Who knew? Hot news, events in August

While some idiots are still debating if global warming exists, has anyone noticed that it’s August — usually a slow news month — and the news is as hot as the weather? Every other August, this column takes a break from the hard issues to look at book reviews (good for beach reading) and movie and theater offerings. But look at the issues at play this month: The Boy Scouts’ use of city-owned land while practicing discrimination; the New Jersey civil-union law and how it is being applied in employment and taxes; police activity in Rehoboth Beach, Del.; Pennsylvania not applying for federal Minority AIDS Initiative funding; and the first historical gay forum for all the major Democratic candidates for president live on cable TV. And if you saw it, you witnessed a leader being born. Joe Solmonese, president of GLBT-advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, refused to allow the candidates to shuffle along: He demanded answers to tough questions. Job well done!

And if all that were not enough, longtime entertainer Merv Griffin died. During the 1970s, I headed a campaign to change network TV news and programming; our group, the Gay Raiders, made many headlines. Long story short, I was booked on “The Merv Griffin Show.” (At the time, I did almost all of the talk shows.) They flew me to Los Angeles, put me up at a hotel and on the day of the taping, the producer called to tell me that Griffin wouldn’t do the segment. Annoyed, he explained that the subject hit too close for Griffin’s comfort. Well, I got a free trip to L.A. out of it. Many years later, I met him backstage after one of his shows and he even made a pass at my then-boyfriend. This all took place in front of his date, Eva Gabor.

And while the issues are hot, so is the Philadelphia social/event scene. There are numerous events every week between now and Labor Day weekend. I don’t think I’ve had a week with less than two events to attend.

Then there’s the club scene in Philly. It’s bigger and better all the time and just as you read first in this column many months ago, new spots are on their way. This week, Bill Wood opens a new restaurant and a second location of Tria has opened at the corner of 12th and Spruce streets. And more clubs and restaurants are on the way in the next few months, especially in the 13th and Locust street area, where Bump, Woody's, Tavern on Camac, Venture Inn, 12th Air Command and The Bike Stop, among others, are going strong. So when does fall begin?

Mark Segal is PGN publisher. His column appears weekly.