Gay inmate lodges complaint
On Oct. 27, openly gay federal inmate Kenneth J. Houck Jr. lodged a complaint with federal-court officials in Colorado, stating that prison authorities are impermissibly opening his legal mail, removing some of its contents and delivering the remaining portion in a tardy manner.
In 2011, Houck was brutally assaulted by two other inmates at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. His right leg sustained multiple fractures, and he continues to walk with a limp. Houck is suing the federal Bureau of Prisons for more than $1 million in damages.
Houck, 41, is currently housed at a federal penitentiary in Marion, Ill. Imprisoned for transporting child pornography, his scheduled release date is June 23, 2018.
Justin Long, a spokesperson for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
Case-management conference slated in Woody’s case
A case-management conference is scheduled for later this month in the case of James Stefanide, who claims he sustained serious injuries while falling on interior stairs at Woody’s Bar in June 2015.
In August 2016, Stefanide filed suit in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, seeking more than $50,000 in damages from the popular LGBT establishment.
According to Stefanide’s lawsuit, the slip-and-fall incident was caused by “an unreasonably slippery condition of the stairs.” He alleges that Woody’s management failed to inform patrons of a “dangerous and hazardous condition” prior to his fall. Stefanide’s injuries include right-arm, lower-back and spinal damage.
A case-management conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. Nov. 21 in Room 613 of City Hall.
— Timothy Cwiek
Beauty Ball to support LGBT center
An annual amateur drag competition returns this weekend to raise funds for William Way LGBT Community Center.
The seventh-annual Beauty Ball will be held 7-10 p.m. Nov. 5 at Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St. Drag queen Bev will serve as mistress of ceremonies, with DJ Carl Michaels spinning.
The event lets newcomers to the drag world perform a one-minute lip-syncing routine. Proceeds benefit the center.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/PhillyBeautyBall.
AIDS Delaware hosts ‘Pullover Etiquette Forum’
AIDS Delaware and the Delaware Fatherhood & Family Coalition New Castle County Leadership are collaborating on a community forum regarding do’s and don’ts in case of a police stop.
The Pullover Etiquette Forum will be held 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 12 at Neighborhood House, Inc., 1218 B St. in Wilmington, Del.
The forum will address how to respond if you are pulled over by police while driving or stopped on the street, as well as inform participants about what police are supposed to be looking for during such stops. According to a press release about the event, the forum will offer “supportive resources and tools to decrease the likelihood of an arrest as a result of an inappropriate response when stopped by the police.”
Panelists will include police officers from the Wilmington Police Department and Delaware State Police; Curtis Huston, creator of the Huston ID Visor, a mechanism to make ID visible to law enforcement; as well as several community members.
The forum is geared toward new drivers and young adults, as well as social-service providers.
Health club to host ‘William Way Day’
Optimal Sport Health Club will host a special day of activities for William Way LGBT Community Center supporters next week.
From 3-7 p.m. Nov. 16, the health club at 1315 Walnut St. will offer center members free access to the gym. They can tour the facility, use the equipment, enjoy snacks and socialize with members. From 4-5 p.m., Optimal will host a Silver Sneakers class for older adults.
Twenty percent of all memberships purchased Nov. 16 will benefit the center. Optimal will continue to donate $2 of each new membership purchased in the coming three months to William Way.
For more information, visit www.optimalsporthealthclubs.com.
Pie-sale deadline approaching
There are two weeks left to place orders for holiday pies from Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance.
Pie in the Sky sales are open through Nov. 18. Proceeds benefit MANNA’s work to provide nutritional meals to people suffering from life-threatening illnesses.
There are five pie flavors this year: sweet potato, pecan, pumpkin, apple and the signature American Airlines Sky Pie, a cheesecake topped with walnuts, caramel and chocolate.
Pies are $25-$35.
To order, visit .
— Jen Colletta