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Mark SegalMark Segal is an American journalist. He is the founder and publisher of Philadelphia Gay News and has won numerous journalism awards for his column "Mark My Words," including best column by The National Newspaper Association, Suburban Newspaper Association and The Society of Professional Journalists. |
Articles (189)
December, 2025
CNN's David Urban on Marriage Equality
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: To know all sides of an issue, it's important to know and be able to debate an issue with respect. So it should be no surprise that some of my friends are Republicans and others are conservatives. It's important to know how they view an issue that affects us in order to counter that position.
This Stonewall Pioneer Slams Ken Burns Documentary "The American Revolution"
In the 1970s, I launched a campaign to end LGBT invisibility on television. Years later, that mission to show the public who we were expanded to another arena we'd long been written out of: American History. Just as television producers ignored us, so too had historians. Sadly, such erasure is happening again today, this time because of both the glaring absence and defamatory framing of LGBT people in Ken Burns' new PBS documentary "The American Revolution." How can LGBT people be both omitted and defamed in the documentary? Simple: the use of age-old stereotypes.
November, 2025
October's youth dreams realized
by Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: This October feels like the moment my youthful dreams have come full circle - and as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. When I was young, all I wanted was to understand why society so deeply misunderstood us - why people believed we were the green monsters hiding in the dark closet. Moving to New York, I began to learn the answers. I wanted to scream at the world: Stop oppressing us. Let us live our lives.
Our History: Embraced, not Erased
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: I'll soon be on my way to Virginia Beach, VA, to speak to the Association of National Park Rangers about what the erasure of history means at our national parks - and particularly, the erasure of LGBTQ+ history. Sadly, we've already seen examples of this on the National Park Service's Stonewall National Monument website.
August, 2025
From Chalk to a lifetime
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: It was Gov. Josh Shapiro who reminded me that this past weekend marked a powerful triple anniversary. I had just spent two full days greeting visitors at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, sharing my firsthand account of that first night of the riots and the birth of the Gay Liberation Front. I stood in a place that itself was marking its first anniversary, while telling people that this year's march would be the 55th anniversary of Pride. And personally - for me - it was 56 years since I stood on that street, writing in chalk under the direction of Marty Robinson: "Tomorrow Night Stonewall."
Log Cabin Republicans have blood on their hands
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: Log Cabin Republicans - and others who continue to support this administration - were warned that its policies would bring real harm to our community. That warning has now come true: the Trump administration has cut funding for LGBTQ+ suicide hotlines, effective July 17.
Pride and History
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: Each June, a certain feeling comes over me. While Pride is now celebrated at different times around the country and the world, for me it will always be about June - and that first Pride in 1970 in New York City.
July, 2025
Pride around the world
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: You know that old joke, "I'm so old, I'm history"? Well, in my case, it's actually come true. When I served as a marshal at the very first Pride march in 1970, none of us could have imagined that one word - Pride - would someday echo across the globe. We were just a small group trying to be seen. Today, it's a movement felt worldwide.
Some Good News
By Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: That headline might surprise you. But it shouldn't. Many in our community are deeply saddened - if not alarmed - by the current political climate. The Trump administration has attempted to erase our history, defund critical mental and physical health services, block Pride celebrations, and even cancel performances like the International Gay Chorus at the Kennedy Center during World Pride in Washington, D.C. So yes, you have every reason to feel uneasy. But - and this might sound strange - there is light at the end of the tunnel.
This year's PRIDE cloud
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: As someone who helped marshal that very first Pride in June 1970, I've witnessed its many transformations. It's no surprise to say Pride today doesn't look much like it did back then - even in the city where it was born, New York.
June, 2025
A little hope, and my call to action
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: Over my 60 years of activism, I've witnessed many backlashes against our community but never one as fierce and coordinated as what we are facing today from this administration. Let's look at the record so far and don't worry, I promise to leave you with hope at the end.
LGBT Boycott of the USA?
from Mark Segal, Philadelphia Gay News: Recently, Jason and I were on vacation and met a delightful gay couple from Australia. In their professional roles, they frequently travel to the U.S. for government and corporate business. Naturally, we said that if they found themselves in the States, we'd love to meet up for dinner.
Want to fight back? Lambda Legal is doing the work.
If you're like me, your inbox is flooded daily with emails from organizations sounding the alarm on the latest attacks by the Trump administration always followed by a request for donations. But here's a logical question: Instead of just expressing outrage, shouldn't these groups be telling us exactly how they're fighting back before asking for our hard-earned dollars? And more importantly, are they the ones doing the heavy lifting in the fight to stop Trump? Let's be honest. Many organizations contribute something to the resistance. But when it comes to the legal frontline, there's one that consistently leads the charge: Lambda Legal.
May, 2025
Here's what you must do
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: Like many of you, I'm feeling a bit of whiplash from the sheer speed and scale of the changes President Donald Trump is trying to force through via executive order. Some of you have told me you've stopped watching the news altogether. You've tuned out, shut down, and chosen not to engage. Please don't. Because if you do, he wins. Protest is at the heart of this country. It's in our DNA and when done right, it leads to real change.
March, 2025
Let's all be joyous warriors
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News - After 9/11, I wrote something to the effect of: "Terrorists want to frighten you to the point where you no longer go about your normal day. If you allow them to do that, they win."
Say goodbye to your PrEP, and...
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News - If that headline shocked you, it should have. The executive orders that Trump has been signing may very well affect your health. Oh, you thought Trump was only attacking the "T" in our community? Nope. He's targeting the "L," the "G," and the "B" as well. Let me give you some critical facts that explain why you should be alarmed very alarmed.
Thank you NPCA
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News- New York, NY In response to the Park Service removing references to transgender contributions at Stonewall National Monument, the National Parks Conservation Association responded with the following statement. Statement by Timothy Leonard, Northeast Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association "The National Park Service exists to not only protect and preserve our most cherished places but to educate its millions of annual national park visitors about the inclusive, full history of America. Erasing letters or webpages does not change the history or the contributions of our transgender community members at Stonewall or anywhere else. History was made here and civil rights were earned because of Stonewall. And we're committed to ensuring more people know that story and how it continues to influence America today. Stonewall inspires and our parks must continue to include diverse stories that welcome and represent the people that shaped our nation."
February, 2025
The Jimmy Carter I knew
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: In 1976, I invited Vietnam Veteran Leonard Matlovich to join me in Florida to campaign for Pennsylvania's governor, Milton Shapp, who was running in the Florida State Democratic primary for president. We were part of a group called "Gays for Shapp." Shapp didn't go very far in his quest for the White House, but his opponent a peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia did. His name was Jimmy Carter.
December, 2024
Sarah McBride passed the first Congressional test: a Republican trap
from Mark Segal - Philadelphia Gay News - Many in our community were quick to criticize Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride, accusing her of "capitulating" to a new Congressional bathroom rule introduced by Republicans. This rule, which affects only one member of CongressMcBride, its first transgender member mandates that members must use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex at birth. In essence, it's an anti-trans bathroom rule specifically targeting McBride. To make matters worse, the rule purportedly extends to all bathrooms in the Capitol.
Statement from Stonewall pioneer Mark Segal
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News - As we have done for the past 55 years since Stonewall, we will continue to stand tall, proud, and ready to wage the good fight. This isn't new; there have been times when elections in this country directly impacted our lives. Let's reflect on those moments, the challenges we faced, and how we not only survived but made progress.
U.S. Speaker of House Mike Johnson just created Trans bathroom rule
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News - We love when Republicans make a major misstep. One of the most significant developments for the LGBTQ+ community in the 2024 election was the election of Sarah McBride to Congress from the state of Delaware. Delaware has only one congressional seat, meaning Sarah won the vote of the entire state. She's incredibly popular in Delaware because she gets things done and does so in an eloquent, relatable way. Oh, and one more thing: Sarah is trans, making her the first openly transgender member of Congress.
November, 2024
How to react to a friend who is not voting
From Mark Segal, Philadelphia Gay News - Last week, Jason and I had dinner with a couple we've been friends with for many years. Like us, he's a longtime journalist. Some believe he leans right, but he always claims his opinions are grounded in reason, fact and common sense. He told me that he couldn't vote for Kamala Harris, but also couldn't bring himself to vote for Donald Trump. I must admit, my frustration was apparent, especially because our strong bond has always been based on logic and this stance felt illogical, especially coming from a journalist. He mentioned various reasons, including disagreements with her positions and not knowing who she is.
Log Cabin Republicans: Don't hate them, pity them
To understand the reason for this headline, all you have to do is listen to why LGBTQ+ Log Cabin Republicans say they support Donald Trump. Their main reason for supporting the Republican presidential candidate is that they identify as conservative and believe the candidate represents their conservative values. They feel that Republican values reflect their own more closely than Democratic ones, and that Trump embodies those conservative values.
October, 2024
From one LGBT TV pioneer to another, Greg Berlanti
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: This story begins a year before Greg Berlanti was born. So, who is Greg Berlanti? If you watched the Emmy Awards on Sept. 15, you might have felt a sense of inclusion when they announced the recipient of the prestigious Governors Award. It was awarded to Berlanti, the out TV writer, producer and director who is the subject of this column.
Log Cabin LGBT Republicans & Trump want to annul your marriage
This column is for LGBTQ+ Republican voters who are at risk of losing their right to marriage equality and seeing their marriages made illegal. Do you love your spouse enough to protect your marriage? Let's find out.
Patriots for Kamala
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News - My husband, Jason, and I have been wearing "Harris-Walz" shirts in public as often as possible. I've even worn them to events where a suit would usually be expected, and I'm often the only one dressed so casually. But that's the point, right? Wearing a shirt with a message is meant to start conversations
September, 2024
A personal tribute to Phil Donahue, and my hair.
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News While on vacation, I tuned into CNN International and heard the news of the passing of TV legend Phil Donahue. Phil was please note this worda pioneering ally for the LGBTQ+ community, and he deserves to be remembered for it. Following his passing, LGBTQ+ organizations and mainstream media, in their obituaries, referenced this significant moment: "In 1974, before his show reached a nationwide audience, Donahue interviewed the Segal family of Philadelphia (whose gay son Mark Segal became the publisher of Philadelphia Gay News), the first time a family with a gay member was interviewed on broadcast television."
August, 2024
My Harris/ Trump Prediction
You might have thought the headline meant I'd predict who would win the November election, but sorry. It's way too early for that. However, I do have another Kamala Harris and Donald Trump prediction for you.
What President Joe Biden told me
Last week, it was my honor to speak at the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. It was, to say the least, a star-studded event with Katy Perry, Cynthia Erivo, Adam Lambert, Elton John and President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden. There were senators and governors roaming backstage. My remarks were just before Dr. Jill Biden's. When I was an 18-year-old boy standing outside Stonewall on the night of the riot in 1969, I would have never expected to begin a speech 55 years later with "Mr. President, Dr. Biden."
May, 2024
Cheers to supportive parents
There is a universal experience that nearly all of us face, and it was brought to mind for me this week when a close friend lost one of his parents. We often discuss the grief that comes after such a loss as well as the impending death before it occurs.
April, 2024
GOP's New Strategy: use TikTok falsehoods to target LGBT Nonprofits Federal Funding
Every LGBT nonprofit in the nation should take note of something that happened last week and put it on their radar screen, as it very likely will put them under the microscope when applying for federal funding. Simply put, the Republicans have found a new way to go after our community by taking away funding from your local community center, your LGBT health clinic, your HIV/AIDS service organization, your LGBT youth programs, or even LGBT affordable senior housing. Any one of them could be next on the Republicans' hit list. And to do that, conservatives used fake information, and then Democratic Senators fell into their trap and defunded a one-million-dollar grant for renovations to a community center that since the 1970s has provided meals to HIV/AIDS patients, counseled homeless youth, provided senior programs, job training, and other services to low-income individuals, and served as a meeting place for scores of community organizations. Does this sound like your community center?
Republicans kill rainbow flag, people as well?
Republicans did something last week that went almost unnoticed. Through one simple act in 1970, the United States became the world's leader in making our community visible. Thanks to a Republican amendment in the federal budget that was signed last week, a sad end has come to that leadership.
Trump truth, UPDATE: Your Marriage
Please take note. It doesn't matter if Donald Trump declares bankruptcy. It doesn't matter if he is found guilty of any of the crimes he has been accused of, and it really doesn't even matter what any judge - including the Supreme Court - rules for or against him. It also doesn't matter if he tells Vladimir Putin to go ahead and bomb a NATO country. His base will still vote for him.
March, 2024
A picture of world PRIDE
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: When my activism started many years ago, I never imagined that I'd work on a program with the U.S. Department of State. Now, it is one of the most rewarding projects on my schedule each year.
From Dream to Reality - LGBTQ+ Senior Housing Triumphs
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: About 15 years ago, the headline of this column was "The Pie in the Sky Project." It marked the first public announcement of a project by the dmhFund: an LGBTQ+ senior affordable housing project with a projected budget of $20 million. Today, you know this project as The John C. Anderson Apartments (JCAA), celebrating its 10th anniversary this week. At the time, no LGBTQ+ project in Pennsylvania had ever undertaken such a large endeavor, and more importantly, there was no federal designation for LGBTQ-affirming affordable senior housing projects with federal, state and city investment. We set out to change both.
February, 2024
2024: The year we end the backlash
It's a new year and I for one am tired of all those doom sayers out there. If you continue spiraling down with your negative views, you're just giving in. What you need to do is fight back. This includes every front, from elections to legislation. Instead of groaning, start organizing, take a look at our history, and recognize our greatest strengths. It's time to unite as a community and for Democrats - which makes up an overwhelming percentage of the LGBTQ+ community - to start voicing strong support for our candidates.
January, 2024
Let's talk Nikki Haley and her suicide problem
Unless something happens along the road to the Republican National Convention, it is clear Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee. But what happens if something does happen? It has been my belief for some time now that the Republican nomination for President would go to Nikki Haley. She is a step up from Donald Trump, but no fan of the LGBTQ+ community. She recently has invented an issue that has the LGBTQ+ Community being responsible for non-LGBT suicides. Yep, she claims we lead people to suicide.
December, 2023
Ode to Rue Landau
Rue Landau made history this week by becoming the first OUT person to be elected to Philadelphia City Council. You might think of this as a local story, but it's actually a lesson for other LGBTQ+ candidates around the country. Let's take a deep dive.
Really, there's reason to cheer?
The world seems to be spinning out of control, and at times, that includes our community. We all know the issues that are taking us on this path, but there is an opposite view if you give yourself time to take a breath and notice. There's absolutely some good news out there and if you're anything like me, you're just plain tired of all the bad news and want something to give you hope for the future. So let's see if we can help you out with that.
The Middle East & LGBTQ+ Speech
This column is usually a joy to write, since it gives me an opportunity to share my views and get feedback and also receive different views that I might not have been aware of. Respectful conversation among people who have different views furthers and creates an atmosphere and an attempt to understand another way of thinking and also why they may have strong beliefs. Without that communication and those conversations, we evolve into opposing camps. That is dangerous, especially when there are issues that divide us.
November, 2023
Pope Francis moves forward, Archbishop Perez does not
Those of us who have been fighting for equality for any length of time can see that change does not happen overnight. The best example is some big news this week that you might not have seen, which could mark a major shift in how the Catholic Church views marriage equality, and also notes a 20-year road to religious equality in the Catholic Church. Here are some of the headlines that others around the world woke up to earlier this week.
October, 2023
A Warning to All of Us
Campus Pride has served students and higher education for more than 20 years. According to its website, "Campus Pride represents the leading national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create a safer college environment for LGBTQ students." Each year since 2007, the organization conducts the Campus Pride Index, which gives prospective college students insight into LGBTQ+-friendly campuses.
LGBTQ History, move over NY and California
October is LGBTQ History Month, and I have one question? Which state do you believe contributed more to achieving LGBTQ+ Equality? Here's a hint: It's not California. It's not even New York. Make room for Pennsylvania.
LGBTQ+ equality does not stop at the corporate door
I just returned from speaking at the Out & Equal conference - the annual summit for the country's LGBTQ+ workplace equality nonprofit organization - in Orlando, Fla. This experience showed me the importance and the success of the work we have all done since Stonewall in 1969. When I was an 18-year-old boy who stood outside Stonewall in June 1969, I could have never dreamed or imagined this. Here I was: one of the most radical members of the community in the midst of LGBTQ+ corporate America, and I was invited to speak by one of America's major financial organizations, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
September, 2023
Where do you draw the line at information overload?
August is a time when you're soaking up the sun or winding down on your summer travel. For most, it's a time to get away from it all, including news. But events that affect us continue regardless of the calendar.
July, 2023
Danger, take Note
The LGBT community is in serious danger, and we as a community should begin to take note. While those of us in urban centers and in strongly blue states might feel better about our position in society and in politics, those in mostly red states are having their rights taken away at an alarming rate. You might believe that it only pertains to the trans and drag community, but rest assured that is just a starting point. Right-wing politicians are now going after all LGBT people, and they aren't trying to hide it.
May, 2023
A New Pennsylvania
Last week, the Fairness Act was introduced into the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. I've seen this scenario many times before, but this time, there's hope. Pennsylvania's Fairness Act is similar to the Equality Act in Congress. Both legislations have one thing in common: they have both been introduced and re-introduced numerous times over the years to no avail. Year after year it seems almost like whiplash. The legislation is introduced but never goes anywhere. When one hurdle is passed, another one stands in the way. But there are now some promising signs in Pennsylvania.
True Colors of Stonewall
Imagine if you could go back to Stonewall the first night of the riot. What do you see? Red, brown and black. That's my answer to anyone who asks me what the inside of the Stonewall looked like before that infamous raid on that now famous night in 1969. It was inexplicable to me why those colors were in my memory. That changed a few weeks ago, when during an emotional visit to 51 Christopher Street, the memory of that building and the memory of that night returned to me and helped me realize why those colors were front and center in my mind when it comes to Stonewall. More on that in a moment.
April, 2023
A visit to a British LGBTQ+ Museum and Oscar Wilde's jail cell door
When I was planning my trip to London last month to speak on LGBT History, it was requested that I add a speaking stop at the Queer Britain museum, which focuses on British LGBTQ history and culture. I didn't know much about it, since it just opened last year. But as I learned more, my speaking there soon became one of the more interesting events that I was looking forward to.
The War on Drag Queens and Story Time
Facts: drag queen story time was invented in 2015 by a woman named Michelle Tea who felt that story time events at libraries were too heteronormative. Another reason was that we needed to get kids back to children's stories rather than new media and social media. Hence the idea to get kids back into libraries. That is a noble effort.
March, 2023
Celebrating the Love in our Lives
I'm writing this on Valentine's Day, and for those romantics out there, I think you'll appreciate this column. To all others, be warned you're about to read a column that should be described as full of saccharine.
December, 2022
Joe Biden was right: an election on experience and age
Joe Biden was the big winner in last week's election. So was our community. Let's look at Joe Biden's win and LGBT wins and examine what they have in common. We'll also learn why Joe Biden's age was a major factor in both wins.
No Red wave, but big RAINBOW WAVE
There might not have been a red wave in the midterms, but there certainly was a rainbow wave. There are so many takeaways from the midterms on what drove the result. Mainstream media is fixated on how poorly Republicans did, how Trump candidates failed, and how Trump wound up being the big loser. Abortion rights won across the nation where it was on the ballot, and it became a major issue as some predicted.
November, 2022
Brutal murder of Palestinian gay man is a reminder to all LGBT people
A 25 year old man was killed. His attacker first brutalized and then beheaded him. Did I mention he was gay? Did I mention he was Palestinian? And did I mention that he had fled Palestine and applied for political asylum in Israel because he was frightened for his life? But he was killed not in Israel, where he had escaped to for security, but in Hebron, Palestine.
Is There LGBT Culture?
Do we as LGBT people have a community and a history? Do we have a culture? You'll find the answer by looking at what society considers a community, a culture, and a history.
September, 2022
A week in Chicago and Canada
August isn't supposed to be busy, but as we've all learned, this year seems to have lots of surprises. Last week was no exception for us. It was a learn and share week with stops in Chicago and Ottawa, Canada, and in addition to all the new experiences, it was even better because I got to travel with my husband Jason.
August, 2022
A shout out to those who are visible and Heroes
Many of you are the current heroes in the battle of equality, and you might not even be aware of how you helped get us to the small gains we've already achieved, so thank you!
Stonewall & Visibility at 34,000 feet up
On my United Airlines flight from London to Newark, when boredom set in during the seven and a half hour trip, I decided to see what they had to offer in their entertainment selection. I was totally surprised to find a "Pride Collection" that featured many LGBT films and more. What was more surprising was to find a documentary that I'm in was included as part of this collection on the flight. It's the Smithsonian channel's "Beyond Stonewall," which showcases the LGBT artifacts and stories behind them that are now part of the Smithsonian American History Museum's LGBT collection, including my items from that first Pride and my personal papers and artifacts from the last 53 years of activism.
What's the bigger threat: language or legislatures?
You're about to be erased, but rather than focus on the real enemy, you're wasting time frightening off the people who might be the foot soldiers at your side. Let me ask a question? What is important to you? Your marriage? Your right to have intimacy with the person you love without the very real threat of being incarcerated? What about getting the surgeries you need to be your true self? What about the right to control your own body? What about the right to not allowing quacks to practice legalized torture, otherwise known as aversion therapy, on LBGT youth?
June, 2022
Reclaimed Pride?
If you ask any of us who were part of organizing or marshaling that very first Pride in New York in 1970, you would hear one word about it: joy. Yes, it was a protest that came one year after Stonewall, but it was also a celebration of our fighting back. We were celebrating a community that we had begun to build that included organizations which delivered services, information and activities to the LGBT community, services that for the first time were not centered around then-illegal clubs and bars. So Pride actually translates to protest and celebration, and that Pride came from walking out of our West Village, Christopher Street Ghetto and marching publicly uptown to Central Park. We were Out, Loud, and Proud!
May, 2022
British Government's anti-Trans Conversion Therapy policy
Last week the British government presented its plan to outlaw conversion therapy, but the ban does not cover gender identity, and thus does not protect members of our trans community. In 2017 I wrote a column titled "Conversion therapy is child torture." Five years ago we knew the practice was mostly used on children. With our Trans community becoming visible, especially at younger ages, trans children are now a prime target of those who practice this ugly form of torture. Here's a look back at my column from 2017:
April, 2022
Does Pope bring Change to the Church?
Way back in 2013, this column did something that no one ever expected: it showed hope for the future of the Catholic Church, directly because of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina becoming Pope Francis. You have to recall that until that time, this column was a drumbeat of pushing reform in the Church to end its hateful and harmful words and tactics against the LGBTQ community.
The continual process of naming our community
There's been an interesting debate going on in our community, and it's been a continuous one for many years now. It's fascinating to watch the ins and outs of this issue. So let's delve into it.
Trans women in sports is a fight for equality
There's an important issue in the community and around the country that many of us don't understand fully, and it involves members of our trans community participating in sports. It's been so misreported in the mainstream media that even fellow members of the LGBTQ community don't understand the nuance. Let's face it, it's been a complex subject, but I'm going to attempt to bring it into terms that we can all appreciate.
February, 2022
Cheers to HRC and State Troopers
The Human Rights Campaign's "Municipal Equality Index" is considered the gold standard in measuring how over 500 city governments provide services and welcome their LGBT citizens. One of the simplest questions for a city to gain points is, to me, one of the most important in the whole index: Does your city have an LGBTQ+ liaison or commission?
January, 2022
Sports bringing LGBT visibility to Arabia
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: Some very exciting news is happening in the sports world that is changing the worldview on LGBT rights equality and changing culture. Specifically, it's happening on the racing track.
December, 2021
How connecting the dots change LGBT History
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: I'm in Chicago, Skokie to be exact, at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, which is hosting the LGBT history exhibit "Rise Up Stonewall." The exhibit features pivotal moments and artifacts from the history of the LGBT rights movement, including my work disrupting the TV networks in the '70s. I'm here to give two keynote addresses at the Holocaust Museum's Student Leadership Conference, which has about 300 students and teachers in attendance from four midwestern states.
In the 1970s, my parents pioneered LGBTQ visibility
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: The person I am today is mostly due to the support my parents gave me throughout my life. All the contributions that my work has produced is based on the security they gave me growing up and their continued support of my activism as I tried to raise national LGBT visibility. In standing by me, it appears that my parents were the first out and proud parents in Philadelphia. While I always give them credit in my talks, I also have to explain that I didn't have anything tangible to hang on to as a keepsake other than my memories. Which brings me to something that has always made me sad.
Not all TV Drag Queens are just fluff
All Drag shows are not the same. "RuPaul's Drag Race" panders while "We're Here" on HBO creates change.
November, 2021
Chappelle is transphobic, and he also degrades our history
The more I listen to the debate about the Dave Chappelle Netflix special "The Closer," the more I believe that most of those who are attacking his transphobic remarks didn't watch it or just saw a short clip. There is no doubt that the special is transphobic, but it is more than that. If you have watched it and condemned only his transphobic remarks, you might want to watch it again and note how he reduces the whole of LGBTQ history to bathroom sex.
The fight for equality is rooted in visibility
Most in our community are not aware that now is the time that will choose the direction of the struggle for LGBTQ equality. Yes, we are at a pivotal time. Just take a look at what has happened in the last month:
October, 2021
Is this good news, really good news?
The good news is that Switzerland has legalized same sex marriage by a referendum on the voting ballot. The bad news: 46% of those in Switzerland still do not wish to treat their LGBT citizens with equality. Yes, we've come a long way, but in a country like Switzerland, it's a surprising outcome.
Rainbow Railroad working to help LGBT Afghans flee country
When the Taliban were in control of parts of Afghanistan beginning in the late 1990's, they made clear that the strictly followed Sharia Law, which according to their interpretation means that those who have sexual relations between members of the same sex are condemned to death. They not only state it, they publicize it. During their rule they went so far as to publish photos of those who were hanged.
September, 2021
What I learned on my European Pride tour
After speaking engagements, diplomatic LGBT Pride receptions, and meetings with LGBT activists, Parliamentarians, and Deputy Prime Ministers in U.S. embassies across Europe in the last 10 days, what I learned was that the LGBT community internationally still to this day looks to the U.S. movement for inspiration, and they do so with three words, one of which surprised me and made me appreciate the need to be aware of our history and where we must go to be inclusive as a community.
August, 2021
Pride is about visibility at WPVI
About a month ago, Channel 6 ABC's out meteorologist Adam Joseph contacted me about the station's plans for its employee Pride day event and asked if I'd be their speaker. It would be the last of the almost 20 speaking gigs I've done for Pride month this year, and a great way to end the month. I hadn't realized that it also would mark a major turning point in my life.
Tale of the 100 year old Lesbian Rebel
This column is written under duress. Just kidding. It's actually written with great respect to honor the work of one of our community's most esteemed historians, Jonathan Ned Katz, and his latest work which brings to light an incredible story of an almost unheard of lesbian rebel from the 1920's.
July, 2021
From Stonewall to the White House
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: For me, Pride month is always full of surprises ever since I was a part of that very first New York Pride back in 1970 when I was 18 years old. Everyone seems to want to share a piece of it, and I'm always happy to oblige. I love speaking about that time and helping people understand what it was like. I especially enjoy the pleasant surprise when an organization who I never would have expected asks me to speak. But I was not prepared for one of the surprises that came my way this year.
June, 2021
Many countries still reject, torture and kill LGBT people
President Biden has stated that our foreign policy would be based on human rights which include the respect for LGBT rights. His Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, went even further by issuing this memorandum on February 4th: "Pursuant to President Biden's memorandum, the Department of State in coordination with relevant federal agencies will use a broad range of diplomatic and programmatic tools and resources to protect vulnerable LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers; combat criminalization of individuals on the basis of LGBTQI+ status or conduct; ensure that our diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons and advance nondiscrimination; and allow swift U.S. responses to human rights violations and abuses of LGBTQI+ persons."
May, 2021
Philadelphia Gay News 45th Anniversary
Who would imagine that starting a newspaper for the LGBT community would put you on the KKK hit list? That was only the beginning for PGN. Next came the break in and trashing of our offices, ripping out wiring, destroying the plumbing. Vending boxes destroyed or glued shut. Then there was a court injunction threatened by Keystone Blue Cross. The refusal of journalism organizations to allow us to be members.
April, 2021
"Religious freedom" is not about religion. It's about money.
Here's a secret that has stopped the Equality Act in its tracks in the U.S. Senate. The Republicans and religious leaders have framed the subject as one of "religious freedom," and have won that debate since our lobbyists aren't addressing it as it should be: religious institutions wanting special rights to discriminate. And let's not forget the boogieman/women they use is our trans community. But why, you might wonder, does the religious right put up so much of a fight against the Equality Act?
The homophobia in artificial intelligence
From Philadelphia Gay News: Ran across an article in Forbes about how A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) will never be LGBT friendly. Why does it matter?
March, 2021
Biden's first month is one for the LGBT history books
One month into his term as President, Joseph R. Biden has done more for LGBT equality than any President's full body of work in an entire four year or eight year term. Here's the summary.
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta announces run for U.S. Senate
February 18, 2021 11:44 pm - State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, the first LGBTQ person of color to serve in the Pennsylvania Assembly, is entering the 2022 race for U.S. Senate. A member of the Pennsylvania House since 2018, Kenyatta made his announcement February 18 on MSNBC. He hopes to win the seat currently occupied by Republican Pat Toomey, who is retiring.
The Dog Day of Quarantine, literally
Like many of you, Jason and I are going into our eleventh month of quarantine lockdown, or as we are now calling it, the Dog Days of Quarantine.
February, 2021
The biggest LGBT stories of 2020
From Philadelphia Gay News: Although Trump continued to chip away at the rights our community has attained over the last few years, we did make some amazing gains in Trump's final year as President. The importance of some of these earth shattering changes have been overshadowed by a lack of historic knowledge.
January, 2021
Mayor Pete in the steps of Von Steuben
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: In my October Q & A with candidate Joe Biden, I asked whether he would put LGBT people in his cabinet. His answer was "I'll nominate and appoint federal officials and judges that represent the diversity of America, including LGBTQ+ individuals."
December, 2020
Georgia On My Mind
This column could be filled with the names of those in the LGBTQ community who expect or should be considered for position in the Biden/Harris administration. But there’s something even more important at the moment that needs to be addressed. There are two runoff elections for the United States Senate in Georgia which will decide who controls the US Senate. The Democratic candidates in those elections are Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. We need to elect both of them on January 5th.
November, 2020
Biden pledges support to LGBTQ community
PGN Exclusive: This Q and A with former Vice President and now Democratic Candidate for President Joe Biden starts out with a meeting in 2012 when a group of us met in the Vice President's office in the White House to find a way to fund an LGBT senior affordable living facility. That building is the John C. Anderson LGBT-Friendly Apartments, a hallmark of Philadelphia's LGBTQ community. We start there.
When to not cover a Trump story
From Philadlphia Gay News: A Trump "gay pride" rally was recently held in our back yard. PGN chose not to cover it. Similarly, a few weeks ago, the Philadelphia LGBTQ community made their voices heard and another forum involving a Gay Trumper was cancelled. PGN did not cover that and did not name the person involved. To name them means to give them publicity. And that's all this administration wants and all they care about: their image. They couldn't care less about their actions, which have been horrible towards the LGBTQ community.
October, 2020
Cole Doman as Mark Segal
If you've heard the rumor about my book, I'm here to tell you that it's not a rumor. It's true, and no one is more surprised than me. So guess I should tell you how it all happened?
My Notorious RBG Moment
In the 1990's, the U.S. Senate was attempting in every possible way to censor this new thing called the Internet. They soon came up with an idea to stop information that might be objectionable to a particular community, an idea which would have allowed a district attorney in, say, Alabama, to prosecute any web site it found objectionable. The penalty was six months in jail and a $50,000 fine per incident. To further make it palatable to their base, the Senate said the legislation was designed to protect children. They titled it the Children's Online Protection Act, COPA for short.
This election is your Stonewall moment
You might be like most people right now who are just sitting back believing that the lead in the polls that Biden/Harris have at this point is impossible for Trump to come back from. That would be wrong. Just look at 2016 when all of us thought that it was in the bag for Hillary Clinton, when all of us thought Trump could never, ever get elected. Were you one of the 102 million people who did not vote?
September, 2020
Trump revealed how he'll steal the election
Last weekend I had just finished Mary Trump's book "Too Much and Never Enough," when I decided to turn on TV. There was Donald Trump, the world's most dangerous man, as the book says, holding another campaign rally disguised as a press conference.
August, 2020
How to use fame and foster dialogue
Most of you know actor Billy Porter from the TV show "Pose" or his starring role in the Broadway hit "Kinky Boots." He is also a strong proponent of LGBT rights, especially in the Black community and even more so for trans people of color. He was one of the first voices to speak up when Kevin Hart's homophobic tweets became an issue that it caused Hart to drop out of hosting the Academy Awards. To describe Hart's attitude, which was that if he found his son playing with a doll house he'd crash the doll house over his son's head, Porter coined the phrase "super masculinity" among straight Black men and their discrimination against Black gay and particularly Trans people of color. While Ellen Degeneres praised Hart for his weak apology, Porter spoke as a man who has personally felt that oppressive sting. His words started a new dialogue in the Black community, a discussion of hypermasculinity as well as the Black church. To say it was controversial is an understatement.
May, 2020
Staying busy during the new coronavirus pandemic
Each of us is trying to find a way to deal with COVID-19. We could go on a rant about all the mistakes made by and lack of action from our amateur president, but I've already done that so much that I'm almost orange in the face - pun intended. But we should step up and thank the media. Its media that gave you the truth about what is actually happening. Did you notice when the president said, "Anybody who wants a test can get a test"? It was the press that showed you tests were not available. When he told you there were enough masks, it was the press that showed you the shortage in hospitals and for EMTs. When he said, it will be over shortly, and we only have five cases, maybe we'll have 15. It was the press which not only told you he was wrong but showed you the truth. And the biggest lies - when he first knew of the virus and his response to it. That is why we were, and still are, unprepared.
February, 2020
A pilgrimage to where my hero lies
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: You should know this name. Over the holidays, I had the closest thing to a pilgrimage that I'll ever know.
Many of you don't know the name Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, but when I'm asked who my LGBT hero is, the answer is, it's him. To put it simply, Hirschfeld is the father of the LGBT movement for equality. You might think it was those of us at Stonewall or those at the Independence Hall marches or those even earlier like Harry Hay and the Mattachine Society in 1950. But all of us don't hold a candle to Hirschfeld, who started his work, not in 1950, but 65 years earlier in Berlin, Germany in 1896
Stonewall is not my legacy
One of my favorite movies is "Some Like It Hot," starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. It's one of those old-time 1950s screwball comedies. At one point, Marilyn Monroe looks at Jack Lemmon - in drag no less - and says, "On my next birthday, I'll be 25, a quarter of a century - makes a girl think."
Taking stock of life during Stonewall 50
Like many, as the year ends, I usually take a look at what kind of year it has been. For me, 2019 was the year of Stonewall 50 and celebrating 50 years as an activist for change. This year turned out to be the busiest of my life, and thanks to you, it gave me an opportunity to take stock of not only the year, but my life as well.
January, 2020
LGBT representation on TV and a thank-you letter
A few weeks ago, this column touched on the subject of why the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime, both of which run romantic holiday movies 24/7 during the holidays, don't have a film celebrating an LGBT couple.
December, 2019
Hallmark, Lifetime, the gay question
Like me, I'm sure you're beginning to think about the holidays. The Hallmark Channel and Lifetime are already running holiday romance movies 24/7. This year, not only do they have holiday movies for the Black community, they even have one that has a Jewish storyline. Wonder if they have a Chanukah bush? These new movies are an attempt to be diverse and inclusive.
November, 2019
Real political power and you
Have you ever thought about combining politics and a hobby with community service, and at the same time being a cog in the wheel that could bring us all equality? Well, here's how you can do just that.
October, 2019
Is PrEP forgetting the LGBT community?
em>From Philadelphia Gay News: If you're a member of the LGBT community, you're affected by HIV/AIDS in many ways. And if you needed information related to AIDS/HIV when the crisis emerged, there was only one reliable place that you could turn: your local LGBT newspaper, like this one. At that time, the mainstream media, even The New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer, were derelict in their duties as media sources and journalists. If you needed to know where to receive treatment, what drugs were available to help, and new organizations that were formed to help support the fight, the only place you could find information on a regular, reliable basis was your local LGBT newspaper.
August, 2019
A week like no other in a long life
It was one of the most magical weeks that I'll ever have. When I headed to New York by train, it was already announced that I'd be one of the grand marshals of the Stonewall 50 World Pride parade, and that meant marching with my Gay Liberation Front sisters and brothers.
On the road again
Each year Jason and I do a road trip. The rules are very simple: We try to go to places we haven't been, the place must have something we've heard about that is slightly odd, and the place must take us out of our comfort zone so we can see what it's like living out of our East Coast liberal bubble.
June, 2019
Stonewall 50 excitement
From Philadelphia Gay News: Around the nation, people are beginning to notice something stirring in the LGBT community.
May, 2019
Let's win the election first
If you are like me, your position on the 2020 presidential election might come down to this: You will elect any of the Democratic candidates for president, no matter how far they stray from your views, because the current occupant is flawed and an embarrassment to our country.
April, 2019
This historic year: 2019
This year is a major historic notch for our community. It marks the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. If you weren't already aware, within 60 days, not only you but everyone will begin to notice leading up to that last Sunday in June, since most of the TV networks and scores of museums and cultural institutions will unveil their ways of commemorating Stonewall 50.
March, 2019
Elections and whom the LGBT community should support
Once upon a time, the LGBT community had no LGBT choices in politics, only LGBT-friendly candidates, who weren't LGBT themselves, to endorse.
The question of Jussie Smollett
Jussie Smollett of the TV show "Empire" has recently been in the media and it's not a pretty story.
February, 2019
I don't do movie reviews, but...
There is a movie that by seeing its trailers and advertising on TV, you'd have no expectation that it has any relevance to you or our community.
December, 2018
Far-right video game spreads hate
If you want to know what the far right that supports President Trump thinks of you, they want you dead. You think I'm kidding. Well, from those wonderful folks at Pink News comes a report on a new video game that does just that.
September, 2018
LGBT commission makes history - again
History is repeating itself 42 years later. That's where my thoughts were as Jason and I were on Amtrak on our way to a reception at the Pennsylvania's Governor's Residence this past Monday.
August, 2018
The Beginning of Pride
From Philadelphia Gay News: As we go to press, I'm preparing to travel for my last of four speaking gigs this June, all for Pride month. There are various reasons why groups ask me to speak during Pride month. Some are familiar with my column or writings; others want me to speak about publishing in the LGBT community; still others, a point of LGBT history I've been personally involved with. But I'm sure that very few know that when they ask me to speak, especially during Pride month, I'm going to speak about organizing that very first Pride, since what most of them don't know is I was a part of that, and a death this past week just before New York's Gay Pride made me think a lot about what Pride stands for.
The facts of LGBT discrimination
This week, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney won a major court case that will most likely make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court and affects our community more than the super-hyped wedding-cake case. And guess what? Almost no one noticed the significance of this major turn of events, but with much higher stakes, not only for you, but especially for religious organizations. Why does it loom large, with billions in tax dollars? Yes, we've reached a new stage of our struggle, where discrimination against LGBT people could cost billions - that's billions, with a B - of dollars to those who discriminate, or it could legalize discrimination.
July, 2018
Talk is not cheap
From Philadelphia Gay News: Ah, summertime - the living is easy. We toss our cares to the wind, head for a little R&R and, for many, that great summer vacation. So it should be a time to relax, lay back and enjoy the sunshine. But wait, we're five months from an election. Here's where I can envision you saying, "Mark, why are you bringing this up now?"
June, 2018
When political connections allow discrimination, we fight back
For our family at PGN, this has been what you might call a mixed couple of weeks. It started with the death of one of our extended family members, Mike Petty, the husband of Don Pignolet, who has been with this paper since its beginning. Naturally our hearts and first concerns were with Don.
May, 2018
Finding common ground in LGBT Health centers
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: Last week, the LGBT medical clinic in Philadelphia, Mazzoni Center, which serves more than 35,000 clients, announced that the board had appointed a new CEO. Lydia Gonzalez Scirarrino, it turns out, is not LGBT, and that seemed to distress some people in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. How could a non-LGBT person head an organization that has a majority of its clients from the LGBT community?
Future World LGBT Leaders
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: This week I had a great honor. While we in the United States are concerned with the state of our struggle for equality, and worry each day how the Trump administration wants to dismantle the gains we've made, I had the opportunity to meet this week as part of a program from the U.S. State Department called the International Visitor Leadership Program. Seventeen future leaders from central and South America visit the United States, and what the program does is try to show young future leaders of various countries how the U.S. political system operates. Part of that is community involvement, including the LGBT community. The fact that this is still being done under Trump makes me wonder how long before Mike Pence pounces on it.
April, 2018
Media milestones & GLAAD
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: There were two events this week of great magnitude to the LGBT community that mostly were just seen as everyday occurrences, but I assure you they were not. Both are media related and if we've learned anything in our community, being out changes the world, and being out in media reaches the masses and educate the general public on who we are and what we are all about… and let's not forget that there are many places in America that still don't know us and we don't reach, but media certainly can and will.
March, 2018
Abuse and sexual harassment in our community
The current presidential administration does not understand spousal abuse or sexual harassment. Most are saying that the person at fault stops at the door of the chief of staff but, no, it stops in the Oval Office at the desk of President Donald Trump.
That Amazon LGBT Ad
The national obsession with where Amazon will plant itself reached new absurdity last week when numerous media outlets published a report that a group of gay activists were going to run ads suggesting that many of the 20 finalist cities should be disqualified based on LGBT equality criteria. One of those 20 was my own Philadelphia.
February, 2018
Is North Korea gay-friendly?
from Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: With the North Korea situation being in front of the news, the answer to that question is simple: No. But it gives us an opportunity as a community to look at how the U.S. and our community are dealing with other nations and their LGBT policies.
Steve Bannon, Trump Campaign and LGBT Media
Want to hear a presidential campaign secret? Well, it's been a year so guess I can tell this strange story. I'll leave some names out for obvious reasons. During the presidential election, every newspaper worth its weight in newsprint attempts to get interviews with the principals in the race. Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) received unprecedented access on the Democratic side. We interviewed almost every principal from campaign manager Robby Mook to vice presidential candidate Tim Kane. We even had interviews with the leaders of Congress and the Senate: Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer. No one else in LGBT media has ever been granted this much access in one election cycle before, unless you count the coverage we did from Denver eight years earlier. You'd think we'd be very pleased and rest on our laurels. You know us better.
The Kardashian-ization of Chelsea Manning
A few weeks ago, I wrote a column stating that all we needed to do to resist Donald Trump is to be united and vote in 2018. Seems simple, doesn't it? The most important part of that statement is "united." Maybe I should have added the importance of being united with those who have been part of the resistance and supported our community. Then maybe I should have added that this is no time to split the community, or our vote.
January, 2018
A Jewish Christmas tale
from Philadelphia Gay News: When I was young, about 11, Jewish kids didn't acknowledge Christmas as anything other than just another day, but we appreciated that it meant something important to our Christian neighbors. The reality was, since our neighbors were Christian, it was a boring day for us kids as our friends were with their families enjoying a day that in American culture is one for family, and we felt excluded.
An open letter to the citizens of Alabama
From Mark Segal of Philadelphia Gay News: I am an openly gay man, so you might say you hate the sinner part of me but love me as a person. You also might tell me my civil rights are special rights that infringe on your beliefs. But most importantly, you'd say the LGBT community is immoral.
Goals for the upcoming New Year
OK, someone has to say it. We've survived the first year of the trump administration, but it has done damage to both the country's reputation and our community. And if you feel that way, 2018 is your year to correct that path.
December, 2017
Giving thanks for community
Ah, Thanksgiving - the start of what we call the holiday season, but if you've seen any TV, looked at a newspaper or been on a website recently, you've likely noticed that the season seems to have already started. Many people call this the "joyous season." But for many LGBT people, this is not a joyous season, especially the most disenfranchised in our community - youth who were forced out of their homes or, worse, forced into "conversation-therapy" camps; trans people who were disowned by family and friends; and seniors, most of whom came out in a time when there were no rights and little tolerance, especially from family.
Trump Human Rights - LGBT Disaster
Much has been made of the lack of attention to human rights by President Trump on his recent excursion to Asia. This, by and of itself, represents the United States giving up the mantel on this subject since we first gained prominence on the issue during the Jimmy Carter administration in the 1970s. We were the international leader for this proud cause, and president after president - regardless of being a Democrat or a Republican - raised it on foreign trips. We are told that Trump mentioned the topic of human rights only in passing to the president of the Philippines during this trip. This is a warning sign for many in the LGBT community throughout the world. Recall a nation called Uganda: If it were not for the intervention of the United States, its legislature would right now have a "Kill the Gays" law.
With Pence the lapdog, is a Trump impeachment a bad thing?
Is it not obvious by now who is controlling President Donald Trump and his anti-LGBT crusade? Vice President Mike Pence, who made a national name for himself as governor of Indiana by pushing "religious-liberty" laws to allow citizens to ignore LGBT rights for religious reasons. That's not to mention anti-trans legislation he supported, and his backing of conversion therapy - all of which Pence sees as his contribution to the moral fiber of America, and his legacy.
November, 2017
From Asia, with Pride
I've been traveling out of the country for the last couple of weeks, and with what seems to be so much disagreement in our community on a range of issues, and the ongoing doubts about where our struggle is leading, I thought I'd share with you a few snapshots from my trip - which should give you a different view of our community and our accomplishments.
Silencing LGBT Pride in Egypt
Donald Trump and his fake excuse and misdirected attack on the NFL players who are kneeling for social justice have some people saying it's a sign of a leader cracking down on the First Amendment, which leads to an authoritarian state. Think that's an overreach? Take a look at a similar issue in another country with an already-authoritarian state.
October, 2017
'Gypsy' the musical is LGBT history?
LGBT history can be found in every aspect of our lives. Sometimes it just comes as a surprise to learn that something, or someone, you've known about was gay. Given the title of this column, you may think this is going to be about the lyricist of "Gypsy" - my favorite Broadway composer, Stephen Sondheim, who's gay - it isn't. And if you think it's about another member of the production company of that original Broadway bombastic hit - so many of them were gay - again, it isn't.
Applaud journalism
This weekend, NLGJA: The Association of LGBT Journalists has its annual convention, held this year in Philadelphia. The organization and its membership may not be what you expect. For the most part, the focus is not on LGBT media, but rather the organization serves as a place for LGBT journalists who mostly work in mainstream media, in places like CNN, MSNBC and news divisions of the three major networks - NBC, ABC and CBS - as well as print media like New York Times, Washington Post and, of course, Philadelphia Inquirer.
Glass half full of progress?
I saw a picture today of a young gay couple standing next to an older heterosexual couple. Then, I noticed that the two men were holding up their hands to show their wedding rings and the older couple must be one of their parents. It brought tears to my eyes, and I don't even know these guys. What went through my mind was, isn't it wonderful that we live in a time when not only can two people in love marry, but a majority of the country supports our rights?
Rizzo, Philadelphia Gay News and the BBC
The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) is the world's largest broadcaster. It began in 1922 and has a stellar record for its journalism, both news and its fascinating documentaries, which at times seem to be pigeonholed to the most under-looked parts of humanity.
September, 2017
Conversion therapy is child torture
To the entire LGBT community: Let's begin as a community to state the truth without putting lipstick on a pig. Personally, it sickens me when I see someone from GLAAD or HRC on television calling conversion therapy "praying the gay away." That is downright as truthful as a Donald Trump tweet, and might show how we attempt to soften our message for consumption by the mainstream. Or, it might hide something very sad: our own attempt to not accept what has been done to us as a collective community for years - and that, my friends, is torture.
The power of no
You might have noticed that this summer has been slightly different for me, but that comes after five years of constant motion. People keep saying they can't keep up with me and asking when I'm going to slow down. Well, that question has been answered this summer.
What did America do on its summer vacation?
It's the last week of August - or what are known as the lazy, hazy last days of summer. Soon schools will open and, as many of us will recall, many teachers will ask their assembled students, "What did you do with your summer vacation?"
August, 2017
Wedding Wisdom
From Philadelphia Gay News: I'm writing this column on Jason's and my third wedding anniversary. Since marriage is something new for our community, and us, I thought I'd share what has been a learning process.
July, 2017
America's newest museum recognizes LGBTs in our revolution
America's newest museum, Museum Of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, does something quite revolutionary: It recognizes the LGBT community as having played a part of that revolution. And it does so with several exhibits.
Chicago Dyke March: Full of shame!
From Philadelphia Gay News: Hard headline, so let me make it more clear. Whoever is in charge of the Chicago Dyke March has their heads up their asses. If you've read this column before, you've never read language like that from me before, but I'll let you judge. Here are the facts: About 1,500 people gathered to be a part of the Chicago Dyke March earlier this month. As with many LGBT events, people bring their own posters, picket signs and flags. There were signs representing many views at this march but organizers asked only one group to leave: three women with rainbow flags with a Star of David superimposed on them.
My take on this year's Gay Pride controversies
From Philadelphia Gay News: Pride is very special to me, since I helped in the first Gay Pride march in 1970. At that time it was not a "Gay Pride" march, but rather a march to show - using today's terms - our resistance to society's portrayal of us. It was also a celebration of what we created in the year since the Stonewall Riots. But mostly, it was a statement that we no longer would be in the closet. We were out loud and in your face!
Rainbow flag - bringing us together?
From Philadelphia Gay News: (This year's protest at Gay Pride celebrations at various events around the nation on a host of issues led me to pen this op-ed) There is no question that the rainbow flag has become the symbol of our community's fight for equality. And that flag that the community embraces has gone through changes but never any that have been so publicized as the recent updates that were made to it in Philadelphia. That makes me want to ask, What's all the fuss about?
May, 2017
Coming to terms with Marsha P. Johnson
A couple of years ago, the author and director of the Academy Award-nominated "How To Survive a Plague," David France, contacted me for his next project. We chatted a few times and then he arrived at my door with a complete film crew and research staff. He was going to spend the day filming me talking about my sister from Gay Liberation Front in New York, Marsha P. Johnson. Last week, France was kind enough to ask me to the Tribeca Film Festival for a showing of that film, now titled "The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson."
Vaporizing Stonewall
This week, I'm writing about an issue that sheds new light on a subject we all think we know: Stonewall. Earlier this week, my husband Jason, who teaches creative writing at Boston University, handed me an anthology of the best science-fiction stories of 2016. The book, edited by John Joseph Adams, has a story by Sam J. Miller titled "The Heat of Us: Notes Towards an Oral History." It's literally a science-fiction account of Stonewall.
April, 2017
Answering Facebook Questions
I asked, you answered. Every so often I ask my Facebook and Twitter friends (about 30,000) to suggest subjects for me to address in this column. Here are some recent suggestions:
The rise (and fall) of an LGBT miniseries
How many of you watched the ABC miniseries "When We Rise"? Not many, according to the ratings.
February, 2017
Obama made us cool
There is no other U.S. president who can stand even close to the legacy of President Barack Obama on LGBT issues. In fact, you could stack all the LGBT gains accumulated from every president before Obama together and they wouldn't come close to those made during his administration. No one column could simply list all his achievements on behalf of the LGBT community but there is one that most of our community, seems to be blind to: Thanks to President Obama, it became cool to support LGBT equality.
December, 2016
Trump as easy as 1, 2, 3
1. Trump is President-elect. If that angers or frightens you, don't get upset, get involved.
November, 2016
Op Ed: You must vote for Hillary
You have no choice but to vote for Hillary Clinton. Your very life depends on it.
VP nominee Sen. Tim Kaine: Equality Act a 'priority' for Clinton administration
In an exclusive interview with Philadelphia Gay News, U.S. Sen. Tim Kane, the Democratic nominee for vice president, recently shared his views on LGBT issues and what his position in a Clinton Administration might look like. This interview started out addressing my conversation with Kaine at the Democratic National Convention the night he was officially nominated.
October, 2016
Homelessness: An ignored community issue
You most likely thought I'd be talking in this column about the race for president but I'm not. This column is instead about a subject close to my heart: our homeless LGBT youth and homeless transgender people.
August, 2016
Mark My Words: Donald Trump, Orlando and Nazi skin-heads
Like many of you in the LGBT community, I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from allies here and around the world after last month's mass shooting in Orlando. But I also have many questions and am perplexed by what I m seeing and hearing as some people attempt to explain or use this incident for their own purposes - or even to bash other communities in our name. Those mixed feeling are slowly building up to anger.
Tracing the LGBT DNC legacy
The Democratic National Convention that will convene in Philadelphia July in just a couple hours with LGBT history on full public view. This will be the first national political party convention with LGBT participation on every level: the largest number of out LGBT delegates and delegates at every level, from a small county district to super delegate, from county commissioner to U.S. Senator. And while the Republican platform suggests same-sex married couples are at risk of raising drug-addicted children, denies transgender people any rights and asks that women not be allowed equal duty in the military, the Democratic platform embraces LGBT issues in broad strokes - from the Equality Act in Congress to the military and trans rights.
July, 2016
Corporate equality, from Comcast to Charlotte
When you're in the media, you get invited to events where you see other media professionals with whom you work. So it was no surprise when I showed up at a press conference last month to preview the Fourth of July Wawa Welcome America celebration that I saw my friend David L. Cohen, who is Comcast's senior executive vice president and chief diversity officer.
Mark My Words: Sugar high
The Philadelphia soda tax is a local story, but it's also one that is playing out nationally. And, if you haven't already begun to pay attention to it, you should.
Orlando, They didn't die in vain
When you used to say the word "Orlando," it brought up the image of Harry Potter, Disney World castles and waterparks - but it now conjures a different image: that of mass murder at the Pulse nightclub. In time, that image will cease to exist for most of America; the city of Orlando will want that imagery to be lost, as will the many tourist attractions that call it home. Families will again visit in droves, and they should; it is not the fault of the city or its attractions, it's the fault of one lone, possibly unstable, man.
We're out and proud. Especially after Orlando.
I woke up Sunday morning to the horrible, alarmingly common news of an incident of gun violence and terrorism. But this one was different: The shooter's target was the LGBT community. I learned about the incident as I was getting ready to march in Philadelphia's Gay Pride Parade. I never questioned whether I would march, but it took me hours to realize why.
June, 2016
First ally governor
Listen up, LGBT history fans. When you think of LGBT history, you likely think of San Francisco or New York City, but the truth is, 40 years ago, Pennsylvania was at the vanguard of the American struggle for LGBT equality. You're probably thinking I'm going to mention those pickets outside Independence Hall every July 4 from 1965-69, or the Dewey's sit-in in 1965. None of the above.
Mark My Words: Change through communication
This last sleepy, dreary, overcast Saturday, you might have missed President Barack Obama as he gave what many might say in the future was one of his best speeches of his presidential years. It was a commencement address at Howard University, and it was a call for what he has consistently stood for: hope. It was also an urge to those in attendance to get involved, and not be afraid to engage with those who do not agree with us, for change only happens with communication.
You asked, I answered
This week's column is (mostly) not about Donald Trump. Instead, as I do from time to time, I asked my Facebook friends to suggest topics. So here goes:
May, 2016
A 40-year PGN journey
From Philadelphia Gay News (April 11, 2016): Last Friday I attended a meeting of the National Gay Media Association, an organization of the publishers of the LGBT legacy publications. At one point when we came back from a break, Lynn Brown, publisher of The Washington Blade, asked all to rise but me. She then asked all the other publishers to toast me and PGN on our 40th anniversary.
MARK MY WORDS: Historic honors
Last week, this newspaper was informed that, for the third year in a row, we have won a Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award. This time it was for our staff's coverage of last year's Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality. The award is given for deadline reporting of a major story: how the staff covered the issue, how that coverage affected readers = essentially, that the publication gets the basic of reporting and does so well, and on a deadline.
April, 2016
Moving forward, looking back
Jason and I went to a heterosexual wedding last weekend. (I wonder if heterosexuals say, "I went to a gay wedding last weekend"?) Anyway, it was the first one we've been to since our own wedding. We were honored to be asked to be a part of the ceremony itself; we got the opportunity to watch the faces of our friends, Jesse and Mark, as they went through a monumental change in their lives.
March, 2016
'Queer': Word du jour?
From Philadelphia Gay News: There seems to be yet another controversy in our community this week. The issue du jour is over HuffPost changing its dedicated LGBT site's name from 'GayVoices' to 'QueerVoices.' While there are strong opinions on both sides of this issue, when I heard about it, it brought a smile to my face.
The Republican SCOTUS gift
From Philadelphia Gay News: OK liberals, the Republicans, in their "wisdom" have said they won't consider President Obama's nominee to replace Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. By taking such an approach, the GOP has handed liberals a golden opportunity - and shown their absolute stupidity, as they trip all over each other to enter the clown car and be the first to utter their obstructionism.
Words from Mark - Iowa: What it means
From Philadelphia Gay News: Finally, the Iowa caucuses have come and gone and with them come the pundits and candidates with their spin. But what about the LGBT spin? Let's look at what those races meant and maybe do a little crystal-ball predicting.
February, 2016
Philadelphia Gay News: 40 Years Strong and Counting
From Philadephia Gay News: This is a very special week here at PGN On Jan. 3, we marked the 40th anniversary of the first issue of PGN. We'll have an official 40th-anniversary edition and event later in the year; stay tuned for that information.
Words from Mark: Insensitive, anti-Semitic protests
From Philadelphia Gay News: When I was a boy of 13, my grandmother took me to my first civil-rights demonstration to teach me about racism and social justice. She knew those issues well: Our family fled from the pogroms in Russia, others in our family perished in the Holocaust and Grandmom even fought for women's rights.
January, 2016
Mark My Words: New Year's
From Philadelphia Gay News: What a year, and what a ride. As we all do, I'm beginning to look back at my year. And for me, it certainly was a special year, one in which I learned a lot. Let me share with you some of the lessons I took from 2015.
MARK MY WORDS: TRUMP and mob Mentality
Let me ask you, readers, if you feel I'm going a little far when I suggest that I'm frightened that some people running for the highest office in the land are encouraging mob action like it has not be seen since 1938 Europe?
November, 2015
Starting a new chapter
From Philadelphia Gay News: One of my favorite movies as a kid (and to this day) was Auntie Mame.
September, 2015
An activist's memory lane
From Philadelpia Gay News: In recent months, it has occurred to me that a little research on my past was in order for a project that has occupied my time for the last few years.
Another Catholic conflict ahead of papal visit
From Philadelphia Gay News: Oh, how I hoped to not be writing another column about the World Meeting of Families in September, but actions by Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput and the Catholic League s Bill Donohue must be answered.
August, 2015
Calling out Chaput
From Philadelphia Gay News - July 19, 2015- Archbishop Chaput in his actions this week proves to be exactly what our friends in Denver, whose archdiocese he previously led, warned Philadelphia about: a man with little respect for humanity.
Invite to Pope Francis to meet U.S. LGBT Catholic families
Many of us in the United States are looking forward to your visit, especially here in Philadelphia, where you will attend the World Meeting of Families. You have told us time and again that the Church isn't a toll house but the house of God where there is a place for everyone, with all their problems.
July, 2015
MARK MY WORDS: We have arrived
From Philadelphia Gay News: Listen up, LGBT America. The history of your struggle for LGBT equality is about to go mainstream. Just like the struggle of the black community, the Polish-American immigrant story or the Jewish heritage experience, we as a people have a story that also deserves to be told. For many years, society has tried to keep it hidden, and some in our very own community still wish many of us activists would simply just shut up.
SCOTUS: Why should I marry?
From Philadelphia Gay News: You'll read a lot of marriage-equality articles and news items in the next few weeks thanks to the pending ruling on the subject by the U.S. Supreme Court - but likely none like this one.
June, 2015
LGBT History must be preserved, not revised
From Philadelphia Gay News, April 30, 2015 - There is a national spotlight on the 50th anniversary of the first LGBT demonstrations in front of Independence Hall that took place every July 4 from 1965-69. While it was a pivotal change in the struggle for equality, some are revising our history out of context by stating it is the 50th anniversary of the LGBT movement. That simply is not true.
MARK MY WORDS: Bringing our youth home
From Philadelphia Gay News - Last week, my phone rang and the voice on the other end very apprehensively said their name and then, "I'm the one who has been in a 'conversion-therapy' camp." Then, they began to cry. Here's how this saga began:
May, 2015
MARK MY WORDS: Of Iran, gay Pride and Rick Santorum
From Philadelphia Gay News: June will soon be upon us and when many of us think of June, we think of gay Pride.
April, 2015
History returns to Independence Hall, and in a patriotic and musical way
From Philadelphia Gay News: Something happened a few weeks ago that literally made me stop and take note of how far we have come in our struggle for equality.
LGBT history at its best
From Philadelphia Gay News: Next week a press conference will be held. It's not unusual to have a press conference to announce almost any new program, but this one represents something that the world, and our community, is just beginning to recognize: the history of the struggle for LGBT equality.
March, 2015
Loss of a pioneer
From Philadelphia Gay News: My friend Jerry Hoose died last week. You most likely don't know the name, but he affected your life; he certainly affected mine.
February, 2015
Calling out ageism
From Philadelphia Gay News: Last Sunday on one of those morning news talk shows, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was asked about Hillary Clinton's possible candidacy for president. He responded: "People want to look to the future, we don't want to go back in time."
Hollywood is lagging behind on LGBT issues
From Philadelphia Gay News: Hollywood awards season is upon us! This week we saw the Golden Globes and the release of the nominations for the Academy Awards, aka the Oscars. At both, several LGBT people were recognized and that s important, since a major part of the fight for equality is about visibility and being treated equal in all areas.
January, 2015
Mark Segal: The LGBT welcome mat
From Philadelphia Gay News: Pope Francis, thank you for your kind words about LGBT families and LGBT childre. Last week, His Holiness said, "The Catholic Church must help parents stand by their gay children."
December, 2014
Church synod LGBT slap in the face?
For the LGBT community to simply ignore what happened at the Vatican a couple of weeks ago when Pope Francis convened a synod on issues facing the Catholic Church would be a major mistake. Even those of us who are not Catholic are effected by a church that has an estimated 1.2 billion members worldwide. Here in the U.S. it's influence effects the way some elected officials vote and some Judges rule. And then their are the issues that effect our brother and sister believers and their families. We can not turn our backs on them.
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