Out attorney joins Babette campaign
State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist.) has announced that out local attorney Andrew Chirls will serve as treasurer of her upcoming reelection campaign.
Chirls was named chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2005, the first time an openly gay person held the post.
He represented the plaintiff in Pennsylvania’s first HIV-discrimination case to come before a jury and is on the Boy Scouts LGBT Working Group that has worked to protect the LGBT community’s interest in the ongoing legal case between the Scouts and the city.
Josephs faces a challenge in this spring’s primary from Brian Sims, former president of both the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Association of Philadelphia and Equality Pennsylvania.
Tourism group gets new board
The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus voted in new and returning board members and leaders at its annual meeting Dec. 1.
Former president Tami Sortman, director of marketing and advertising at Lundy Law, was elected as vice president, while Byron Lee, Temple University graduate student, and Dennis Keleshian, director of administration at AMResorts, were re-elected as secretary and treasurer, respectively. Citizens Bank marketing manager Carlos Estela continues as president.
New board members include Equality Forum communications director Chip Alfred, Philadelphia Cinema Alliance development director Thom Cardwell, Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau communications manager John Golden, Philadelphia Magazine director of business development Jennifer Shockley and Sesame Place marketing manager Lauren Tosti.
In addition to Sortman, Lee and Keleshian, the group re-elected Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau national accounts manager Nicole Bertrand, Westin Philadelphia group sales manger Martin Jakubczak, Navigaytour founder David Jefferys, Pennsylvania Convention Center director of sales and marketing Russell Kice and University of New Mexico graduate student Kelley Sawyer.
Board members serve a two-year term.
In the coming year, PGTC plans to launch a new website, expand its gay sensitivity training offerings and enhance its slate of community events.
Pet adoptions at the center
LGBTs and allies can bring home a new four-legged friend this season during a pet adoption from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 11 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.
The center will partner with foster and adoption agency Finding Shelter for “Homes for the Holidays,” which will feature pets available for adoption and fostering, as well as vendors featuring pet-themed gifts. Guests can enter to win prizes like Flyers tickets and pet-focused baskets.
For more information on the free event, call 215-732-2220.
William Way to unveil cyber center
The William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., will celebrate the grand opening of its improved David Bohnett CyberCenter and Multimedia Lab from 6:30-8 p.m. Dec. 15.
The CyberCenter originally launched in 2007 with three computers, and the new space, funded by the David Bohnett Foundation, will contain eight new 19-inch desktop computers, an LCD projector, a printing and scanning station and blackboard.
The room will be open to the public from noon-9 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from noon-6 p.m. Sundays. The space will be available for center programming and rentals the other days of the week.
The reception will include cocktails and light fare and will be hosted by Messapotamia Lefae, a regular GayBINGO hostess.
For more information or to RSVP, call 215-732-2220.
— Jen Colletta