Lesbian cop applies for pension
Officer Claudia D. Carr, an openly lesbian police officer who was terminated by the Cherry Hill Police Department, has applied for a pension.
Carr, 56, filed for a pension with the New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits on March 15.
Advocates are hoping township officials will ensure Carr begins receiving her pension benefits promptly.
Carr was terminated from the force in 2014, after allegedly threatening a coworker, which she denies doing. Carr’s advocates say her termination is due to anti-LGBT bias within the Cherry Hill Police Department.
Carr’s paychecks resumed in April 2015 because the dispute ensued for more than 180 days. But it remains unclear if the township will seek to recoup those funds.
Carr’s attorney, Stuart J. Alterman, expressed optimism that the matter will be resolved.
“This matter should be resolved with the parties cooperating with one another and with the town assisting Claudia Carr in securing her pension,” Alterman said, noting Carr is willing to end the dispute amicably. “The parties should be willing to shake hands, walk away from each other and recognize the service that Claudia has performed. There’s no reason for Cherry Hill to treat Claudia as a pariah and attempt to kill her as she walks out the door.”
Township officials had no comment for this update.
Eakin’s pension remains in question
On March 15, state Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin resigned, due to his involvement in the “Porngate” scandal.
Eakin received and/or sent multiple emails with racist, misogynistic and anti-LGBT content.
Eakin, 67, resigned under pressure, after the state Court of Judicial Discipline planned to hold a trial that would have examined the extent of his allegedly unethical behavior.
Now that Eakin has resigned, it’s unclear whether a trial will be held. It is also unclear whether Eakin, 67, will receive a pension, which is estimated to be about $153,000 annually.
William C. Costouplous, an attorney for Eakin, couldn’t be reached.
A spokesperson for the Court of Judicial Discipline declined to comment for this update.
Preliminary hearings slated in sex case
Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for three former Franciscan friars who allegedly facilitated the sexual molestation of numerous boys.
The defendants are former leaders of a Franciscan religious order based in Hollidaysburg, Pa. They allegedly knew that another friar, Stephen Baker, was suspected of molesting boys, yet failed to notify police.
Anthony J. Criscitelli, 62; Robert J. D’Aversa, 69; and Anthony J. Schinelli, 73, are charged with endangering the welfare of children and criminal conspiracy.
Their preliminary hearings are set for 9:30 a.m. April 14 before Magisterial District Judge Paula M. Aigner at the Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg.
The charges, which were filed last week, resulted from a two-year state grand jury investigation.
Baker committed suicide in 2013.
— Timothy Cwiek
Drag show to benefit Mazzoni Center
A student at the Community College of Philadelphia is reviving his school’s drag show to raise money for the Mazzoni Center. The show takes place from 6-8 p.m. March 25 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.
Eddie Malone said the college used to host an annual drag show, but interest waned in 2013. This year’s show is the first time proceeds will be donated to a community organization.
“Mazzoni is a wonderful organization and has helped me a great deal in the last two years,” Malone told PGN. “The motivation was two-fold: I can help Mazzoni as well as try to help revive the drag show on campus and help a club that has been more or less dormant for the last few years come back full force to campus life.”
There will be seven performers, including two professionals, three students and two amateurs. The professionals are Pissi Myles and Cyannie Famouz. Tickets cost $10.
Dr. Rachel Levine headlines Women in Business panel
Dr. Rachel Levine, the state’s first transgender physician general, will headline a five-person panel March 29 as part of the Independence Business Alliance’s third-annual Women in Business discussion.
The event takes place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 118 N. Broad St. The theme is “From Partnerships to Power: Women In Business Today.”
Tickets cost $30 for IBA members or $45 for non-members.
Other panelists include Gail Ruopp, executive director of Flaster Greenberg; Jennifer Vrana, a 25-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department who helped form the Gay Officers Action League here; Katherine Sprissler-Klein, deputy director of community engagement with Philabundance; and Jazzy Gray-Sadler, consultant at Gray-Sadler Enterprises and head of JazzyOne Productions.
“Partnerships with other women in the workplace can really yield success,” said Zach Wilcha, executive director of IBA. “The panel features a diverse array of viewpoints from various professions.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.thinkiba.com.
Free health program for LGBT older adults
Aging-services organization Center in the Park is sponsoring a free six-week health program for older adults.
Classes run from 1:30-4:30 p.m. every Tuesday, from March 29-May 3, at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The sessions will cover nutrition, exercise, relaxation techniques and communication with health providers.
To register, contact Delores Palmer at 215-848-7722 ext. 305.
LGBT film festival debuts in New Jersey
QSpot LGBT Community Center will launch QFest New Jersey LGBT Film Festival, its first film and digital-media festival, April 1-3 in Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, N.J. The community center expects it to become an annual event.
The lineup includes feature-length and short films in genres ranging from documentary to animation. There are also categories for music video, mobile device app, video game and website.
The work features LGBT stories and often is produced by LGBT people.
“QSpot recognizes and salutes the contributions LGBT individuals make to film and digital media,” said John Mikytuck, QSpot executive director, “and believes QFest provides a unique way for them to be seen. QFest also creates an opportunity for the larger community to be exposed to important artistic, cultural and historic LGBT work.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.qspot.org.
— Paige Cooperstein
