In the last 12 months, the LGBT community has been on a collective rollercoaster, with setbacks and progress, crime and redemption, and a few draws. On the positive side, the community saw the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” as well as the introduction of a statewide civil-union bill and the passage of several local nondiscrimination ordinances. For the first time, the city raised a rainbow flag over City Hall during Gay History Month.
On the negative side, several pro-LGBT legislators and candidates were defeated in November’s election and New Jersey’s marriage-equality bill failed.
In Philadelphia, the ongoing dispute between the city and the Cradle of Liberty Council roiled on, with a jury ruling, a proposed settlement and a community not satisfied with the pending outcome.
The issue of bullying and LGBT teen suicide gained mainstream attention after several gay — or perceived gay — teens took their own lives.
WINS
Marriage amendment fails in PA
For the third consecutive session, an effort to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage failed in the Pennsylvania legislature.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted in March to table the so-called Marriage Protection Amendment, proposed earlier this year by Sen. John Eichelberger.
The 8-6 vote to table came from the same committee that, two years ago, voted 10-4 in favor of advancing a similar measure.
Eichelberger had announced his intention to introduce the measure last year and received sharp criticism for his comment on a radio debate that same-sex couples were “allowed” to exist.
State sees first civil-union bill
A few months after the first marriage-equality bill in Pennsylvania was introduced to the state legislature, a measure to allow civil unions also surfaced.
In April, Rep. Mark Cohen (D-202nd Dist.) introduced the state’s first civil-union bill, with 31 cosponsors. It was sent to the Judiciary Committee but did not see a vote.
Although both Cohen’s bill and Sen. Daylin Leach’s marriage-equality legislation did not advance this session, the legislators said they intend to reintroduce them next session.
Progress in the suburbs
With an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination bill stalled in the state legislature, several suburban municipalities have taken it upon themselves to advance LGBT rights.
The governing council of Doylestown in August and Lower Merion in December unanimously approved similar nondiscrimination protections for LGBT residents and visitors. With the success of both pieces of legislation, the state now has 18 municipalities that prevent LGBT discrimination.
A handful of other municipalities, such as Radnor, Bethlehem and Haverford, are considering similar bills.
The Hatboro Borough Council approved an LGBT-nondiscrimination ordinance in a 4-3 vote this fall, but the town’s mayor later vetoed it, and an effort to override the mayor’s rejection failed.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repealed
This year saw one of the biggest LGBT-rights victories in recent history as Congress repealed the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers.
While the House of Representatives approved a repeal measure in May, the initiative, which was attached to a defense-authorization bill, stalled in the Senate, failing two cloture votes this fall.
Following the long-awaited publication of the Pentagon’s report on the policy, which largely showed there would be little risk in repeal, and a series of Senate hearings on the measure, the repeal effort gained momentum at the end of the year.
Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy reintroduced the measure as a stand-alone bill in December, and the House approved it 250-175 Dec. 15, followed by a 65-31 Senate vote Dec. 18.
President Obama signed the bill into law Dec. 22.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is expected to last a little longer, as the Pentagon revises its regulations, and Obama and military leaders approve implementation.
LOSSES
NJ marriage equality fails
Hopes for marriage equality in the Garden State hit a setback this year, as the New Jersey legislature defeated a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.
The New Jersey Senate voted 20-14 Jan. 7 against a bill that would have extended marriage rights to same-sex couples. The vote came days before Republican Chris Christie, an opponent of marriage equality, took over as governor, succeeding marriage-equality supporter Jon Corzine.
In March, Lambda Legal and Garden State Equality filed a motion with the New Jersey Supreme Court, seeking to compel the court to revisit its 2006 ruling that paved the way for civil unions. The suit contends that the civil-union law, enacted after the court ruled that same-sex couples are entitled to the same rights and benefits of heterosexual marriage, has not fulfilled its mandate.
Election hits Dems hard
Democrats were hit hard in the November midterm elections, as Republicans took over the U.S. and Pennsylvania Houses and made other significant gains.
Among the federal losses was the defeat of Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak by Pat Toomey in his Senate bid, and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” champion Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy.
Locally, Republican Tom Corbett defeated Democrat Dan Onorato to become Pennsylvania’s next governor, and out state House candidate Fern Kaufman also lost her race.
CRIME
Former Colours head goes to prison
Dorena Kearney, former executive director of The Colours Organization Inc., was sent to prison this year for embezzling money from the LGBT agency.
A federal judge sentenced Kearney in February to one year in prison and three years probation.
The FBI and the city’s Inspector General’s office indicted Kearney in April 2009, charging that she stole nearly $140,000 during her time as executive director of Colours, a post she resigned from in 2007. Prosecutors contended Kearney used the money for plastic surgery, vacations and dog grooming.
Kearney pleaded guilty to the charges, but she and several supporters, including her partner of 13 years, appealed to Judge Anita Brody for leniency, asking her to spare Kearney jail time because of medical problems.
Brody’s final sentence was outside the scope of sentencing guidelines, which could have provided up to two years in prison.
Murder at Club Motivation
Two women were arrested this fall after allegedly driving a car repeatedly into a crowd outside a popular LGBT ballroom event, killing one woman.
Police arrested Sharonda Cheeves, 23, and Jesslyn Williams, 22, on Oct. 19 in connection with the Sept. 4 murder of Alisha Moore, 27.
Moore and several other patrons of Club Motivation, also known as the Breakfast Club, were outside the venue on North Eighth Street when the suspects were prevented from entering because they were intoxicated. The pair left the scene but returned a few minutes later in a car, which they took turns driving around the block and into the crowd, striking several people, police say.
Cheeves is charged with murder, vehicular homicide, aggravated assault, driving under the influence and related charges; Williams is charged with aggravated and simple assault, DUI and leaving the scene. Both face a preliminary hearing Jan. 12.
Blahnik leader murdered
The Philadelphia LGBT community lost a popular member this fall, with the murder of Stacey Blahnik, a figurehead in the House of Blahnik.
Blahnik’s body was found in her South Philadelphia home Oct. 11, and the Medical Examiner determined she was strangled with a pillowcase. There was no sign of forced entry and, nearly three months later, police have yet to identify a suspect or release a possible motive.
Her death, which took place on National Coming Out Day, resounded with the local LGBT community as well as the entire Blahnik family, which has members throughout the country. A vigil was held in Love Park for Blahnik, as well as a memorial service at the William Way LGBT Community Center, and she was referenced throughout the local observation of Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Trans prostitute arrested for murder
A transgender sex worker is facing murder charges after allegedly killing a man in an Old City hotel this fall.
Police say 22-year-old Herman Burton, known as Peaches, beat and strangled Patrick Brady, 49, Oct. 30 at the Omni Hotel.
Brady was staying at the hotel that night, but police have declined to disclose if the two had a sexual encounter or how they met.
Rescue personnel responded to reports of a fire on the eighth floor Saturday morning and found Brady’s body in his room, where a small fire had been set.
Burton was arrested Nov. 2, and police later arrested Richard Collins, who they say helped Burton try to make the murder look accidental.
Burton faces murder, theft, arson and other charges, while Collins was charged with theft, abuse of a corpse and other charges.
Both suspects are in prison awaiting hearings.
Woody’s owner indicted, sentenced
Michael Weiss, co-owner of Woody’s and president of the board of Voyeur, spent the year embattled in a court case stemming from illegal tax filings.
A grand jury indicted Weiss on several counts of tax fraud in relation to his work with nonprofit Spring Garden nightclub Palmer Social Club, charging that he underreported the venue’s earnings in 2004 and 2005 by $1.6 million on IRS forms.
Two charges of aiding and abetting the preparation and filing of false tax returns were dropped, but Weiss pleaded guilty in June to corrupt endeavor to impede the due administration of the tax code.
A judge in November sentenced Weiss to one year of house arrest, community service and a $30,000 fine. The club, owned by Weiss’ father, lost its tax-exempt status and has to pay back taxes.
COMMUNITY
Equality Advocates continues changes
Pennsylvania’s statewide LGBT-advocacy organization continued its evolution this year, with a new executive director.
Equality Pennsylvania, formerly known as Equality Advocates Pennsylvania, named LGBT activist Ted Martin as its executive director in April.
The organization underwent a bevy of changes in the past two years — shifting from an LGBT legal-services agency to an LGBT-advocacy group — and launched a search for a new director after former head Lynn Zeitlin stepped down in late 2009 after less than a year in the post.
This year, the agency added new board members, opened a Harrisburg office and partnered with the Human Rights Campaign.
Rainbow flag flies high
For the first time in Philadelphia, a rainbow flag flew outside of a municipal building this fall.
LGBTs and allies crowded outside City Hall in October for the inaugural raising of the gay symbol to mark Gay History Month.
The flag-raising was largely spurred by city director of LGBT affairs Gloria Casarez, who said it reflects the city “formally acknowledging, as part of our efforts in City Hall, the events and things that have been going on in our community during this month for years.”
The flag-raising is expected to become an annual tradition.
Gay suicides gain attention
The epidemic of LGBT youth suicide gained national attention this fall, beginning a widespread debate on the issues that lead gay youth to take their own lives.
After news of a number of incidents in which gay teens committed suicide in September, the national media turned its spotlight on the suicide of a gay New Jersey college student.
Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi jumped from the George Washington Bridge Sept. 22 after his roommate posted his sexual encounter with a man online.
Clementi’s death spurred vigils and an anti-bullying law in New Jersey, which passed last month.
Senior residences proposed for Philly
A plan to provide affordable housing for LGBT seniors moved toward fruition this year.
The Dr. Magnus Hirschfield Fund announced its proposal this fall to construct residences geared toward low-income LGBT seniors attached to the William Way LGBT Community Center. The proposal would allow for some 70 residences in an 11-story structure behind and above the current center, and the plan also includes renovations for the existing center.
The center board voted in November to conditionally approval the plan, and will take a final vote in March.
The initiative, expected to cost about $20 million, has received $7 million from the state and $2 million from the city.
Boy Scouts case still in limbo
The long-awaited trial regarding the local Boy Scouts of America council headquarters was held this year, resulting in a mixed verdict and an ongoing debate.
A federal jury in June ruled that while the city didn’t discriminate in attempting to evict the Scouts from their city-owned property — on account of the Scouts’ discriminatory policy banning gays — it did act unconstitutionally in demanding fair-market rent or that the local chapter denounce the national policy.
The future of the building, which the Scouts have occupied rent-free, is still in question. City Councilman Darrell Clarke introduced legislation in December to allow for the sale of the building to the Scouts. Shortly after, gay philanthropist Mel Heifetz offered $1.5 million for the property.