News Briefing

Local youth to gather for LGBT prom

The Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative and The Attic Youth Center will stage the 14th annual Alternative Prom for LGBT and ally youth from 8 p. m.-midnight June 12 at the Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St.

This year’s event is themed “Twilight: A Moonlit Masquerade,” and guests are encouraged to wear masks.

Carrie Jacobs, executive director of The Attic, noted the event allows youth to experience a typical high-school milestone while still being themselves.

“When school proms are happening, these kids sometimes take opposite-sex dates to feel safer or more comfortable, but it’s an entirely different experience being able to go to this prom, where you can meet someone or can bring your own partner,” Jacobs said. “It’s great to see the enthusiasm that they have talking about the upcoming prom.”

Tickets can be purchased at door for $15.

For more information, contact Samantha Martinez at (215) 851-1822 or [email protected].

Jersey group to host beach party

Be Visible, a New Jersey LGBT social group, will host its second-annual beach party from 1-5 p.m. June 13 in front of Atlantic City’s Hilton Casino, near Providence Avenue.

Participants should bring their own chairs, food and drinks and plenty of sunscreen.

After the party, the group will head to the Westside Bar, 501 N. Arkansas Ave., for a happy hour until 9 p.m. that includes $2 off all beers and well drinks.

For more information, visit

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Be_Visible/.

Go ‘Red’ with COLOURS

Entertainment company Simply Christopher will join forces with The COLOURS Organization Inc. for a Fourth of July fundraising event that’s sure to have you seeing red.

“RED,” from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at 941 Theater, 941 N. Front St., will feature an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment and door prizes, with all proceeds benefiting COLOURS and Philadelphia Black Gay Pride.

Guests are encouraged to wear red attire.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Shampoo Nightclub, 417 N. Eighth St.; Heat Nightclub, 112 Chestnut St.; and at COLOURS, 1201 Chestnut St. or by calling (215) 496-0330.

Habitat classes for women

Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia will hold a series of classes summer designed to empower and educate local women with practical construction skills.

Women’s Build will start July 11 and continue the next three Saturdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Habitat’s warehouse, 1829 N. 19th St.

Women will learn the basics of hand tools, power tools, framing, roofing, sheathing, siding, insulation, drywall, painting, flooring and carpentry. Each class will begin with a lecture, followed by hands-on practice. Students should be comfortable standing for several hours at a time.

The four-week series is $295. Space is limited, and participants must be at least 18.

For more information, visit www.habitatphiladelphia.org

or call Shelly at (215) 765-6000 ext. 13.

DVLF offers law scholarship

The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund launched a scholarship program last month to assist LGBT students pursuing a law degree.

The Sean Halpin Memorial Scholarship, established in 2004, will provide at least $1,000 in scholarship money to an LGBT student currently attending law school in the Greater Philadelphia area. Preference will be given to students who intend to stay in the Philadelphia area, those who grew up in the Philadelphia area or in Kutztown and those who are active community volunteers.

Halpin, who died in 2004, was a litigation partner with international firm Reed Smith LLP and an active member of the local LGBT community. Halpin served as a board member of Equality Advocates Pennsylvania and AIDS Law Project and was a member of the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia.

Application packets, due June 24, must include an application form, sealed, official transcript, a résumé, copy of a final federal financial-aid form and a one-page essay and at least one academic reference.

For more information or to apply, visit www.dvlf.org.

Filmmakers wanted for ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ contest

WHYY and the Independent Television Service are calling on amateur filmmakers to submit short films on the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers.

The first-ever Amateur Filmmaker Contest asks aspiring filmmakers to craft works under 10 minutes that have an underlying theme or relevancy to the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Films will be accepted until June 30, and can be of any genre. Films will be judged on their relevancy to the topic, their adherence to WHYY’s TV-PG rating, the quality of the direction and cinematography and running time. All entries must include the film in either VHS or DVD format, an entry from and a brief synopsis of the film.

For more information, visit http://www.whyy.org/community/asknotcontest.html.

TV show hunting for cast

HGTV’s “House Hunters” will visit the Philadelphia area this summer in search of homebuyers and real-estate agents looking to tell their stories.

The show profiles real-life individuals on the hunt for the perfect home, depicting the challenging and occasionally comedic ups and downs associated with the home-buying process.

Homebuyers interested in being featured must be closing their sale within the next two months on a house that’s within a 90-minute drive from downtown Philadelphia.

For more information about the show, visit www.HGTV.com/HouseHunters or to apply, contact associate producer Christy Kruzick at (303) 712-3214 or [email protected].

Awards to recognize LGBT nonprofits

In honor of LGBT Pride Month, Great Nonprofits, a Web site that profiles community organizations throughout the country, is hosting its Pride Choice Awards 2009 to recognize the best of the best in the LGBT nonprofit community.

Community members are invited to post reviews of local nonprofits that offer services to LGBT individuals, and awards will be given out to organizations that garner the most positive ratings. Winners will be divided by five geographic regions throughout the country and also by three different categories of budget size.

Winning organizations will be posted on www.GreatNonprofits.org, as well as on www.Guidestar.org.

All individuals who post reviews for the winning organizations will be entered into a drawing for several prizes, such as a subscription to the Stanford Social Innovation Review, treats from Alter Eco fair-trade chocolate company and vacations.

For more information or to post a review, visit www.greatnonprofits.org/pride.

— Jen Colletta

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