My, oh my.. What are we to do? Import some of those cool rich gays? Trade them for some philly thugs? Participate in a trap-'em-in-NYC-and-release-'em-in-Philly program?

I like the social diversity of Philly, not just in the gay community. The last thing I'd want to see happen to this town is it become a homogenized wasteland of elitist clones. I know I'm in the minority, but I like the grit. And it's true, Philly's gay bars might be kind of dull if you're looking for upscale, Sex and the City rip-offs, but if the gay bars in Philly suck so much, venture beyond 12th and 13th Street. Plenty of gay guys hang out in Old City and Rittenhouse and you'll find no shortage of fabricated snobbery if that's what you're looking for. Otherwise, stop comparing Philadelphia to everywhere that's "better" and focusing on its flaws. Enjoy what it does have to offer, or do your part to make the gay community a little more energetic and engaging.

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The idealistic are no longer concerned with influencing public opinion and creating a free world of responsible and ethical social choices, but rather imposing opinion through legislation, mandating these ethics, and outlawing choice in what the loudest sample finds offensive.

Ban the Bans. It's a slippery slope between Idealism and Fascism.

Please bitches try this bar/lounge at the Bellevue. Am not sure if this was just a special Friday gay event or what but it was gay night this passed Friday and there were more than a few good looking David Beckham types I had a great time, upscale ambiance without the stuffiness, great drinks and nice music. Oh and what a freaking gorgeous hotel!

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Dave you are the sazon to my rice n' beans
You are the rum to my mojito and the tequila to my margarita

Candy Galore

Am a Tree Hugger

I luv Candy

I found this article to be quite enlightening re: the self-delusional "power players" in LGBT Philadelphia:

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=2799

I remember when that article came out. Funny that its 7 years later and nothing really has changed.

It all sounds like a lot of typical gay drama to me. All cities have these kinds of cat fights in the gay community. I don't know how many people actually take these self-proclaimed power-players seriously, even within our own community. I don't know too many people, including myself, who actually read the PGN. I may occasionally grab a free copy at a bar with other various gay paraphernalia, but I certainly would never consider it to be a legitimate news source. To call it the gay New York Times sounds more like sarcasm than anything. It's a gay rag, and it by no means speaks for the Philadelphia gay community. You're giving these idiots too much credit if you blame them for an underwhelming gay community. If enough people are honestly fed up with our B-rate gay community, journalism, festivals, etc., there would be a market for improvement. When a community genuinely demands improvement, it doesn't take much to muscle out these kind of outdated voices. Unfortunately as a whole I think our community is satisfied with the status quo.

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The idealistic are no longer concerned with influencing public opinion and creating a free world of responsible and ethical social choices, but rather imposing opinion through legislation, mandating these ethics, and outlawing choice in what the loudest sample finds offensive.

Ban the Bans. It's a slippery slope between Idealism and Fascism.

Hey, it does take the Associated Press feed -- that makes it legit, if not quite the New York Times of the gay press.

Truth be told, if any gay newspaper deserves that moniker, it's The Washington Blade, which has excellent writers and is scrupulously fair in its reporting.

Just remember that the gay press collectively comes out of the 'advocacy journalism' tradition that also produced the alt-weeklies. However: Segal's paper is as much a throwback to the days when major dailies were the extended shadows of their publishers as it is a child of the advocacy journalism movement.

I still skim PGN regularly; I think that a lot of gay and lesbian Philadelphians do. (It doesn't hurt that my picture appears in it from time to time, though not my byline any more.)

--Sandy, PGN contributor from 1983 to 1986 and author of a research paper on the publication's influence in its community for a Penn undergraduate course in 1985

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Sandy Smith, Exile on Market Street, Philadelphia
“Basically I figure guns are like gays: They seem a lot more sinister and threatening until you get to know a few; and once you have one in the house, you can get downright defensive about them.” --Theresa Neilson Hayden

Any more feedback on Stir?

I find it more objective than the Philadelphia Weekly or the City Paper. I'll give it that much.

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The idealistic are no longer concerned with influencing public opinion and creating a free world of responsible and ethical social choices, but rather imposing opinion through legislation, mandating these ethics, and outlawing choice in what the loudest sample finds offensive.

Ban the Bans. It's a slippery slope between Idealism and Fascism.

Really?? Wow I find PGN to be mostly AP rehashes and Segal's opinions mostly. Its pretty lame.