEING PRESENT, IT’S — AMY POEHLER
THE WAY I APPROACH THE RELATIONSHIP pics of her and her gay brother
WITH MY SON, THE NOT JUDGING. I’M NOT
GOING AT IT TRYING TO MAKE HIM INTO
SOMETHING HE DOESN’T WANT TO BE.”
— KYLE MACLACHLAN
“THE REASON WHY I
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT:
“I think questioning
TO TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE yourself or question-
SEE IT THE WAY I’VE BEEN ing the context you’re “I hope they take away that I haven’t lost
SEEING IT MY WHOLE in comes natural
“I am letting her know that she LIFE.” — CARLY RAE to this community, hope. That I still believe that people are
should be free to love who she JEPSEN ON NORMALIZING and for me, that’s good and that we’ll get through this.”
wants. I think it’s very clear that THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY something that I feel — Wanda Sykes on her Netflix
that mother is letting her know that connected to…”
she knows she needs to be her true — Robyn comedy special, “Not Normal”
self, and whatever that looks like
for her is incredible.” — Laura Dern
on playing Mrs. March in “Little
Women” “I wouldn’t say “To now be in the position that
full-blown icon. I am, getting to write what I
Like, mini. I’m find to be a really lovely queer
sort of like a romance that millions of “IF YOU’RE AUTHENTIC, I THINK THAT’S
mini icon.” people get to watch, it’s quite THE MOST ATTRACTIVE QUALITY BE-
— Laura Linney YOND JUST A BEAUTIFUL VOICE, FEEL-
profound.” — Dan Levy
ING LIKE THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY EXACT-
“I KNOW IT’S STILL NOT EASY IN CERTAIN CIR- LY WHO YOU ARE.”
CLES, BUT I LIKE WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE “I EXPERIMENTED, AND I DID WHAT — BEN PLATT
WE’RE GOING. WE PREACH ‘LOVE ONE ANOTH- I THINK EVERY YOUNG PERSON
ER,’ AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE SUPPOSED TO SHOULD DO: FEEL BRAVE ENOUGH
DO.” — TRISHA YEARWOOD AND FREE ENOUGH IN ORDER TO
FIGURE IT OUT.”
— CHARLIZE THERON
ESS DIRECTORY
26
Health and Wellness Directory
Retirement is a Journey,
Not a Destination.
• Spacious Studio, 1, and
2 Bedroom Apartments
• 24 Hour Security
• Engaging Activities/Events
• Wellness Center
215-624-7575
www.deer-meadows.org
Small businesses can afford special
attention in our PGN directories.
Spaces this size are
only $50 per week when
you run for a
minimum of 8 weeks.
PGN
Philadelphia Gay News . JANUARY 3-9, 2020
LOCAL INDIE FILMS
from page 17
ries. They’re one of the champs in
the niche-market industry. To have
their support has had such an im-
pact on my films finding their au-
dience. The promotional opportu-
nities they’ve brought into my life
have been incredible.”
Patrick McGuinn, whose tender
romantic drama, “Leather” was
distributed by Breaking Glass, con-
curred, “‘Leather’ has been seen on
a lot of platforms. I was not able to
sell ‘Leather’ directly to European
distributors, but Breaking Glass
was able to do that. Filmmakers
lack the connections to get their
films seen on the platforms that
Breaking Glass has access to.”
And then there is Thales Cor-
rêa, whose feature directorial de-
but, “Bathroom Stalls and Parking
Lots,” was acquired by Breaking
Glass. He recalled, “I went to the
American Film Market. I was try-
ing to shop my film around and
show it at festivals. Everyone said,
‘Bring it to Breaking Glass.’ They
were well known in the market.
When we won the qFLIX audience
award, that’s when we made the
deal to have Breaking Glass distrib-
ute my film.”
Given that the company’s film’s
range from highbrow arthouse to
guilty pleasures, here are my 10
personal favorites Breaking Glass
Pictures releases to commemorate
the company on its 10th anniver-
sary:
1. “Body Electric,” a poignant,
moving, low-key character study
from Brazil.
2. “Bwoy,” John G. Young’s in-
tense, intimate drama about a tricky
long-distance relationship.
• 3 Meals Per Day 3. “Capitol Games,” a deliciously
• Maintenance-free Living bad, unintentionally hilarious ro-
mance.
• Beautiful Gardens and 4. “Handsome Devil,” John But-
Courtyards ler’s charming comedy-drama
• Private Parking about two schoolmates.
5. “Kept Boy,” a fabulous and
naughty romcom about the title
8301 Roosevelt Blvd,
character who fears his relationship
Philadelphia, PA 19152 with his sugar daddy is ending.
6. “Last Summer,” Mark Thiede-
man’s evocative, impressionistic
drama about two Arkansas teens.
rev. dr. Nadine Rosechild Sullivan, ph.d.
7. “Lucky Bastard,” Everett Lew-
is’ bold, compelling film about a
buttoned-up home restorer who
Spiritual Counseling falls fast and hard for someone in
active addiction.
drsullivan@rosechild.org
pgn
8. “The Revival,” a nifty little
215.704.4264 sleeper about a drifter who arrives
at a Southern Baptist church.
www.rosechild.org 9. “Somos tr3s/We Are Thr3e,” a
sweet and sexy Argentine romance
Spirituality • Sexuality • Relationships • Self-Esteem about a threesome.
10. “Steel,” an erotic psychological
thriller that features gorgeous guys
and gratuitous nudity. n
JANUARY 3-9, 2020 . epgn.com
PGN
27

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