For more information:
Alisha Simons, Communications Associate; 215-732-3378
Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director; 215-732-7375
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 5, 2004
EQUALITY FORUM 2004 FOCUSES ON AGING AND THE
GLBT COMMUNITY
Gray Gays panel to feature "Queer as Folk"
actor Robert Gant, Vince Grimm
of Gables of Cape May County, Terry Kaelber, executive director
of Senior
Action in a Gay Environment (SAGE); and Amber Holligaugh of SAGE
There are approximately 1.75 to 3.5 million older gay men and lesbians
in the United States.
Equality Forum 2004 addresses the varied issues facing this growing
community with two events:
- Gray Gays, on Saturday, May 1 at noon
at the Prince Music Theatre, 1412 Chestnut Street, will feature
gay actor Robert Gant, best known for his role on the Showtime
series "Queer as Folk." This panel is presented in collaboration
with SAGE, the leading national organization on issues facing
senior members of the GLBT community. Mr. Gant is working with
SAGE on GLBT aging issues. He will be joined on this panel by
SAGE Executive Director Terry Kaelber; SAGE Director of Education,
Advocacy and Community Building Amber Holligaugh; and Vince Grimm
of Gables, Cape May County's GLBT organization.
- Long Term Relationships, presented by
Gables of Cape May County, on Saturday, May 1 at 4:30 p.m. at
Temple University Center City will feature Mr. Grimm and his partner
of over 40 years, Will Kratz, in a discussion of their relationship
and experiences.
SAGE, or Senior Action in a Gay Environment, was founded
in 1977 and is the nation's oldest and largest social service and
advocacy organization dedicated to GLBT senior citizens. SAGE is
pioneering change through its social service, community organizing,
advocacy and empowerment work, and provides model programming that
is challenging and changing the GLBT community's and society's view
of aging.
Robert Gant plays writer and college professor Ben Bruckner
on Showtime's "Queer as Folk." Prior to "Queer As
Folk," he appeared on the WB's "Popular" as the eccentric
principal, Calvin Krupps, and has appeared on "Friends,"
"Caroline in the City," "Veronica's Closet,"
"Becker," "Melrose Place," "Ellen"
and "Providence," to name a few. He was in the independent
film The Contract and will appear in the soon-to-be-released Fits
and Starts.
Mr. Gant began acting in television commercials at the age of ten
and at the age of 11 he performed a soft-shoe routine with Bob Hope
as part of Hope's USO tour. Mr. Gant graduated from the University
of Pennsylvania and Georgetown Law School. While studying law, he
continued his true passion and performed in numerous theatrical
productions. It was his career as an attorney that brought him to
Los Angeles. In a twist of fate, four months after his relocation,
the Los Angeles firm he joined was closed. Taking that as an omen,
he made the decision to focus all of his time on acting.
Gables of Cape May County was organized in 1995 as part
of an effort to establish an organization in every southern New
Jersey county with a similar mission. At present, Gables is the
only remaining functioning GLBT group in southern New Jersey.
Equality Forum 2004 is April 26 to May 2 in Philadelphia. For more
information call
215-732-3378 or visit www.equalityforum.com.
Equality Forum is the largest regional, national and international
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) civil rights forum,
working to create understanding about homophobia and its multifaceted
impact on individuals, families and society. Each year, in addition
to promoting and discussing GLBT organizations and issues, Equality
Forum highlights a Featured Nation and explores that country's GLBT
culture, social issues and advancements in civil rights. Equality
Forum embraces a number of projects throughout the year, including
the production of the documentary films Gay Pioneers and JIM IN
BOLD.
Equality Forum is a nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organization headquartered
in Philadelphia, the site of some of the earliest gay civil rights
protests.
Gray Gays
Noon to 1:15 p.m.
Prince MusicTheater, 1412 Chestnut Street
Open to the public, free of charge.
Long-Term Relationships
4:30 to 5:45 p.m.
Temple University Center City, Room 314
Open to the public, free of charge.
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