Atheist to speak in Center City
Two days before Pope Francis visits Philadelphia, renowned atheist Annie Laurie Gaylor will speak about religion’s impact on women’s rights.
Gaylor, 59, is co-founder of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the largest association of atheists and agnostics in country. The group is based in Madison, Wisc. Gaylor is the author of several books pertaining to atheism, including “Betrayal of Trust: Clergy Abuse of Children” and “Woe to the Women: The Bible Tells Me So.”
Her upcoming talk is entitled, “Why Women Need Freedom From Religion.”
The Freethought Society and the Ethical Humanist Society are sponsoring Gaylor’s presentation.
“We extend a warm welcome to the LGBT community, and urge everyone to attend,” said Margaret A. Downey, president of the Freethought Society. “Religion is at the root of women’s inequality. And it’s at the root of LGBT inequality. The same religious issues that negatively affect women also negatively affect the LGBT community.”
Gaylor’s talk, which is free, begins 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia, 1906 Rittenhouse Square. For more information, contact Downey at [email protected].
LGBT Jewish event scheduled
Jewish Pride, an LGBT outreach effort of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, is sponsoring a harvest festival known as “SukkOUT.”
The festival, traditionally referred to as Sukkot, also commemorates the 40-year period when Jews wandered in the desert during Biblical times, before reaching Israel.
SukkOUT will be held 6-8 p.m. Sept. 30 in the lobby of the John C. Anderson Apartments, 251 S. 13th St.
Prior to the event, organizers will create a Sukkah, a hut made of wood and bamboo. The hut symbolizes the primitive shelters used by Jews as they wandered in the desert.
“One of the customs is to invite guests into your Sukkah,” said Warren Hoffman, an organizer. “Everyone is welcome into our Sukkah, regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Hoffman added: “We’re going to have a nice harvest-inspired assortment of appetizers and beverages. Everything will be vegetarian. We’re welcoming everybody. We hope to see the entire community there.”
Tickets are $18 in advance; after Sept. 23, tickets are $25.
For more information, go to jewishphilly.org/SukkOUT.
— Tim Cwiek
Bisexual Pride flag to be raised
In honor of Bisexual Visibility Day, the city and the William Way LGBT Community Center will raise the Bisexual Pride flag Sept. 23.
The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the center, 1315 Spruce St. The festivities will include a performance by Shannon Turner, who recently won “Josh Schonewolf Presents The Show,” as well as complimentary food and beverages.
For more information or to get involved, email Eric Thomas at [email protected].
— Jen Colletta
Parental group returns
A workshop for LGB women and transgender people interested in becoming parents will be held the end of September.
The eight-week program, called “Maybe Baby,” starts Sept. 28 from 6-7:30 p.m. and runs every Monday night through Nov. 16. The first session was launched earlier this year.
Sessions take place at the Therapy Center of Philadelphia, 1315 Walnut St. The program is organized through a partnership of the Therapy Center of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Family Pride.
Dr. Monique Walker and Julie Lipson, a board-certified music therapist, will facilitate group discussions.
Participants are encouraged to share their challenges and successes. They will talk about medical and legal issues involved in assisted reproduction. Information about adoption will also be part of the program.
It costs $240 for a couple or $120 for an individual if they are members of Philadelphia Family Pride. Non-members pay $320 for a couple or $160 for an individual.
Philadelphia Family Pride memberships cost $25 a year.
A similar program for cisgender men is also expected to start in the fall at another location. Details are still being worked out.
For more information or to register, contact the Therapy Center of Philadelphia at 215-567-1111.
— Paige Cooperstein