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WHAT TO EXPECT IF JIM KENNEY’S LGBT EQUALITY BILL PASSES TOMORROW [UPDATED]

I reached out to his office to see if they're optimistic and what we can expect to happen if it passes.

Posted by Josh Middleton on 4/24/2013 at 11:55AM | No Comments

Earlier this month, Philadelphia Councilman Jim Kenney announced his sweeping LGBT Equality Bill that would do all kinds of mind-blowing things for Philly’s LGBTQ community — from offering local businesses a tax credit for providing employees same-sex health-care benefits to guaranteeing spouse-equivalent treatment in hospitals. And then, of course, who could forget the widely reported on measure that would require all new City construction to provide a single-use (key word, here!) gender-neutral bathroom option. READ MORE

PHILLY REP. PROPOSES CIVIL UNIONS BILL IN HARRISBURG

Rep. Mark Cohen's legislation would provide same-sex couples many of the same benefits as hetero married couples.

Posted by Josh Middleton on 4/24/2013 at 9:29AM | 4 Comments

Cohen at a recent Capitol news conference.

This has been a huge week for gay people in Harrisburg. A day after we learn about state Representative Brian Sims’s winning battle to eliminate LGBT discrimination on an important tax bill, Philadelphia Democratic Representative Mark Cohen has proposed legislation that would legalize civil unions in Pennsylvania. More specifically, House Bill 1178 “would amend Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in marriage, adding a definition; and providing for civil unions.” READ MORE

BRIAN SIMS WINS IMPORTANT BATTLE FOR LGBTQ COUPLES [UPDATED]

Sims succeeds in his attempts to eliminate domestic-partner discrimination in a proposed Pennsylvania tax law.

Posted by Josh Middleton on 4/23/2013 at 11:46AM | No Comments

Philly Representative Brian Sims is celebrating an important victory today. After weeks of trying to encourage his Republican colleagues to eliminate a provision in a proposed tax law that discriminated against LGBTQ Pennsylvanians, he finally saw his plan pass after a last-minute, near-unanimous vote in yesterday’s House session.

Thanks to his efforts, House Bill 468 will not discriminate against domestic partners in the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, which now “allows any executor or administrator of a will to apply for a rebate on behalf of a deceased partner’s estate” — even if that executor or administrator is a same-sex partner. READ MORE

MAZZONI CENTER ANNOUNCES 2013 ELIXR HONOREES

Three of Philly's LGBTQ community's "leading ladies" will be recognized at this year's event.

Posted by Josh Middleton on 4/15/2013 at 1:22PM | No Comments

Three hard-working women behind Philly’s LGBTQ community will be honored at the Mazzoni Center’s 2013 Elixr event. Themed “Leading Ladies,” the Center’s Elisabeth Flynn says the evening is “both a nod to the outstanding women we’ve chosen to honor with our various awards … and a reflection of what we’re raising money for, which is expanded women’s health services at Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine. And the honorees are:

Dean of the Drexel University School of Public Health Marla Gold (pictured, right) will receive the big-momma Peter Mazzoni Award for her “pioneering achievements and contributions to HIV care and public health in Philadelphia, and her advocacy on behalf of LGBT health and wellness.” Since she became dean in 2002, Gold’s LGBTQ-centric accomplishments include launching the school’s Program for LGBT Health and an online LGBT health certificate program. READ MORE

CITY COUNCILMAN JIM KENNEY TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR LGBT EQUALITY LEGISLATION

The plan would insure everything from spouse-equivalent treatment in hospitals to a first-of-its-kind "Equality Tax Credit."

Posted by Josh Middleton on 4/10/2013 at 2:58PM | 3 Comments

Tomorrow, City Councilman Jim Kenney will hold a public hearing to introduce folks to his proposed LGBT Equality legislation. The major plan would insure everything from spouse-equivalent treatment in hospitals and access to LGBT families on city forms to instating a first-of-its-kind “Equality Tax Credit.”

If passed, this would be a major moment for gay rights in Philadelphia. His public hearing is happening tomorrow, April 11, at 3 p.m. in room 400 of City Hall.

A press release I got today lays out everything the plan hopes to accomplish. See the list below:

The activist and writer was recognized for their work shedding light on the queer, trans, gender-nonconforming experience in prison.

Posted by Josh Middleton on 4/10/2013 at 1:23PM | No Comments

The Trans 100 list, which was released yesterday and recognizes some of the country’s mightiest trans activists, includes not one but two people from Philly. Genderqueer activist and writer Che Gossett joins Van Nguyen, who we mentioned at the end of the day Tuesday, for their involvement in queer, trans and gender-nonconforming organizing against the prison system and for AIDS activism.

I reached out to them via Facebook to ask how they felt about being honored. “As a black femme and genderqueer person, I appreciated that the list intentionally included a range of trans identities. It is an honor. As a someone who struggles against everyday anti-trans invisibilization and gender policing — as do so many trans people, especially women and [those] of color — I am inspired by the visionary work of the many trans artists, activists, movers and shakers — both on the list and many who are not — who in their resilience help to make the world a place we can all inhabit.” READ MORE

PHILLY WOMAN MAKES NATIONAL TRANS 100 LIST

Philly activist and educator Van Nguyen named one of the most influential trans people in the country.

Posted by Josh Middleton on 4/9/2013 at 4:29PM | 1 Comment

Congrats to Philly’s Van Nguyen for making it on This Is H.O.W. and We Happy Trans‘s first-ever Trans 100 list, which celebrates the groundbreaking work and achievements of trans people throughout the U.S.

I chatted with her this evening, and she said she’s proud to have made the lineup, because it’s not loaded up of super stars. “It’s everyday, regular people who just happen to be trans and activists.” Nguyen is a teacher by day, but says she slips into her activist heels whenever she gets the chance. She makes waves locally as the steering committee member of the Queer Asian Pacific-Islander trans* folk gathering, hotpot!, she’s the director for the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference Kids Camp program and every now and then she performs with the Liberty City Kings Drag and Burlesque troupe as drag king Andrae Jean. (Actually, she’s performing in LiCK’s Mr. Philadelphia Drag King competition next week).

Through these organizations, she is able to tackle some of her greatest passions, like fighting for immigration reform, creating safe spaces for queer youth and promoting sex/body positivity.

The other 99 that made the list comprise folks from every walk of life — from attorneys (Abigail Jensen) and trans educators (Andre Perez) to photographers (Andy Karol) and kickass reporters (Kate Sosin). But we’re awfully proud to have a Philly woman represented. Way to go, Van!

You can check out the entire list, here. And be sure to like The Trans 100 on Facebook. Eventually they’ll begin taking nominations for next year’s list, and we need to be on the ball so we can suggest the tons of other Philly trans folk that deserve to be there.

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GAYBORHOOD BATHHOUSE READIES FOR ITS MAY RE-OPENING

Club Body Center veterans will notice more than a few touch-ups when it re-opens in May under a new name and owner.

Posted by Brandon Baker on 4/8/2013 at 1:23PM | 1 Comment

Soon-to-be Club Philadelphia owner Chris Srnicek.

When 40-year-old bathhouse mogul Chris Srnicek began managing the notoriously theft-prone and drug-ridden Club Body Center (CBC) in May 2012, he informed his staff — in an adorable Canadian accent — that he wasn’t about to build a business on “crackheads and shitheads.” But his takeover was halted in August when a gas fire closed down the bathhouse and sparked $250,000 in renovations that spiff up the new digs — now named Club Philadelphia — and, Srnicek hopes, eliminate the club’s seedy reputation.“I want people to say ‘I’m going to Club Philly’ and not have people be like, ‘Ew, why are you going there? Tramp!’”

Srnicek, who is expected to close a deal by summer that would make him the official owner and manager, says the entire building has undergone a bevy of infrastructural upgrades, like a brand-new roof and air-conditioning system, heated floors and re-worked electrical lining. Then there’s the renovations meant to bring the bathhouse more aesthetically up-to-date. READ MORE

LOCAL WRITER NOMINATED FOR ASME AWARD FOR GAY-CENTRIC STORY IN ROLLING STONE

Philly journo Sabrina Rubin Erdely may get an Ellie for her story on a Minnesota town declaring war on gay teens.

Posted by Josh Middleton on 4/2/2013 at 9:35AM | No Comments

Many congrats to national journalist and former Philly mag senior writer Sabrina Rubin Erdely, who was just named a finalist in the American Society of Magazine Editors’ (ASME) annual 2013 National Magazine Awards. For those of you who don’t know, this is the equivalent of an Oscar nod for us in the magazine world. So it’s kind of a huge deal.

Her nominated story, “School of Hate,” which is up for ASME’s Public Interest award, was published in Rolling Stone in February 2012. It concerns gay teens subjected to serious bullying in their school in Anoka, Minn. — the epicenter of an anti-gay “culture war” led by local evangelicals and inspired by the area’s congressional representative, Miss Crazy Eyes herself, Michele Bachmann. You can — and should — read the piece here. READ MORE

READ THE LETTER BRIAN SIMS SENT TO BOB CASEY TODAY, URGING HIM TO SUPPORT LGBTQ RIGHTS

"Your voice is silent. And I am angry."

Posted by Josh Middleton on 3/28/2013 at 12:40PM | 5 Comments

This morning, I posted about U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s failure to come out in support of marriage equality, even when an overwhelming majority of his Democratic colleagues have done so. Several organizations, like Keystone Progress and Moveon.org, and tens of thousands of voters have bombarded the senator’s office with calls and emails asking him to get on board — a movement which, as of yet, hasn’t initiated as much as a response from Casey’s office. Maybe Philly’s Brian Sims can help.

Today, the Pa. state rep issued an impassioned open letter to Casey on the importance of LGBTQ equality. Check it out after the jump: READ MORE