With the election now less than two months away, Liberty City Democratic Club has focused its attention on several suburban regions, striving to provide tangible support to pro-LGBT candidates embroiled in tough races.
Liberty City recently launched a Suburban Outreach program, in which it is coordinating phone-banking and canvassing efforts for area candidates who have a history of supporting the LGBT community.
“It’s really important that all of these candidates came to Liberty City asking for our endorsement,” said Mark Dann, Liberty City volunteer. “These candidates see the importance in the LGBT vote, and they’re all simply right on LGBT issues. It’s critical that when candidates embrace the LGBT community that we offer our support as well.”
Among the targeted candidates are Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District), who’s facing a challenge from Republican Mike Fitzpatrick, whom he defeated four years ago, and Congressional hopefuls Manan Trivedi, who is challenging incumbent Republican Jim Gerlach to represent the Sixth District, and state Rep. Bryan Lentz, seeking to fill the 7th District seat that was vacated by Senate hopeful Joe Sestak.
Liberty City is also pursuing the state-level races of House of Representatives candidates Fern Kaufman, an out lesbian, and Shannon Meehan, and state Senate hopeful Ruth Damsker.
“The Democratic Party is facing a lot of negative press lately, and the approval rating of the president could have a downstream impact on a lot of races this year,” said Liberty City co-chair Adah Bush. “It’s crucial that people who do vote Democrat not only get out to the polls and vote, but get people excited and educated about the different issues and the fact that every vote counts.”
Dann said each of the six candidates included in the Suburban Outreach has demonstrated support for the LGBT community, such as Murphy leading the effort in Congress to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and also could be crucial to moving forward LGBT legislation. For instance, Damsker is challenging Republican incumbent Stewart Greenleaf, chair of the Judiciary Committee, who has voted against several pro-LGBT measures and whose committee could be key to the success of a Senate version of the statewide LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination bill.
“I know people sometimes get cynical when it comes to politics and think that it’s often a choice between two not-so-wonderful people, but these candidates in Southeastern Pennsylvania are fantastic,” he said. “Patrick Murphy has been a champion for the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal since he was elected in 2006. Fern is running in a swing district in Chester County as an out lesbian, which alone really shows a lot about her. Trivedi is a veteran who knows health care inside and out. They all have something to be proud of and are all high-equality candidates who are certainly worth people’s time.”
Bush noted that Liberty City is seeking support from both its suburban and Philadelphia members, as the election of each candidate could have a significant impact on the statewide LGBT movement.
Liberty City is currently looking for volunteers to canvas for Lentz and Meehan on Sept. 12.
To get involved with Liberty City’s Suburban Outreach program, visit www.libertycity.org or e-mail Bush at [email protected].