Judge allows trans litigant to proceed anonymously
U.S. District Judge J. Curtis Joyner has allowed a trans man seeking Medicaid coverage for a hysterectomy to litigate his case anonymously.
“John Doe” seeks a court order for the state Department of Human Services to cover his medically necessary hysterectomy under the state’s Medicaid program. State officials refuse to cover the procedure, citing rules exempting gender-dysphoria treatments from the state’s Medicaid program.
In a March 10 ruling, Joyner said the plaintiff can proceed anonymously.
Julie Chovanes, an attorney for Doe, said it’s important that her client proceed anonymously.
“We filed under an anonymous name for our plaintiff, so, when the case did get attention, our plaintiff would be protected from the horrendous comments and abuse that inevitably would follow,” Chovanes told PGN. “Read some of the comments in [mainstream publications] about the case for a sense of the hatred and threats trans people hear and must address every day. No one deserves that kind of treatment. No one.”
Discovery disputes in church case
Discovery disputes continue in the case of Deborah McIlmail, who’s suing the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for allegedly contributing to her son’s death.
Sean McIlmail allegedly was molested by the Rev. Robert L. Brennan between 1998-2001, when he was a student at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic School in Rhawnhurst. McIlmail died in 2013 at the age of 26 due to a drug overdose.
Deborah McIlmail attributes her son’s drug addiction to Brennan’s alleged molestation, and she’s seeking more than $50,000 in damages. The case has been plagued by discovery disputes.
In January, Common Pleas Judge Mark I. Bernstein denied a request by the Archdiocese for a broad protective order in the case. Bernstein’s ruling allowed the discovery process to move forward. But recently, attorneys for Deborah McIlmail filed motions in opposition to subpoenas issued by the Archdiocese for records in the case.
The attorneys say compliance with the subpoenas would violate attorney-client privileges.
Neither side had a comment for this update.
— Timothy Cwiek
IBA seeks new board members
Independence Business Alliance, the region’s LGBT chamber of commerce, is looking for new board members. The deadline for nominations is April 8.
Any IBA members who are in good standing as of March 1 may nominate another member or themselves for consideration. Board terms last two years, beginning July 1.
For more information or to make a nomination, contact executive director Zach Wilcha at 215-557-0190 or [email protected].
Women-owned company to produce DNC event
LeapStarr Productions, a women-owned company based in Moorestown, N.J., will produce a large-scale public event as part of the Democratic National Convention, the local host committee announced March 14
It’s part of the DNC’s commitment to work with regional and diverse businesses, said Kevin Washo, executive director of the host committee.
PoliticalFest, the event that’s open to the public, opens a few days before the July 25 convention, which is restricted to delegates chosen to make official party nominations for president and vice president. PoliticalFest will include a political museum and fair. Old campaign commercials will be on display along with a replica of the White House.
“Having the opportunity to be part of such a historic political event in our hometown is certainly a privilege beyond our wildest expectations,” Elizabeth Jenkins-Santana, LeapStarr’s CEO, said in a statement. “We look forward to representing Philadelphia on a national platform.”
LeapStarr said it will dedicate a portion of its 30-person staff to work on PoliticalFest. The company will also look to subcontract with local businesses as needed to provide additional services required by its contract for the project, according to a news release. The release said LeapStarr has an existing network of organizations it works with that are owned and managed by women and LGBT people.
— Paige Cooperstein
Changes to Maybe Baby groups
The Maybe Baby class for gay, bi, queer cisgender and trans men who are considering becoming parents is still recruiting two more couples.
The class has been postponed from starting this month to beginning April 18. Meetings will be held 6-7:30 p.m. Mondays at Hornstein, Platt and Associates. For more information, call 267-507-1310.
A similar class at Therapy Center of Philadelphia for LGBQ women and trans communities has reached maximum capacity. Interested participants can register for a waiting list for the next session, the dates of which have not yet been announced.
Creating Change planning meeting
In advance of next year’s Creating Change Conference in Philadelphia, organizers are planning a community-information meeting to gear up for the national event.
The community is invited to attend the March 31 session at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The doors open at 6 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 6:30.
The event will lay the groundwork for the formation of the Creating Change 2017 Host Committee and will feature remarks by National LGBTQ Task Force executive director Russell Roybal, conference director Sue Hyde and assistant director Daniel Pino.
To register for the free event, email [email protected].
‘Queer Voice’ returns
Queer Voice in the World, a TED-style discussion with a focus on LGBT issues, returns next week for the first time since last year’s inaugural session.
The theme of the March 24 event is “body,” with conversations on body acceptance, modification, physical ability and more. Presenters include Dr. Timarree Schmit, Barry Eichner, Jasmine Morrell, Ricky Cintron and Rachel Stevenson. It will be hosted by Ben Jones.
Refreshments will follow.
The event, which runs from 7-9 p.m., is free and open to the public.
— Jen Colletta