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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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