City to investigate ‘Homo’ shirt sales
By Timothy Cwiek
PGN Writer-at-Large
© 2007 Philadelphia Gay News

A Center City gay attorney recently complained to city officials about T-shirts featuring the word “homo” being sold during a sports event at the stadium complex.

The shirts featured the slogan, “Dallas Sucks, Romo is a Homo,” referring to quarterback Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys.

Robert Tuerk said the T-shirts were being sold Sept. 27 in the parking lot of Lincoln Financial Field and at the nearby intersection of Pattison Avenue and Darien Street in South Philadelphia.

“I’m a gay man; I didn’t appreciate that message,” Tuerk told PGN.

He said exposing young people to the language was particularly upsetting.

“[The shirts] are just poisoning the minds of the younger generation,” said Tuerk, 44. “I don’t want children to be subjected to hate messages that they might feel are acceptable. It’s just training another generation of children to perpetuate hate against people who are perceived to be gay.”

Because the T-shirts are being sold in public areas, a child could get the impression that city officials approve of the sales and endorse the message, he added.

Sgt. Ray Evers, a police spokesperson, said Tuerk and anyone else who might object to the sale of the T-shirts has a right to call 911 and complain.

If the shirts are being sold within the stadium complex, police will attempt to contact enforcement officers within the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections to have the merchandise confiscated.

Hawkers or hucksters of any type are banned within the boundaries of the stadium complex, Evers noted.

“Do not try to confront these people yourself for your own safety,” the officer cautioned.

“If the shirts are being sold outside the stadium complex, an L&I official would have to determine whether the vendor is properly licensed before any confiscation could take place,” Evers added.

Mark Donovan, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Eagles, told PGN the team would oppose any illegal sales of merchandise at the stadium complex.

“We work every single game with the police and L&I to make sure nothing is sold that’s either offensive or illegal,” Donovan told PGN. “We contract directly with L&I. We pay them for the service and they provide it. It’s something we take seriously.”

Nick Taliaferro, executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, said he’s aware of Tuerk’s concerns.

He said the PCHR, also, is concerned when an entrepreneur might act in an antisocial or discriminatory manner.

“We’re willing to speak with the police to express our concerns on the issue,” Taliaferro said. “If someone’s selling without a license, that’s something to be looked into. [T-shirt sales do not] appear to be a violation of the Fair Practices Ordinance. However, if there is an activity that is eroding our public civility, I feel an obligation to try to find a way to impress upon the entrepreneurs that they can do better and they need to.”

Tuerk was heartened by the positive response by Taliaferro and others, he said.

“I’m hoping that city officials will keep this as a priority item to be addressed to prevent any civil unrest or angry responses,” Tuerk said.