Rep. Sims Sworn In: LGBT Community Will ‘Hold Heads High as Equal Citizens’
An image from Buzzfeed. Rep. Brian Sims is not just the only new Philadelphia legislator headed to Harrisburg this legislative session, he’s the first member of the LGBT community ever elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature. (And one of two gay members of the state House; Republican Mike Fleck came out after the 2012 election.) On Thursday afternoon, members...
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DAILY GRINDER: LGBT Group Equality PA Releases Endorsements
Equality PA has released its list of endorsements for the 2012 elections this week. Locally, they’ve put their name behind Michelle Brownlee, of the 195th state House district; Larry Farnese, of the 1st state Senatorial district; Steve McCarter, of the 154th state House District; Allyson Schwartz, of the 13th U.S. Congressional District; Vincent Hughes of the...
Continue ReadingIs Liquor Privatization an LGBT Issue? Some Say Yes
Add this to the list of groups who may oppose liquor privatization: Equality PA today says privatizing the state’s wine and spirits stores “is an issue LGBT citizens need to understand thoroughly.” And it may come up in debate this week, as the state Legislature is set to vote on House Bill 11 which would sort of privatize the state liquor industry, eventually. Currently,...
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Local T-Shirt Company Releases LGBT-Friendly Line For a Cause
Local T-shirt company, Socially Conscious Shirts, announced this month they’re partnering with Equality PA and will help support the LGBT group’s education fund through the selling of a new T-shirt design. The shirt, which reads “Love is Love” alongside pictures of same-sex relationships, is being sold on Social Conscious Shirts’ website for $15 —...
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Q&A: Former NFL Player, Current LGBT Activist Wade Davis on Obama Support
After four years in the NFL, Wade Davis came out of the closet. He currently works as a mentor with LGBT youth and is a member of the GLSEN Sports Advisory Board. “His past professional career within a hypermasculine sport juxtaposed with his activist work and current occupation working with LGBTQ ,” according to his Huffington Post bio, “has enabled him...
Continue ReadingState Legislature Members Form LGBT Equality Caucus
The state Legislature hasn’t taken up anti-LGBT initiatives the way some other swing and red states have. And perhaps to make sure they don’t in the future, members of the State House and Senate recently announced the establishment of the LGBT caucus. It includes 26 members of the Assembly, including Philadelphia-area members Reps. Mike O’Brien, Kevin Boyle,...
Continue ReadingNutter to Sign LGBT-Friendly Equal Benefits Ordinance
Mayor Nutter will sign Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s Equal Benefits Ordinance at 3 p.m. today. As PW previously reported, the Equal Rights Bill, No. 110057, requires “contractors accepting service contracts from the City of Philadelphia of $250,000 or more must extend the same employment benefits to life partners of its employees that is extended...
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PPA Undergoing ‘Sensitivity Training’—For Reals
The Philadelphia Parking Authority invited the media to their headquarters at 3101 Market Street earlier today for a presser on “PPA customer service initiatives and LGBT sensitivity training,” although that vaguery was all they initially offered. The eventual announcement of an undercover operation, new training for all employees and a neat-o back pocket...
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Gay South Philly Man May Be Deported Despite Immigration Protections
Anton Tanumihardja (left) and Brian Anderson. It was a short honeymoon for South Philly residents Brian Anderson and Anton Tanumihardja, a binational gay couple profiled in PW last June. Back then, the couple were exhilarated, and with good reason: After a dramatic doomsday scenario that found Tanumihardja practically on his way to the plane to be deported back...
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LGBT Activist Brian Sims, Featured in June PW, To Run for PA House Seat
In our June 8 issue, Philadelphia Weekly featured a story about LGBT activist Brian Sims (and later auctioned off the Eagles jersey he wore on the cover) who wants “to give a fresh, young look to LGBT rights by breaking down stereotypes and false perceptions that too often stymie the movement.” PW writer Matt Petrillo wrote then that the charismatic and politically...
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