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queerVOICE
Give Because It Hurts
James Duggan copyright 2008
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A few weeks ago a local queer philanthropist expressed to me his concern that our local charities are being adversely affected by the current state of our economy while sharing with me his belief that these groups need our financial assistance now more then ever before.
This week Jeff Gammage of the Inquirer wrote an article titled Charities brace for lean times in 2009, where he writes, "as the American economy treads onto new and frightful terrain, many charities are bracing." Both expressed the deep concerns and fears that are now facing charities.
This is especially true of the smaller charities that serve our local queer communities.
In these uncertain economic times charities are finding it harder to raise sufficientfunds they desperately need to effectively serve the needs of their recipients.
Gammage writes that, "people who are afraid of losing their savings, stock accounts or jobs, or who have already lost them may curtail their giving." And that "the most immediate impact is felt by organizations such as food banks and soup kitchens, where demand for services goes up as revenue goes down. Those types of charities often don't have the glitzy reputations - or big endowments - of major art museums or orchestras."
This is also true for our charities that help provide a safe and supportive environment for queer youth, or our health centers that provide us healthcare services. Local queer minorities, seniors, families, transitioning youth, hospices, and HIV/AIDS service charities are all facing a decline in funds while at the same time experience an increase in request for services.
Gammage points out that "Americans have been consistently generous, and not just after disasters," but it is during troubled times or disasters that we as a people, hetero or queer, consistently show our true character. We as both individuals and as a people have always stepped up to the plate to help to carry the burden of our neighbors near and far.
This special character of humanity that lifts us all is now challenging us during these harsh economic times . . . how will we react? . . . What will be our response?
Consider the consequences to our local charities. Will some be forced to close? Will others need to cut services or staff? How many queers in need will find little or none?
We now find ourselves in a moment of our history where giving from our own need has never been greater. While each of us is faced with greater demands on our personal budgetsthe need to help others is now more important then ever.
Now is the time to give. Now is the time to step up, start to, or continue to support a local queer charity.
Sent your comments to james@QUEERtimes.net
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12th Street Gym |
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What it Looks Like From Here
Thom Cardwell copyright 2008 |
 "Too bad that youth is wasted on the young," once quipped queer literary wit, Oscar Wilde, one of the most influential writers of the 20th Century, "The Importance of Being Ernest," "The Portrait of Dorian Gray," "De Profundis," and one of my all-time idols.
We all know that the queer community hardly embraces getting older. Age is something that the denial queens (and queers) wish to avoid at all costs and emphasis upon youth isn't anymore profuse and profound in our social culture than in our own community.
Why I'm even bringing up the issue of age was provoked recently in my mind upon celebrating a close queer friend of mine's benchmark year. He was 50 years old or as I like to call it "half a century old." My friend was having none of it. He was truly lamenting (even bemoaning) the fact that he had arrived at "old age". But I pointed out, rather quickly but warmly, "You should consider the alternative."
But to lighten up the conversation, we were, after all, at a party marking someone's birthday, I started mentioning to my friend whose company he was with in turning 50.
Since he's easily starstruck, I offered him a short but impressive list, between sipping "Sex in the City" cosmopolitans (my drink of choice), of others who have marked their 50th birthday earlier this year. Whose 50?
Well, there's Ellen DeGeneres, Sharon Stone, Michelle Pfeiffer, Viggo Mortenseen, Prince and, of course, Madonna!
Happily, my friend smiled, we clinked glasses, partied the rest of the night away and closed Pure.
Who's getting older?
 Well, Calvin Klein. The American iconic designer marked the 40th anniversary of his label, though the company he founded in 1968, he sold it in 2002 for several hundred million dollars. Klein is credited with launching many trends and industry "firsts."
Designer jeans-he persuaded the fashion-forward public to pay more for denim and it's still working with name-brands with a heftier price tag. Brooke Shields was one of Klein's discovery. Designer underwear, especially men's underwear and how it was advertised as sexy, was another hallmark of Klein's fashion and style aesthetic. He discovered Kate Moss for the women's line and popularized the waif look. He turned white rapper Marky Mark Wahlberg into a sexier-than-thou fashion icon, with many images that bordered on pornographic with their explicitness, Wahlberg with his ripped stomach and crotch grabbing, but with an enough fashionable tweak, that it became acceptable in polite society, as soft core.
Combining urban street fashion with a sophisticated almost-high style, Calvin Klein even played with his signature name. His jeans were referred to as Calvins. Later, he created CK Jeans, simply using his initials as the brand name.
Four decades later despite the fact that three designers create the fashions these days, the Klein brand continues to be as popular and strong as ever with yet another generation of youth-driven, forward-thinking fashionistas.
So, now, who's getting older?
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Lift The Ban |
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Historic LGBT Fundraiser |
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Friday, October 10, 2008
4:45 p.m.
(Please arrive promptly)
Sheraton Philadelphia Hotel
(formerly the Wyndham Plaza)
17th & Race Street
Price Per Person or Couple
Donor - $1,000
Host Committee - $2,500
Co-Chair - $5,000
R.S.V.P.
Please complete the Donor Response Form and mail it
with your check or credit card payment to:
PA for Obama
P.O. Box 22403
Philadelphia, PA 19110
Your form and payment must be received no later than October 8, 2008.
Questions
Contact Malcolm Lazin at mlazin08@gmail.com
Co-Chairs, Host Committee, Donors
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Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation |
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Thom's Calendar of Events
Thom Cardwell copyright 2008 |
 It's the kickoff to the season! The third annual Midtown Village Fall Festival returns October 4, noon to 8pm, 13th Street between Chestnut and Walnut Sts.; Sansom St. between Juniper and 12th Sts., Philadelphia, with an outdoor street fair (rain or shire).
Organizers said that Drury Lane will all be closed to traffic so that visitors can stroll the street and enjoy the food, fun and music.
One of the stylish, urban and trendiest area of the city, the Fall Festival will feature International cuisine and beverage tents from nearby restaurants, product booths by retailers, all types of live music, adult activities and fun for the kids. Q102's DJ Richie Rich and 94WYSP Philly Rock Station will broadcast live; food events will be featured from RAW Sushi & Sake Lounge, Fergies Pub, Vintage, McGillins Olde Ale House, Lolita and Bindi; Scarlett Fiorella, Robins Books, Gene's and other merchants will be offering a special children's area.
Other highlights of the events will include: Absolute Abstract will host a meet-and-greet with artists John Stango, Colin Powers, Dennis Flynn, Chris Furbay, Joan Palmer, Rose Marie Strippoli, Greg Campisi and photographer Veronica Antoinette; Open House will be decorating their own organic cotton totes; queer owned and operated Fusion: Heart.Muscle.Mind will be offering people chances to Dunk-a-Trainer, to help raise money for the Rhodes Fitness Center Project at the Young Women's Leadership School @ Rhodes; "The Independent," the newest hotel in Midtown Village will be hosting an "open house."
This year's sponsors will be: City of Philadelphia, Center City District, City Bank, Starr Restaurant Group, Travel Host Magazine, Where Magazine, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Gyro Worldwide, Sailor Jerry, Keller Williams, Philadelphia Weekly, City Paper and Specialty USA.
For more information visit midtownvillage.org
Atlantique City Returns as Annual Mega-show
 Collectors unite! Atlantique City, claimed to be the world's largest indoor antique, fine art and collectible holiday annual show for more than 20 years, will return to the Atlantic City Convention Center, Miss American Way, on October 18 and 19.
If you've never been, it's always quite a unique experience and some of the dealers are my favorite people in all the world! Producers say that collectors can find $5 to $50,000 "treasures" each year. (It's true I've always been amazed at some of the "rare finds" and "good bargains" that I've still been able to find over the years.)
This year's mega-show will present 1,000 dealers from across the country and around the world displaying a wide range of antiques and collectibles, for show and sale, free dealer appraisals and free furniture delivery within a 200 miles radius. Advance tickets can be purchased directly online.
For more information, call 800.526.2724; or visit atlantiquecity.com
Rumble in the Kitchen with Eagles' Jon Runyan
 All hell breaks loose with "Rumble in the Kitchen," a battle of culinary supremacy, when some of the best chefs in Philadelphia with a team of culinary students from the area's culinary institutions, compete a la "Iron Chef" style, to win the competition and money for their school's scholarship fund.
Celebrity judges will include yours truly, with Jon Runyan, Michele Carano, Greg Coy, Lauren Lake, James Lunday, Dr. Keith Taylor, among other surprise guests.
The event will include a two-hour open bar and complimentary appetizers, the competition, and a silent auction, hosted by the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia, October 22, 5-8 p.m.
Proceeds from the event benefits ModestNeeds.org. Advance tickets are $40 online or group packages of 19 tickets at $350; $50 at the door.
For more information, call 215.231.7250; or visit rumbleinthekitchen2008.com
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I Wish I Had Said That: |
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As cover story, queer African-American actor Darryl Stephens of the soon-to-released "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom" (Logo and Blueprint Entertainment) in theaters across the country, a permanent cast member of the popular queer television series, "Noah's Arc," talked candidly about his hesitation in being an out actor and then his anxiety about being part of the in-your-face queer, sexy, theatrical release, in his role as Angel, in the original "Another Gay Movie" (TLA Releasing) to Jim Ver Steeg (Instinct, October 2008): "I think that I took it as far as I could go with it in "Another Gay Movie. That was almost an exorcism for me. I was almost freaking out about doing that film. Once I realized the level of sexuality that was going to be included on the set, I shut down a little bit. You can probably see it in the performance. I see it in the performance."
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Sex is hot but the brain is hotter. Brain power, and, especially, the strength of memory and the issue of memory loss, continues to be a debated topic and a serious concern and fear, both personally and collectively, to all of us. New research is uncovering some of the myths about loss of memory assumed to be the result of the aging process. Not so, according to researchers on the brain and memory, as Dr. Catherine Myers, Ph. D., Co-director of Rutgers University's Memory Disorders Project explained to Bryan Smith (Men's Health, September 2008): "There has been an assumption that age-associated memory decline existed and that Alzhemier's was just a dramatic example [of memory loss]. We're now coming to the conclusion, however, that the brain really should not deteriorate much with age and that, if it does, its deterioration is likely the result of pathology."
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Former Philadelphian Ingrid Croce, widow of celebrated songwriter/singer Jim Croce (also a local from Upper Darby, Delaware County) of "Time in a Bottle," among other classics, reminisced about her husband's unique place in the history of popular American music to Tom Wilk (ICON, September 2008). Now a longtime resident of San Diego and celebrated restaurateur of "Croce's Restaurant and Jazz Bar" and cookbook author, Croce credits the Internet with keeping his memory and music alive today, after 35 years since he was tragically killed in a small plane crash while on tour in Louisiana: "His music was a blend of folk, rock, blues and country. Jim had a wide range of musical influences from Fats Waller and Bessie Smith to Bob Dylan and Roger Daltry. He had a repertoire of more than 3,000 songs," having worked as a disc jockey and a performer.
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