Break-in at William Way center

An intruder recently broke into the offices of the William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.

At about 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9, an employee discovered an individual in a normally locked third-floor office going through the center’s personnel records during business hours. The employee did not confront the intruder, who left the building soon after.

The unidentified individual got away with three blank checks, later cancelled by the center; none of the records appeared to have been taken.

Philadelphia Police confirmed the incident and described the suspect as a 6-foot-5 male, well-dressed with short hair. They currently have no suspects in the case.

Executive director ’Dolph Goldenburg said the center has had break-ins before but they had recently tapered off to one or two incidents per year.

Since the latest break-in, the center has increased security in the staff offices.

NJ school to allow ‘The Laramie Project’

A recent decision by New Jersey’s Ocean Township School Superintendent Thomas Pagano will allow “The Laramie Project” to be performed at Ocean Township High School this fall.

On Aug. 9, Pagano reversed a decision by the school’s principal, Julia Davidow, who felt the play — based on the true story of Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student who was beaten to death in 1998 — might be disruptive.

Gay-rights activists had been planning to protest the original decision. Garden State Equality, a New Jersey-based gay-rights advocacy group, was preparing to rally at the Board of Education’s Aug. 28 meeting.

Pagano said in a statement Aug. 10 that the community was overwhelmingly in favor of the play and no one had expressed support for Davidow’s initial decision.

He also said he has been receiving hate mail from as far away as California.

It seemed “the entire universe was focused on this community,” he said.

Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, was pleased with the decision to allow the play. “This victory means that the students of Ocean Township High School will see a play that will change their lives,” he said. “And that will go such a long way in bringing mutual respect and tolerance for all people from the area. It says a lot about the power of the LGBT community and our allies. It is also a huge victory for academic freedom.”

Pride in the Park celebrates 14

The Greater Lehigh Valley’s annual Pride in the Park festival will be held from noon-6 p.m. Aug. 19 at Cedar Beach Park, Hamilton and Ott streets in Allentown.

The festival is organized by Pride of the Greater Lehigh Valley, a nonprofit, all-volunteer community service organization dedicated to building safe, inclusive communities in eastern Pennsylvania.

This is the 14th anniversary of the festival and the first year that the event is being held in August.

This year’s festival features a variety of entertainment and activities including gay pop idols Jason and deMarco, lesbian hip-hop stars Goddess & She and dance diva Pepper Marshay.

Various elected officials and candidates are expected to attend the festival and speak, including Gov. Rendell, Rep. Charlie Dent (R-15th Dist.) and Sens. Robert Casey and Arlen Specter.

For more information about Pride in the Park or Pride of the Greater Lehigh Valley, visit www.prideglv.org.

PFLAG to move

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Philadelphia will hold their final meeting at the group’s current location at noon Aug. 19 at the Church of the Holy Communion, 2111 Sansom St.

The church has hosted PFLAG’s monthly meetings for the last 26 years. All are welcome to the final meeting for refreshments and to share stories and memories. Tom Sauerman, the chapter’s first president, will also attend.

Beginning in September, PFLAG Philadelphia will hold its monthly meetings in its new location at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3907 Spruce St.

PFLAG provides an opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

For more information, visit the PFLAG Web site at www.pflagphila.org or call (215) 572-1833.