Gay-La

Mayor John Street goes metrosexual. Street and Gov. Ed Rendell, in matching blue feather boas, were keynote speakers at the first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Inaugural Gala held last Saturday night in the ballroom of the William Way Community Center. Of all the inaugural galas that evening, the gay gala was the gay-liest.

"People were not with us in 1999, but they were with us in 2003," said Street, who was not a popular commodity with the LGBT community when he first ran for mayor in 1999. Street admits that he had to be educated on gay issues.

Street's friend, singer Patti LaBelle, joined the event's co-chairs onstage to receive the Humanitarian Award. The co-chairs were Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal, Abbe Fletman, Michael Williams and Ninah Harris. Key workers also included Renee Gillinger, a co-chair of Liberty City Democratic Club, and Franny Price.

Former Congressman Tom Foglietta, an early supporter of gay rights when he was a Republican city councilman, made brief remarks and recognized Segal for his years of gay activism. Others, such as Deputy Commissioner of Public Property John Herzins, who had been instrumental in securing William Way as an LGBT refuge, were also honored.

Ticket sales were brisk and all proceeds from the LGBT gala went to William Way. All proceeds, after expenses, from the other Street inaugurals, apart from Monday's Inaugural Ball, will also go to the community center. The take from the LGBT gala alone totaled $100,000 that night.

Local restaurants donated food and sponsors were too numerous to mention. The mood was festive and men wore tuxedos or nice suits and women wore cocktail dresses or gowns. Many, like Robert Metzger, arrived with their partners. (Metzger's partner, Christopher McCrary, bears a strong resemblance to actor Orlando Bloom.) Others were there to meet new friends.

Equality Forum Executive Director Malcolm Lazin revealed that Queer Eye for the Straight Guy eye Jai Rodriguez is expected to be featured at the 2004 Equality Forum (formerly PrideFest America), April 26 through May 2.

Also on the scene was Greg Lattera, the local Boy Scout who was ousted by scout leadership after he revealed he was gay. Currently, his old troop uses a city building at 22nd and Winter sts. and is in violation of the city’s nondiscriminatory policy since dismissing Lattera. Lattera said he had a word with Street that night about how long the scouts will be able to remain there unless he is reinstated.

"This could not have happened when my brother was mayor," observed Dennis Green, whose brother, former Mayor Bill Green, served one term from 1979 to 1983. Dennis Green attended the gala with his partner, Peter Rittenhouse. "It just wasn't the time then," he added.

Noticeably absent was Michael Hinson, the mayor's assistant managing director for LGBT affairs and head of Street's LGBT advisory committee. Hinson later said that he had a personal issue that prevented him from attending.

Many are hopeful that the LGBT inaugural will become standard in future administrations.

Mutiny at the Kimmel

The struggle between Mayor Street and State Sen. Vincent Fumo for control of City Council unfurled on the stage of the Kimmel Center Monday morning as Street, members of City Council, row officers and local judges were officially sworn in. During the Council segment of the inauguration ceremony, spectators were treated to what really goes on in City Council as decorum broke down. The issue at hand was new rules that would diminish the power of Council President Anna Verna. These rules would allow Council members to replace the president at any time and give Majority Leader Jannie Blackwell and Minority Leader Brian O'Neill the power to assign Council members to committees.

Last year, Blackwell, a Street ally, attempted to maneuver into the presidency but didn't have the votes over Verna, a Fumocrat. Together with Blackwell, Councilwomen Joan Krajewski, Donna Reed Miller and Blondell Reynolds-Brown and Councilmen Darrell Clarke, Rick Mariano, O'Neill, Wilson Goode Jr. , Juan Ramos, Jack Kelly and Frank Rizzo, who are all aligned with Street, voted for the new rules. Fumo's crowd -- Verna, Councilmen Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco -- along with Councilwoman Marian Tasco and Councilmen David Cohen and Michael Nutter voted against the rules.

Usually all new Council rules are voted on before the swearing-in and the inaugural session is purely perfunctory. But Nutter chose to stir things up and declared that the rules were never properly passed. After a public bickering session, the new rules were approved 11-to-6. Verna was then voted in as president under these new rules by all, with the exception of Mariano.

The Republicans liked the new rule because it gives them power they've never had under a Democratic majority. A new title was given to Rizzo: Minority Whip, despite the fact that there are only three Republicans.