Where our candidates stand
An exclusive Q&A with the contenders
© 2007 Philadelphia Gay News

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (1st Dist.)

Where do you go for advice on GLBT issues?
BRADY: Mark Segal [PGN publisher].
EVANS: For me, it’s more instinctive in terms of personal fairness and inclusion. I don’t think that discrimination is proper.
FATTAH: I have an advisory group of several community members including Abbe Fletman, Kevin Trimell Jones, Micah Mahjoubian, Ray Murphy, Ken Oakes, Kathy Padilla and Doug Shaps.
KNOX: I do business in the gay community. So why would I need an advisor?
NUTTER: I receive advice from a number of sources such as staff and supporters who are active members of the GLBT-advocacy community. Additionally, my staff reads the PGN and views several GLBT-related Web sites.

Have you received any awards or recognition from GLBT groups?
BRADY: Yes – I have a 100-percent voting record for human rights and for gay rights with PGN.
EVANS: No.
FATTAH: The Human Rights Campaign has acknowledged me for my voting record. In past elections, PGN has endorsed me.
KNOX: No.
NUTTER: After my success on the domestic-partnership bills, Mark Segal [PGN publisher] bought me a huge bottle of wine as a thank-you, which I kept on my desk in City Hall.

State Rep. Dwight Evans (203rd Dist.)

The City’s Fair Practices Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Would you take any specific actions to encourage and ensure enforcement at businesses and government agencies?
BRADY: Yes. Nobody should be discriminated against for any reason.
EVANS: Yes. I tried to support the same position of the Equality Forum in terms of how they use their leverage to ensure equality in the private sector.
FATTAH: I will direct our Commission on Human Relations and its staff to identify specific ways the city could improve the promotion of the Fair Practices Ordinance to further our non-discrimination efforts as they relate to all protected bases.
KNOX: It’s already a law. If any business weren’t complying, I’d issue a city ordinance.
NUTTER: Yes, I was a cosponsor of the city’s 2007 Fair Practices Ordinance, which awarded protections related to transgender people and gender-identity expression. As mayor, I will ensure that these guidelines are implemented.

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (2nd Dist.)

The City Solicitor has indicated that the Boy Scouts of America Cradle of Liberty Council 5 needs to begin paying fair- market- value rent, vacate its city- owned property or allow gays. Do you support this action?
BRADY: Yes.
EVANS: Yes
FATTAH: The city’s Fair Practices Ordinance prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and as mayor, I have every intention of upholding the laws of our city.
KNOX: Yes
NUTTER: Yes. I believe any organization that seeks to use city-owned property at below-market rates should not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

The PA Supreme Court ruled that the portion of the city’s domestic- partnership ordinance that allowed same-sex couples to be exempt from the real-estate transfer tax was unconstitutional as it was written. Would you introduce legislation to remedy this and reinstate the exemption?
BRADY: Yes.
EVANS: Yes
FATTAH: I will support new legislation that will meet the standard in the state constitution to allow same-sex couples to be exempt from the city’s real-estate transfer tax. I will direct the city solicitor to work to craft such language and work with City Council to introduce and pass the legislation.
KNOX: I don’t know enough about the issue to answer that question at this time.
NUTTER: Yes. I [crafted] the original legislation that resulted in the city’s domestic-partnership ordinance. I drafted legislation that addresses the Supreme Court’s concerns regarding the transfer tax. I will send this bill to City Council on my first day as mayor, and I will lobby Council to ensure its passage.

Businessman Tom Knox

Would you support legislation requiring city contractors to offer domestic- partner benefits?
BRADY: I’d do everything I could to make that happen. It’s a difficult political environment for that to happen right now, but I would encourage everyone in that direction as much as possible.
EVANS: Yes
FATTAH: Yes. I will support a broad range of strategies including education, training and contract negotiations with city contractors to encourage businesses to ensure that their LGBT employees have the same benefits as all other employees.
KNOX: Yes
NUTTER: Yes

Do you support extending the right to marry to same-sex couples?
BRADY: Yes
EVANS: Yes
FATTAH: Yes. In congress, I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
KNOX: Yes
NUTTER: No.

If yes: What would you do to influence the state legislature on this issue?
BRADY: I would try to make people understand that same-sex partners need to be eligible for the same benefits as everyone else. I’d work hard to educate people on the matter.
EVANS: Advocate the importance of inclusion, tolerance and anti-discrimination.
FATTAH: I will instruct cabinet-level staff and those with legislative-relations duties to fairly represent our values and policies on GLBT issues at all levels of government where these matters are of concern.
KNOX: I would lobby for the issue. You have to lobby to show the people of Philadelphia the light on these issues.
NUTTER: N/A

If no: Do you support extending all the rights that exist for heterosexual married couples to same-sex couples?
BRADY: N/A
EVANS: N/A
FATTAH: N/A
KNOX: N/A
NUTTER: Yes

Do you support an amendment to the Pennsylvania constitution to limit marriage to one man and one woman?
BRADY: No
EVANS: No
FATTAH: No.
KNOX: No
NUTTER: No.

What would you do to influence actions taken by the state legislature to expand GLBT rights?
BRADY: I’d focus on education. [We have] people in other parts of the state [who] need more education. We have a long way to go with this, and I want to be as helpful as possible.
EVANS: I would advocate the importance of inclusion, tolerance and anti-discrimination.
FATTAH: My External Affairs staff will always be available to fight any more attempts to ban recognition of same-sex unions in the PA Constitution, and I will ask the GLBT Advisory Board to develop a strategy for the city to enhance rights and privileges for GLBT Philadelphians under the law.
KNOX: I would lobby.
NUTTER: I would lobby the Philadelphia delegation in person and in writing on issues of concern to the GLBT community.

Do you support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (the military’s ban on gays and lesbians serving openly)?
BRADY: Yes. I think people should be allowed in the military without being afraid of divulging who they are.
EVANS: Yes.
FATTAH: I opposed [the ban] when it was first proposed and continue to oppose it.
KNOX: I don’t know. Some people want it, but I don’t know if forcing people in the military to come out who don’t want to is a good thing.
NUTTER: Yes.

Do you support the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act?
ALL: Yes.

Do you support the federal hate-crimes bill?
ALL: Yes.

Do you support same-sex couples or GLBT adults as foster/adoptive parents?
ALL: Yes.

Former Fourth District City Councilman Michael Nutter

What would you do to improve police relations with the GLBT community?
BRADY: I would implement training to ensure that police are sensitive towards this community and to make sure there is no discrimination.
EVANS: I would implement sensitivity training in the police department and the Police Academy.
FATTAH: I will direct the police department to identify a set of best practices to be adapted to better serve LGBT communities, including looking into the development of a specialized LGBT relations unit, and will require that all police receive training in LGBT issues and sensitivity. I will also make sure that my police commissioner forms a productive working relationship with the Police Advisory Commission and that the Commission’s input is heard and valued.
KNOX: I would implement sensitivity training. Knowing a community and being familiar with the community makes relating to the people in it easier.
NUTTER: As a member of City Council, I drafted legislation to create the Police Advisory Board, which provides a legal remedy to citizens who believe that the police have abused their power. I believe that a separate unit is the best way to ensure proper treatment of GLBT citizens. I will institute such a unit.

Would you order the police department to release the records related to the Nizah Morris case (the transgender woman who died from a head wound after receiving a police courtesy ride in December 2002)?
BRADY: Yes. It would help the trans community understand what happened, and it would help the police department in the future to learn from past mistakes.
EVANS: It’s hard for me to answer that since I don’t know enough about the details of the case.
FATTAH: Yes.
KNOX: I’m not familiar with the case.
NUTTER: Yes.

Would you necessitate the tracking of hate crimes motivated by a person’s perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity?
ALL: Yes.

Do you have or have you had any openly GLBT employees on your staff (campaign or in workplace)?
BRADY: Yes. I have in the past, and I still do now.
EVANS: I don’t know. I’ve never asked.
FATTAH: Yes. My campaign currently employs Micah Mahjoubian, the co-chair of Liberty City Democratic Club as our director of operations, as well as Liberty City board member Ray Murphy as our volunteer coordinator.
KNOX: Yes. I have gays working both on the campaign and in the workplace. Gays tend to be studious workers.
NUTTER: Yes, I currently have several openly GLBT staff on my campaign.

How would you ensure diversity in city hiring practices?
BRADY: I would do everything in my power to make sure no one is discriminated against. If a person is qualified, they should be hired.
EVANS: I would always encourage that everybody have a fair and open opportunity to apply.
FATTAH: I support hiring based on the non-discrimination standards set in the Fair Practices Ordinance. I will be absolutely committed to enhanced outreach efforts to the LGBT community to ensure a fair representation in city jobs.
KNOX: I believe it is important to have diversity in all city departments and agencies. I will make this a priority in my administration.
NUTTER: I would reach out to the GLBT community and ask for résumés and input on hiring decisions at all levels. One way to ensure efforts towards economic equity for GLBT people is to carry out a disparity study on whether the city’s procurement policies include transgender community members. The precedent has been set — the MBEC [Minority Business Enterprise Council] sets ranges of who has been “historically kept out of the process.”

Would you revise the city’s healthcare plan to cover sex-reassignment surgery and other gender-identity health needs for city employees?
BRADY: Sure. I think all people should have the healthcare they need.
EVANS: Yes.
FATTAH: Yes. I support the broad range of health-related services needed by transgender individuals and will work to ensure that they receive optimal healthcare, as other covered city employees do.
KNOX: I don’t know. That’s a difficult question. If you go too far to one side on this issue, the other side suffers.
NUTTER: The city’s health-insurance policies are managed by the city, some are managed by unions. All have exclusions for healthcare for transgender people. One of the reasons that this bias is allowed is because of the perception that implementing fair changes/removing these exclusions would be prohibitively expensive. [But] if a transgender person knows her needs won’t be properly met because of the coverage bias, then she may not be open about her true medical needs. In the long term, this may cost the system more.

What nonprofit groups have you supported?
BRADY: Liberty City Democratic Club, PGN [the latter is for-profit].
EVANS: Philly Pride, Pridefest, William Way Community Center and MANNA.
FATTAH: I helped secure funding for the Mazzoni Center.
KNOX: I’ve supported hundreds of different nonprofit organizations.
NUTTER: Many, many organizations in my former Council district.

Would you create programs and services specifically designed to address the unique needs of GLBT seniors?
ALL: Yes.

GLBT youth have higher rates of suicide and homelessness. How would you address this issue in Philadelphia?
BRADY: I think we need to create more outreach programs for at-risk youth, and have more contact with the community so that they can help us help them.
EVANS: I would talk about the need for tolerance and not to have any discriminatory practices. The Attic is a great organization to use in this effort.
FATTAH: Through Philadelphia Safe and Sound, city schools, libraries, recreation centers, faith-based groups and community organizations, the city can provide all students access to a supportive environment outside of school. I am committed to expanding these opportunities for all Philadelphia youth and would explore working with existing programs to better serve LGBT youth and would support LGBT community organizations like The Attic.
KNOX: As mayor, I’ll ensure that valuable organizations like The Attic Youth Center receive the funding they need. I’ll also work with the school district and the Department of Human Services to ensure that teachers, social workers and parents receive appropriate sensitivity training.
NUTTER: Before we devise and implement a plan for the child-welfare system to address the needs of GLBT youth and foster families, we first need to expand the number of professionals and paraprofessionals who are skilled and culturally competent to deal with their unique challenges. As mayor, I will accomplish this with a focused recruitment, retention and training effort of child welfare staff. Such training should include a set of objectives including personal-belief inventories. I will instruct DHS, CBH and other organizations that work with children and families to implement a training schedule for new employees and require staff to be abreast of the skill sets needed.

GLBT students also face harassment and violence, making them more likely to skip school or drop out. Would you do anything to address this?
BRADY: We need to protect their rights. Kids need to not be ridiculed or feel uncomfortable in school – we also need to address this for children of same-sex parents. They face a lot of ridicule too, and we need to be sensitive to that.
EVANS: I would be supportive of The Attic.
FATTAH: I will work with the Philadelphia School District and the Philadelphia police and other disciplinary/safety personnel to ensure that they receive training and work with LGBT community organizations to provide a safe learning experience for all of our young people.
KNOX: (See next answer.)
NUTTER: We must create a community where everyone — teachers, students, administrators — are responsible and obligated to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment. I would seek to create a task force consisting of teachers, parents, administrators, students and community members to address this issue and provide a set of recommendations.

How would you ensure that the policy (Policy 102) prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation against Philadelphia teachers, administrators and students is enforced uniformly?
BRADY: I would insist that it be enforced uniformly.
EVANS: I would talk about the need to not have any discriminatory practices.
FATTAH: I will direct the appropriate persons in my administration to work with members of the school district to ensure that LGBT young people, parents and district personnel receive all the benefits of Policy 102.
KNOX: Anyone who harms a teacher or a student for any reason should be expelled. Anyone who harms a teacher should be arrested and not allowed to come back to that school. We should hold the parents of these students accountable for their actions.
NUTTER: Right now, management of the school district is divided between the state and the city, which makes it difficult to hold anyone accountable. This is why issues like non-enforcement of Policy 102 arise and why the mayor has limited ability to manage this. As I noted in my “Putting Children First” policy paper on education, I would like to return the school district to city control, so that, as mayor, I can make sure that non-discrimination policies are enforced. In the meantime, I will use my two appointees to the SRC [School Reform Commission] to look into this.

What did you think of the response to the inclusion of Gay History Month on the school district calendar last year? Would you support including it in the future?
BRADY: I think the reaction was a lot over nothing. If they want to include it in the calendar, it should be allowed.
EVANS: It’s a good thing.
FATTAH: I believe that the failure on the part of the school district to discuss the topic with parents and others in the school community before adding this to the calendar reflected poor implementation. However, I believe the discussion about its inclusion was a healthy and necessary step if we are ever going to rid our city of homophobia and discrimination and ensure that every student is respected and protected within their school community.
KNOX: I’m for it. We have Black History Month. Why not have Gay History Month? Every other month is White History Month, so why not?
NUTTER: I support the inclusion of Gay History Month in the school district.

What is your position on HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs in schools?
BRADY: We need to increase education and let kids know about safety, testing and treatment. They need to be more aware so they can be more careful.
EVANS: I think it’s long overdue, particularly in the African-American community.
FATTAH: I support a community-based school sex-education curriculum. In Congress, I have supported legislation that recognizes the value of comprehensive sex education in raising healthy children. Such curriculums can aid our efforts to reduce teen pregnancy, STDs, HIV infection and a number of other health risks such as smoking, alcohol and drugs that our children face.
KNOX: I’m for it.
NUTTER: I support it as part of a comprehensive health-education program.

Do you support abstinence-only education in schools?
BRADY: I support all education on any level.
EVANS: Yes.
FATTAH: I support a community-based school sex-education curriculum. In Congress, I have supported legislation that recognizes the value of comprehensive sex education in raising healthy children. Such curriculums can aid our efforts to reduce teen pregnancy, STDs, HIV infection and a number of other health risks such as smoking, alcohol and drugs that our children face.
KNOX: No.
NUTTER: No.