Rainbow flag to be raised
For the first time, Philadelphia’s annual rainbow flag-raising ceremony will take place the same day as OutFest.
The sixth-annual event takes place at 11 a.m. Oct. 11 at the northeast corner of City Hall. The flag-raising commemorates LGBT History Month.
This marks the first flag-raising ceremony since the passing of Gloria Casarez, the former director of the Office of LGBT Affairs who conceived of the event in 2010. Casarez died last year, about two weeks after the flag-raising.
The city will honor Casarez at next week’s event, as well as highlight the 50th anniversary of the Annual Reminders demonstration, the 40th anniversary of the William Way LGBT Community Center and the 25th anniversary of Philadelphia FIGHT. The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus will perform and will be supported by the LGBT Veteran Color Guard.
OutFest will kick off at noon in the Gayborhood, and a mural in Casarez’s honor will be dedicated at 12th Street Gym at 1 p.m.
— Jen Colletta
Brunch benefits HIV and breast cancer
Women of all ages and orientations are invited to attend the Women’s Wellness Brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 11 at the African American Museum, 701 Arch St. Tickets cost $10. Part of the proceeds will support HIV and breast-cancer research.
In addition to gathering for food, attendees will discuss sexual health, mental health and spiritual health.
The event is hosted by The COLOURS Organization, which primarily assists LGBT people of color.
— Paige Cooperstein
Frat seeks dismissal from rape case
A University of Pennsylvania fraternity that allegedly helped facilitate the rape of Reginald Stewart two years ago wants to be dismissed from a lawsuit filed by Stewart.
Stewart claims the Pennsylvania Iota Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity served excessive amounts of alcohol at a rush party in January 2013.
After the party, Stewart allegedly was raped by Charles Gibson, who also attended the party.
Both men were Penn students when the rape allegedly occurred.
In January, Stewart filed suit against Gibson and the fraternity in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, seeking $450,000 in damages.
But in a recent filing, attorneys for the fraternity argued that any wrongdoing was due to the actions of Gibson, not the fraternity.
Alan E. Denenberg, an attorney for Stewart, disputed the fraternity’s position.
“Typical defense strategy to blame the other defendant involved in the case,” Denenberg said.
In court papers, Gibson denied any wrongdoing. He admitted that both men consumed alcohol at the party, but said their subsequent sexual activities were consensual.
As of presstime, Common Pleas Judge John M. Younge hadn’t ruled on the fraternity’s request to be dismissed from the case.
Attorneys for the fraternity declined to comment for this update.
Both sides in bullying case agree to mediation
Both sides in a student-bullying case involving the nephew of a gay man have agreed to participate in mediation next month.
Thomas Vandergrift, 38, contends the Pennsauken School District subjected his nephew to anti-LGBT bullying. But when Vandergrift advocated for a proper education for his nephew, district officials allegedly retaliated by accusing Vandergrift of child molestation.
Vandergrift filed a federal lawsuit in 2012, seeking policy changes and an unspecified amount in financial remuneration.
The case is in the discovery phase, and a jury trial is tentatively planned for early next year.
But last week, attorneys for Vandergrift notified the court that both sides will utilize the mediation services of a private attorney, in the hope of avoiding a trial.
Last month, Vandergrift urged nine Pennsauken school-board members to engage in settlement talks, noting that the litigation has been stressful for his nephew.
Neither side had a comment for this update.
D.A. releases salaries for staffers
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has released the salaries of three staffers involved in a pornographic email ring that’s been described as misogynistic, racist and homophobic.
The staffers are Frank G. Fina, E. Marc Costanzo and Patrick J. Blessington. They serve as assistant district attorneys under D.A. Seth Williams.
Fina, 51, began working at the D.A.’s Office on Jan. 22, 2013. His annual salary is $124,200.
Costanzo, 57, initially worked at the D.A.’s Office from May 1987-August 1993. He returned to the office on Jan. 7, 2013. His annual salary is $129,375.
Blessington, 58, initially worked at the D.A.’s Office from March 1986-May 1997. He returned to the office on Jan. 1, 2011. His annual salary is $145,340.
When they participated in the porn ring, they worked at the state Office of Attorney General. The porn ring was uncovered by Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane, while reviewing a previous administration’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky child-molestation scandal.
The local chapter of the National Organization for Woman is calling for the dismissal of Fina, Blessington and Costanzo.
But Williams said they’ll receive sensitivity training, and he’ll continue to employ them.
Former state Rep. Babette Josephs said Fina, Costanzo and Blessington should be dismissed.
“Taxpayer money is being wasted on men who are supposed to investigate and charge the rest of us for the very same crimes they have been committing themselves,” Josephs said in an email. “Ordinary citizens can get investigated and arrested. They can end up with criminal records. But our front-line enforcers of the criminal code get off with sensitivity training.”
Reconsideration request denied in benefits case
The state Superior Court has declined to reconsider its rejection of an appeal by relatives of a man whose former same-sex partner wants his death benefits.
Joseph A. Hallman seeks the death benefits of his deceased partner, Stephen T. Gallagher. The proceeds total about $345,000.
Gallagher, who was employed at the University of Pennsylvania as a computer specialist, died in May 2011 after a lengthy illness.
Gallagher’s mother, Joann P. Gallagher, contends that she’s entitled to her son’s death benefits.
Last year, Philadelphia Orphans’ Court Judge John W. Herron ruled that Hallman failed to prove he was the beneficiary for Gallagher’s life-insurance policies. As a result, the death-benefits proceeds should go to Joann Gallagher as the default beneficiary, according to Herron’s ruling.
But Hallman appealed in state Superior Court, and in July the court remanded the case back to Herron for further consideration.
In August, attorneys for the Gallagher family filed a petition in state Superior Court, asking the court to reconsider its ruling.
On Sept. 28, Superior Court denied the petition, without elaborating.
As of presstime, Cletus P. Lyman, an attorney for the Gallagher family, didn’t know whether an appeal will be filed in state Supreme Court.
— Timothy Cwiek