Scouts settlement on horizon
A settlement conference has been scheduled in the dispute involving a city-owned building occupied by a local council of the Boy Scouts of America.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas J. Rueter will preside at the conference, set for 11 a.m. Dec. 23 in Courtroom 3-C of the U.S. Court House, 601 Market St.
The conference is not open to the public, a spokesperson for the judge said.
The only parties explicitly invited to attend are the City Solicitor’s Office and the Cradle of Liberty Council.
In 2008, the city tried to evict the BSA Cradle of Liberty Council from 231-251 N. 22nd St., on the basis that the council refused to accept gays or, in the alternative, pay fair-market rent.
But the council claimed its constitutional right to exclude gays was being violated by the city, and it sued the city in federal court.
In June 2010, a federal jury ruled that the city placed an unconstitutional condition on the council when it allegedly asked the council to renounce the national BSA’s antigay policies to remain in the building rent-free.
In September 2010, both sides reached a proposed settlement that would have sold the property to the council for about $500,000 — a fraction of its estimated value of $1 million.
In return, the council would have dropped its federal lawsuit and stopped seeking about $960,000 in legal fees from the city.
However, Philadelphia City Council declined to approve the sale prior to ending its four-year session on Dec. 15.
The following day, an order was emailed to all parties to attend a settlement conference.
The Dec. 23 conference only can be postponed for “exceptional” reasons, the order states.
— Tim Cwiek
Woody’s to welcome volunteers
Woody’s owner Michael Weiss will stage a holiday party to thank LGBT community volunteers from 9-11 p.m. Dec. 23 at the bar, 202 S. 13th St.
“A Celebration of Giving” will bring together the volunteers and leaders from agencies such as Mazzoni Center, The Attic Youth Center, William Way LGBT Community Center, Sapphire Fund, Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance, Action AIDS, Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, AIDS Fund and Philly Pride Presents, among several others.
The event will feature an open bar.
Space is limited, so guests must RSVP by 5 p.m. Dec. 23 to [email protected]
Annual Kwanzaa celebration
Several LGBT organizations will come together for an annual celebration of Kwanzaa from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 28 at 3801 Market St., third floor.
The event, started by The Colours Organization Inc. in the 1990s, will feature live performances from singers, dancers and spoken-word artists and light hors d’oeuvres, with a celebration of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
For more information, call 215-496-0330.
Have a ‘blast’ in NYC
Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders will host its annual women’s “Winter Blast” dance from 3:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at LQ Club, 511 Lexington Ave., in New York City.
DJ Susan Levine will spin the beats, playing everything from oldies to the top hits of today and everything in between. Red stickers are available for guests looking for dance partners.
Raffle prizes will be given, and money raised will benefit SAGE’s work on behalf of LGBT older adults.
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sageusa.org/womensdance or call 215-741-2247.
Indigo Ball to move
The William Way LGBT Community Center announced this week that next fall’s Indigo Ball fundraiser will be held at the Franklin Institute.
Set for Oct. 6, the annual gala will feature a sit-down dinner for 300 in the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres can be enjoyed throughout several other areas of the museum, including Changing Earth, Electricity and the Giant Heart exhibits, which will be open to guests.
“From the moment we started to think about next year’s Indigo Ball, Franklin Institute was one of our top venue choices,” said center executive director Chris Bartlett. “We’re excited to take our biggest event of the year and bring it to such an important Philadelphia landmark, known for its creativity, innovation and fun.”
The successful IndiGoGo Dance Party, new for 2011, will return next year following the ball, although a location has not yet been announced.
— Jen Colletta