Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force May 1999 Update

Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force June 1, 1999 Update

Thanks to Members!

First, thanks to members who responded to our February 1999 report and request for financial contributions. The Task Force has about $6,000 total cash with two small grants pending ($17,500). If you would like to help us in various program and fundraising activities (e.g. various Pride Festivals and/or "Give a Buck" events), please call. Below follows a very brief summary of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia project outcomes.

Pennsylvania News:

PLGTF Announces Year 2000 Survey of Discrimination and Violence: Volunteer to Make the Survey a Success!

With your help, the Task Force will embark on an ambitious Year 2000 Study of Discrimination and Violence. Community support is critical to our success. The 1996 study obtained the participation of about 50 community-based organizations, and a handful of business supporters (Afterwords, Giovanni’s Room, Herstory, Ladies, and the then "Nile"). Two gay newspapers (Au Courant and Planet Q) each printed the survey twice together with 15 commercial broadcasters who aired a series of psa’s to encourage participation. As a result, the Task Force obtained a sampling of 3086 respondents among 52 of 67 counties, the largest sample size of its kind in the country, with a 43% female participation rate statewide and a 20% minority participation rate locally. (Copies of the 1996 study are available for the cost of reproduction and mailing.)

Pennsylvania Broadcasters’ Association Says YES! Creative Professionals Wanted!

NBC TV 10, a partner in our Public Education Campaign to End Discrimination and Violence, has completed two of three thirty-second television spots. This second psa, featuring James Roberts (formerly, executive director, MAAP), will soon air on Philadelphia television stations. (If you want to thank NBC TV 10, call the new CEO Dennis Bianchi 610-668-5604 and fax 7039). This important work will now extend throughout Pennsylvania thanks to the kind agreement of Richard Wykoff, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Broadcasters’ Association, to re-produce and distribute the first series to all commercial television broadcasters statewide (n-35). After completion of this series, ABC/Disney WPVI TV 6 will begin its public service commitment to the project. Members and friends of the community with professional experience in creative and television production are encouraged to participate in this project – please call.

Suite 1005.
1616 Walnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19103-5310.
215 772-2000. Fax 215 772-2004.

Discrimination and Violence Hotline 215-772-2005.
In Pennsylvania, call toll free 1-877-PRIDE-2000. Plgtf@op.net and www.op.net/plgtf

And in Philadelphia ….

Police Chief John Timoney Continues Dialogue:

On April 12, the Task Force, joined by important sister organizations, met with Timoney and his assistant John Gallagher, Esq. to discuss issues related to the Commissioner’s "Plan" vis a vis a wealth of studies and recommendations proffered by various groups over time, police roles and performance evaluations, the police computerization project, the Internal Investigations Bureau (formerly known as Internal Affairs), and Use of Force policies. The Commissioner, while very pleasant and forthcoming, said that his "plan" was simply unavailable except through the Mayor and that while he supports strongly professional development and training he does not support a Task Force nine-day diversity training recommendation. The Commissioner did note on Addessa’s questioning that he would call publicly for the arrest of police officers who commit crimes, a particularly important element in ending police brutality and corruption.

Participants: David Berney, Esq., Philadelphia Bar Association Civil Rights Committee; Judge John Braxton, Barristers; Larry Gross, Ph.D.,; PLGTF; Julie Hoke, Esq., PILCOP Hotline; Leigh Jerner, Esq., Chair, Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia; Larry Krasner, Esq., Special Police Advisory Review Team; Will O’Brien, Project Home; Miranda vanDalen, Esq., PILCOP and Addessa.

Diversity of Pride Organizes PECO Rally: Task Force encourages PECO to Negotiate

On Wednesday, June 3, 1999, a small but supportive group rallied around the PECO headquarters in center city Philadelphia to protest PECO’s refusal to say the word "Gay" on its crown lights display (requested by Franny Price, Diversity of Pride Executive Director). The Task Force’s correspondence to PECO and recommended strategies are available on our web site and/or your request (4 pages). In sum, you might want to call or write Corbin McNeill, Jr. Chair and CEO (215-841-4223 and 4513 fax. 2301 Market Street, 19101) and PECO executive committee members Richard Glanton, Esq. (215-851-8120 and 1420 fax) and Fred DiBona, CEO, Blue Cross (215-241-2414 and 2624 fax).

Funding News:

Under the leadership of Bronal Harris, Vice President of Community Development Contributions, First Union has awarded the Task Force a $15,000 grant. With the strong support of Father Paul Washington, Pastor Emeritus of the Church of the Advocate and plgtf Advisor, the Thomas Skelton Harrison Foundation has granted the Task Force $5,000 towards our Philadelphia Police Project.

On the Politics of Funding: Minority organizations and organizations that challenge the status quo generally know well how hard it is to obtain individual support as well as foundation and corporate grants (see, for example, re: foundation grants the Task Force’s analysis of the Philadelphia Foundation and the United Way). Last week, the Philadelphia Inquirer announced that Mayor Ed Rendell had decided to exclude the Black United Fund from the City Combined Campaign because BUF served as a conduit for funds earmarked for the Mumia Defense. Regardless of one’s view about this particular case, Rendell’s decision is clearly an act of political retribution intended to harm and disable a very important and viable minority-owned funding organization. BUF has been a strong ally in our education work and I encourage members to call and/or write the Mayor with the simple message: [Phone 215-686-2181 and fax 215-686-2180. City Hall. 2^nd floor. Philadelphia, PA 19107]

Rescind your decision. The Black United Fund needs support, not retribution. It remains the workers’ right to decide who to fund, not the Mayor or FOP.