News Briefing
© 2008 Philadelphia Gay News

MBEC director steps down

The head of the agency that regulates minority representation in city business resigned last week amid an overhaul of the often-criticized organization.

Carolyn Nichols served her last day as director of the Minority Business Enterprise Council July 31, the day after Mayor Nutter announced that he had asked her to step down.

MBEC came under fire late last year after a city controller report asserted that the agency was not adequately performing its duties of securing city contracts for minority workers.

Nichols countered the report, saying that the office has always been “under-resourced, understaffed and out-budgeted.”

“I gave it my all,” Nichols told the Philadelphia Inquirer last week. “It was honorable work, but the resources provided were not enough to bring it where it needs to be.”

The mayor’s spokesperson, Doug Oliver, said Nutter is working towards a “reorganized, reconstituted MBEC” and that a new director should be named next month.

Fired director demands investigation

Dr. Victor Seltzer, who was terminated as the executive director of the COLOURS Organization last week, is calling for an investigation into his firing.

Seltzer, who had been head of the group, which provides outreach to LGBT people of color, since last August, was informed July 28 that he was terminated, effective immediately. COLOURS board members and management from the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Council, which oversees COLOURS, told him they lacked “confidence in [his] ability to provide effective leadership” to the organization.

Michael Hinson, founder of COLOURS, returned to the organization as the interim executive director.

Seltzer sent GPUAC president Sharmain Matlock-Turner a letter July 30, detailing his accomplishments during his time with the group and his dissatisfaction with the reasons given for his termination. Seltzer asked for “a full investigation into this matter.”

As of press time, Matlock-Turner had not responded to Seltzer’s letter.

PGMC looking for new voices

The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus will host auditions for new singers for the 2008-09 season from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 13 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.

PGMC currently has 90 active singers and is looking to recruit at least 10 more members.

Interested singers do not need to come with prepared pieces. Singers will be asked to undergo exercises to determine their vocal range and their pitch recall; sing a piece of familiar music, such as “Amazing Grace” and “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” to be chosen by the director; and sing a piece of music they most likely do not know.

Experienced and amateur singers are encouraged to try out.

To schedule an audition, e-mail auditions@pgmc.org or call (215) 731-9230.

Gay night out in AC

Be Visible, the new Atlantic City LGBT social group, is hosting a Men’s Meet and Greet event at The Westside Bar & Lounge, 551 N. Arkansas Ave. in Atlantic City, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14.

There is a $5 cover charge, which includes the price of a buffet dinner. Partygoers can test their singing skills with karaoke, which begins at 9:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.westsideac.com.

Democratic happy hour at Woody’s

The Liberty City Democratic Club will host a Summer Happy Hour from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 13 at Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St.

All community members who are interested in learning more about the organization’s efforts for the upcoming election are invited to attend. Several of the 11 local individuals who will be traveling later this month to the Democratic National Convention in Denver to represent the local LGBT community will be on hand to discuss their goals.

The delegates are asking for contributions to help cover their hotel and travel expenses through the site www.palgbt.com.

There will be no cover charge for the Summer Happy Hour, and the festivities will be held on the upper level of Woody’s.

— Jen Colletta