D.A. employees receive sensitivity training
Three prosecutors under fire at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office for participating in a pornographic email ring received sensitivity training last week.
Assistant District Attorneys Frank G. Fina, E. Marc Costanzo and Patrick J. Blessington received the training Nov. 20, along with other staffers at the D.A.’s Office.
While working at the state Attorney General’s Office, the men sent and/or received racist, sexist and homophobic emails.
In a press release, D.A. Seth Williams said: “The training was excellent and I know our entire office benefited from the instruction that was provided. Influencing culture in our office starts at the top and I plan to continue this type of training in the future. As it relates to Frank Fina, Mark Costanzo and Patrick Blessington, I know that they found this training seminar as instructional and helpful as I did. Frank, Mark and Patrick are great prosecutors who clearly made a big mistake. They have learned from their mistakes.”
Dr. Nina Ahmad, president of the local chapter of the National Organization for Women, called the training “woefully inadequate.”
“We cannot have people with such compromised ethical behavior in office,” Ahmad told PGN.
Ahmad explained why NOW members haven’t met with Williams, though Williams has offered to meet with them.
“NOW hasn’t met with Mr. Williams because he hasn’t shown a willingness to really address the deep-rooted biases that were evident in the three men’s unethical behavior,” she said. “[Williams] hasn’t had a dialogue with people harmed by these men’s behavior before deciding on a course of action.”
Philadelphia City Council is expected to approve a resolution urging the dismissal of Fina, Costanzo and Blessington Dec. 3.
Settlement conference set in rape case
A settlement conference is scheduled for May 2 in the case of a former University of Pennsylvania student who says his roommate raped him.
Reginald Stewart contends Charles Gibson raped him almost three years ago after they attended a frat party. Stewart also claims the Pennsylvania Iota Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity contributed to the assault by serving excessive amounts of alcohol at the January 2013 party.
In January, Stewart filed suit against Gibson and the fraternity, seeking $450,000 in damages.
In court papers, Gibson acknowledged consuming alcohol at the frat party, but said his subsequent sexual activities with Stewart were consensual.
A settlement conference has been set for 9 a.m. May 2 in Room 483 of City Hall. Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge John M. Younge is scheduled to preside.
Neither side had a comment for this update.
Mediation fails in bullying case
A mediation session held earlier this month to resolve the federal lawsuit of a gay man who alleges anti-LGBT bullying at a Pennsauken public school was unsuccessful.
Thomas Vandergrift claims his autistic nephew suffered anti-LGBT bullying while a student at a Pennsauken, N.J., public school. He also contends school officials wrongfully accused him of child molestation after he advocated for a proper education for his nephew.
Vandergrift filed suit in 2012, seeking an unspecified amount in damages and policy changes within the district.
On Nov. 13, former magistrate judge Joel B. Rosen tried to help mediate the dispute, but his efforts were unavailing.
“We are disappointed that we were not able to settle this case,” Vandergrift told PGN. “Our family remains determined to seek and receive justice, so we will move forward as directed by the court.”
A deposition of Vandergrift’s nephew is set for Dec. 21. Vandergrift said he and his parents will attend the deposition to ensure the questioning is appropriate.
Benefits case moves forward in Orphans’ Court
The official court record in the case of a gay man who seeks the death benefits of his deceased partner was delivered to Philadelphia Orphans’ Court this month.
Joseph A. Hallman seeks about $450,000 in death benefits allegedly left to him by his deceased partner, Stephen T. Gallagher.
Hallman and Gallagher were domestic partners for about four years, before parting ways in 2009. Gallagher, who was employed at the University of Pennsylvania as a computer specialist, died in May 2011 after a lengthy illness.
His mother, Joann P. Gallagher, contends she’s entitled to her son’s death benefits.
Last year, Orphans’ Court Judge John W. Herron ruled against Hallman, stating he failed to prove he was the designated beneficiary for Gallagher’s life-insurance policies. As a result, the proceeds should go to Joann Gallagher as the default beneficiary, according to Herron’s ruling.
Hallman appealed in state Superior Court, and in July the court remanded the case to Herron for further consideration.
On Nov. 13, the official court record was delivered to Orphans’ Court, so a judge can decide who should receive the benefits.
— Timothy Cwiek
Town hall to address racism
Philadelphia Black Pride invites community members to its second town hall to discuss racism and inclusion. The free event takes place from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 2 in the ballroom of the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.
Attendees will develop a strategy to decrease discriminatory incidents and create inclusive spaces for diverse communities of color within the LGBT community.
The first town hall took place in October. People shared their experiences with racism, micro-aggressive communication and segregated organizing in the LGBT community. Notes from the meeting can be found at https://goo.gl/Wa3BPj and will be used to create the plan at the December meeting.
PGMC to perform free concert for students
LGBT and all students are invited to attend a free concert of the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus.
The chorus’ first show of the 2015-16 season takes place 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2110 Chestnut St. For anyone who can’t make it that day, there will also be a free show for students at 2 p.m. Dec. 5 in the same place. There will be a mixer with pizza after the Dec. 5 show.
Chorus members will perform classic holiday carols like “Carol of the Bells” and “Little Drummer Boy,” but with a modern twist.
For more information, visit www.pgmc.org/holiday/index.htm.
To attend, email Thomas Wolfinger, outreach chair with the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, at [email protected]. Send the name of the school or student group along with the names of the students and date of the show they plan to attend.
— Paige Cooperstein