Mediation session scheduled in Scouts case
The city’s federal appeal to evict a local Boy Scouts council from a city-owned building is slated for a mediation session next month.
Since 2008, the city has been trying to evict the BSA Cradle of Liberty Council from 231-251 N. 22nd St. because the council won’t accept gays, nor will it pay fair-market rent.
In 2010, a federal jury ruled that the city’s eviction process violated the club’s first-amendment right to exclude gays.
In March, U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter upheld the jury verdict, and also ordered the city to pay the Scouts $877,000 in legal fees.
The following month, the city appealed Buckwalter’s rulings in the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.
The appeal was referred to the court’s mediation program, with a session scheduled for July 5.
If mediation cannot resolve the dispute, the court will issue a briefing schedule, and the litigation will resume.
Mediation sessions are closed to the public, according to the court’s website.
Both sides declined to comment for this story.
In 2010, the Nutter administration tried to settle the litigation by agreeing to sell the property to the Scouts for $500,000. But Philadelphia City Council declined to approve the proposed deal.
Judge rules in favor of LGBT ordinance
A Montgomery County judge has cleared the way for implementation of Conshohocken’s LGBT civil-rights ordinance.
James D. Schneller, co-founder of Philadelphia Metro Task Force, asked Common Pleas Judge Bernard A. Moore to halt implementation of the ordinance while he challenges its validity in a higher court.
But on June 5, Moore ruled that the ordinance will remain in effect while Schneller pursues the litigation.
Michael J. Savona, borough solicitor for Conshohocken, was pleased with Moore’s ruling.
“The judge exercised proper discretion in telling Mr. Schneller the court system is not going to hold up Conshohocken’s implementation of its human-relations ordinance,” Savona told PGN.
Schneller had no comment for this story.
The ordinance extends civil-rights protections to LGBTs in the areas of housing, employment, public education and public accommodations.
Violators face a fine of $500 — and up to 90 days in jail — for each offense.
The ordinance went into effect last July.
Two months later, Schneller filed a legal challenge of the ordinance’s validity — claiming it fosters the spread of diseases, harms children and infringes on protected religious freedoms.
Moore dismissed Schneller’s challenge in March on the basis that it lacked legal standing. But the following month, Schneller appealed the dismissal in state Superior Court.
In a related matter, Schneller filed a motion in state Superior Court last month requesting that his appeal be transferred from state Superior Court to state Commonwealth Court.
In his motion, Schneller acknowledged that disputes involving municipal ordinances are adjudicated in state Commonwealth Court.
Savona also filed a motion in state Superior Court requesting that Schneller’s appeal be transferred to Commonwealth Court.
On June 11, the state Superior Court approved the requests.
— Tim Cwiek
Women to wow with wisdom
Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s Wonder Women will host WOW: Women of Wisdom, from 6-8 p.m. June 20 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.
The networking social will feature opportunities for a diverse group of women to mix and mingle. The event will serve as the kickoff to Wonder Women’s new Mentoring Program.
Light fare and refreshments will be available, and music will be provided by DJ Niilo.
There is a suggested donation of $10-$20 for admission.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/420033814703187/.
Business leaders gather for lunch, award
Philadelphia LGBT chamber of commerce Independence Business Alliance will host its annual Business Leaders Luncheon from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. June 19 at Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St.
The event, themed “Success Through Synergy,” will bring together LGBT professionals from throughout the region. The keynote speaker is Eugene Cornelius Jr., the deputy associate administrator of the Office of Field Operations of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
IBA will present its new organizational video and unveil the winner of the second annual PNC Bank LGBT Business Award.
Tickets are $65 for IBA members and $75 for non-members.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ibaphiladelphia.org/AnnualBusinessLuncheon2012.
Riversharks welcome LGBTs
Minor League Baseball team the Camden Riversharks will host their annual Pride Night on June 21.
The Riversharks will face off against the Long Island Ducks at 7:05 p.m. at Campbell’s Field, 401 N. Delaware Ave. in Camden, N.J.
Tickets range from $5-$25, and a portion of ticket sales will go to support LGBT causes.
For more information, visit www.riversharks.com. To purchase tickets, use the promo code “Pride.”
Gates open at 6 p.m.
— Jen Colletta