May 31–June 7, 2001

political notebook

Political Notebook

by Mary Frangipanni Patel

Sweet Street Money

Mayor John Street likes to put his money where his mouth is and certainly did so in helping District Attorney Lynne Abraham win the primary election against challenger Alex Talmadge.

On Election Day, Street tapped into other Abraham supporters, including two gay and lesbian PACs; the Pride of Philadelphia Election Committee (POPEC) and OutFront. Street’s campaign gave "street money" to POPEC on Election Day for poll workers primarily in the Fifth and Eighth Wards where the bulk of the gay community lives. The amount Street gave to POPEC was $3,200. This paid for about 50 POPEC members who pushed Abraham at the polls. Street’s acting communications director Luz Cardenas had a full voicemail box so Street’s contribution could not be confirmed.

Marty Sellers, founder of OutFront, a relatively new PAC, said that OutFront does not participate in grassroots politics but did give Abraham a substantial contribution. He did not have exact amounts available.

POPEC and Street hosted a fundraiser for Abraham prior to the election. According to POPEC president and founder Mark Segal, the event brought in $14,000.

"POPEC gave Lynne $4,000 and contributors gave $10,000," said Segal.

In other POPEC news, the organization will celebrate its 10th anniversary on June 22 at the Westin Hotel in Center City. Segal promised some big names at the birthday bash. Confirmed for an appearance is Bruce Vilanch, who is an openly gay actor and a regular on Hollywood Squares .

On a more somber note, Segal is suffering the loss of his longtime friend Harry Langhorne, who died of complications of liver failure last Saturday in Virginia. He was 53. Langhorne lived in Philadelphia and had worked for the city’s Criminal Justice Unit, an arm of the Managing Director’s Office, since 1987. He was also the former president of the Gay Activist Alliance of Philadelphia and a member of the Gay Raiders.

"Thirty years ago Harry was with me when I interrupted CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite during one of his broadcasts," reminisced Segal, also a member of the Gay Raiders. "I stood on Walter’s desk with a sign that said ‘CBS is unfair to gays.’"

Segal said he is planning a memorial service here for his friend. Details are still being formulated.

Not on the List

Mayor John Street was not invited to a "meet and greet" for gay and lesbian city employees last Tuesday at Conversation Hall in City Hall.

The cocktail party was sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Professional Network (GPPN) and hosted by Irene Benedetti, the constituent service representative for Councilman Frank DiCicco and Michael Hinson , the mayor’s liaison for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community.

Why wasn’t Street included?

"Because we did not want to frighten guests if they were not ‘out’ yet to the mayor," explained Benedetti.

Benedetti had long envisioned a scenario in which gay and lesbian city employees could get together without trepidation. She felt it was important for the community.

But over the years it just never got organized. Benedetti got things rolling when she coordinated with Hinson.

"We had a positive turnout of over 50 people," said Benedetti.

"We understand that it is a sensitive issue and that not everyone wants their personal life public," she said. Thus it was decided that since it was a delicate matter, the party should only include the gay and lesbian workers and no elected officials.

Street has made great efforts to be known as a gay-friendly mayor. He has brought a number of gays into his administration and revived the LGBT advisory committee that originated under former Mayor Wilson Goode and somehow languished under former Mayor Ed Rendell.

Street seemed to make special outreach to the gay community because of the perception of some that he was homophobic. This theory stemmed from his reluctance to pass the domestic partnership bill, which provides health benefits to the partners of gay and lesbian city employees. At the time, Street was City Council president. He opposed the bill on the basis that the legislation should apply to all non-married couples, whether gay or not. Other City Council members disagreed because they felt that straight couples could marry and gay couples could not.

The bill passed Council over Street’s objections.

Benedetti said Tuesday’s event was positive. Other than Benedetti and Hinson, other openly gay employees who attended included Robert Ravelli, the assistant deputy mayor of transportation, and Jeff Moran, the communications director for the city’s Health Department.

Benedetti said she hopes to host another "meet and greet" soon and that she will invite Street and other elected officials.

"We also want to form a gay city employees’ organization," she said.