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Segal book sales surprise even Mark

LGBT activist Mark Segal’s memoir, “And Then I Danced,” gets a second printing.

Mark Segal.
Mark Segal.Read morePeter Lien/Daily News

It's been out only since Oct. 6, but already the evocative story of Philly LGBT-rights activist Mark Segal is getting a second printing.

And Then I Danced: Traveling the Road to LGBT Equality, released this month by OpenLens, is the nation's first LGBT memoir, according to Segal, founder and publisher of Philadelphia Gay News.

It describes his experiences as one of the leaders of the Gay Liberation Front and Gay Youth, organizations that emerged after the 1969 Stonewall Riots, in Greenwich Village. Segal was just 18 at the time. He remains one of the leading voices for LGBT rights.

Segal said yesterday that he had "absolutely no expectations" about how the memoir would be received, and that he's "surprised, overwhelmed and overjoyed" at its early success.

The first paperback printing of 10,000 copies will be doubled, he said. There also are hardback and digital versions of the book.

At the White House with 'Top Chefs'

Local chef and culinary consultant Chazz Alberti, the brains behind Deft & Delicious LLC, joins celebrity chefs at the White House today for a "day of advocacy" to draw attention to how Americans eat - and how they should be eating.

Alberti and Bravo "Top Chef" hosts Tom Colicchio and Padma Lakshmi will bring more than 30 chefs from around the country to Washington, D.C., to meet members of Congress, representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the White House to lay out ideas for ensuring that every American has access to clean, affordable and sustainable food.

"Our children deserve to be fed the best food that our country's farms can grow - not the cheapest," said Alberti.

Croce puts #BootsOn

Gotta say, Philly native Pat Croce looks good in combat boots.

Today, the entrepreneur and former Sixers owner joins #BootsOn, the Boot Campaign's national effort to support the more than 1.4 million men and women in the U.S. military.

Established in 2009, the nonprofit Boot Campaign promotes patriotism, raises awareness of issues facing our men and women in uniform and provides assistance to veterans.

Croce, whose current business endeavors include a pirate museum in St. Augustine, Fla., said: "I'm putting my boots on because I want to put my feet in the shoes of those who are protecting our assets, our country, my home and my family. . . . It's such a fabulous, patriotic cause."

An influential woman

Daily News columnist Jenice Armstrong was among those honored Saturday night at Beauty en Noir's annual fashion show and charity event at the Penthouse at the Bourse (111 S. Independence Mall East).

Organized by makeup artist Tammi Toliver, founder of the Philly-based Fashion Facez makeup line, the event was a fundraiser for Women Against Abuse and featured a runway show of clothing by Paula Hian and other local designers.

Others receiving the Philadelphia Most Influential Women award included: Terri Matthews, of Jaden's Voice; Mary Dougherty, owner of the Nicole Miller boutiques at the Bellevue (200 Broad St.) and in Manayunk (249 Main St.); and Sheila Armstrong, who is running as an independent for an at-large seat on City Council

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