For the mid-term elections, PGN reached out to candidates for U. S. Senate and House, governor, lieutenant governor and state Senate and House. Of the 49 candidates we attempted to contact, 14 responded, 29 did not respond and six had no contact information. As expected, Democrats were more likely to respond and were better on LGBT issues than Republicans. For this effort, we posed the same set of questions to each candidate in the race, tailoring questions to the state or federal level. We attempted to interview the Congressional and gubernatorial candidates by phone and the rest by questionnaire. For the Congressional interviews, two candidates replied to the questionnaire but were unable (or unwilling) to take us up on our phone interview request — Republicans Pat Toomey and Rick Hellberg.
U.S. SENATE Joe Sestak
Democrat Congressman Sestak is facing off against Republican Pat Toomey in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the nation.
Sestak, who defeated longtime incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter in the spring, has supported numerous pieces of LGBT legislation since taking office. He has served as a cosponsor of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, the Respect for Marriage Act — which would repeal the federal ban on same-sex marriage — and the measure to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
“I believe in equality; that’s why I have a 96-percent rating by the Human Rights Campaign. My opponent has a 6-percent rating,” Sestak said.
Sestak supports domestic partnerships and civil unions for same-sex couples and would also support marriage equality, as long as churches are permitted to follow their own discretion, he said.
He said the issue of HIV/AIDS housing needs more attention, adding comprehensive sexual education needs to be encouraged to raise awareness about HIV-prevention efforts.
Sestak said he would continue to be a strong advocate for the LGBT community if he ascends to the Senate.
“I believe, like all other communities, the LGBT community is looking for someone who’s willing to be held accountable. People want someone who’s willing to do the right thing and not just trying to be a politician and worry about keeping their job,” Sestak said. “I want to restore principles and even work for principled compromises with the other side. We need people who want principles to triumph over politics and let the chips fall where they may and the consequences be what they may for one’s job, because it’s about doing what’s right for the people.”
Pat Toomey
Former U.S. Rep. Toomey lost his Senate bid to unseat Arlen Specter four years ago, but is back in Pennsylvania’s Senate race against Sestak.
Toomey said he would support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” if the current Pentagon study of the law finds that “such a move would not undermine our military capabilities.”
Toomey is opposed to hate-crimes legislation as a whole and has said such measures are an attempt to “criminalize thought.”
Toomey supports the federal Defense of Marriage Act and would oppose efforts to repeal the law. In the past, he has voted for a federal constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between one man and one woman and another measure to prohibit adoption by gay couples in Washington, D.C.
As a Congressman, Toomey was one of 12 Republicans who voted for a $75-million increase in funds for the Ryan White Care Act.
Toomey said he would support federal efforts to lessen discrimination against vulnerable populations, but did not note if such principles applied to LGBT populations specifically.
“Discrimination against the elderly and bullying in school must not be tolerated,” he said. “Where there is a federal nexus, such as with federal funding going to schools and nursing homes, such discrimination and bullying should be stopped where possible.”
Toomey said he seeks the most-qualified employees and would “hire the best-qualified men and women, regardless of their race, ethnicity or sexual orientation.”
“I have reached out to many different communities throughout this campaign and believe it is important to have an open conversation with all groups,” he said. “I believe in equality for all citizens and will work to implement that principle.”
U.S. HOUSE
2nd District Chaka Fattah
Democratic Congressman Fattah has served in Congress since 1995 and throughout that time has supported numerous pro-LGBT measures.
Fattah has cosponsored bills such as the measure to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Matthew Shepard Act.
Fattah is in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage and voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, which Congress passed in 1996.
Fattah is not a cosponsor of the Safe Schools Improvement Act but said he does support the measure and thinks anti-bullying efforts need to be inclusive of adults, not just youth.
“This is a societal issue,” he said. “Our children are acting out on prejudices they learn from their parents, and we need to be very unequivocal about the fact that people have a right to express their sexual preferences. However that’s expressed should not cause people to harass them.”
Fattah pledged to continue advocating for the LGBT community in the next Congressional session.
“People always vote in their own interests, so my views on the issues and my record on the issues should be considered, and if they represent the interests of the LGBT community, then they should support me.”
2nd District Rick Hellberg
Republican Hellberg, president and CEO of a local financial-services company, is attempting to unseat longtime Congressman Chaka Fattah, and promised to bring far-reaching reform to the district.
Hellberg is in favor of same-sex marriage, noting that each state should have discretion over its own marriage laws. He said he has not read the entire proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act but said that “if someone is qualified to a job, there should be no discrimination.” Hellberg is also in favor of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
“For non-combat units, I don’t know why DADT ever existed,” he said. “If someone wants to wear the uniform of this country and is willing to take on all the duties and responsibilities that uniform requires, I believe they should be allowed to serve.”
Hellberg said all forms of bullying should be unacceptable in schools and “consequences must be plainly explained in advance and be of sufficient severity to press the point that bullying will not be tolerated.”
Although Hellberg said he is supportive of LGBT issues, he wants to first focus on repairing the country’s financial troubles, an area where he asserted his opponent has made little progress.
“My opponent believes that we can borrow our way to prosperity, which has not succeeded in history,” he said. “I stand for cutting federal spending, keeping the federal government from meddling in state and local issues and revamping our tax system to make it more fair and equitable to all citizens.”
6th District Manan Trivedi
If elected, Democrat Trivedi would become the first Indian American in Congress, and he said his own diverse history has made him attuned to the issues of discrimination the LGBT community faces. Trivedi is attempting to unseat incumbent Republican Jim Gerlach.
Trivedi, a physician and Iraq War veteran, is in favor of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
“That’s especially important to me as a veteran,” he said. “Why deny individuals who want to serve honorably?”
He said he is personally in favor of marriage equality, although he believes the issue should be left up to the states. He supports the repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act.
“I think awareness and education are key [to anti-bullying],” he said. “It’s unfortunate that right now we have such reactive policies. We need to be more proactive in recognizing that these issues are real, and we have to be talking about this openly in forums where people feel comfortable and safe.”
Trivedi said he would work to better engage the LGBT elderly population in discussions relating to the community.
He said he believes minority communities also need to be more effectively targeted in HIV/AIDS-awareness and prevention efforts.
“As someone who’s had experience working with HIV/AIDS as a physician, we need to be talking about how very real this threat still is, especially in minority communities,” he said. “There are different cultural norms for all different medical issues, but we need to be thinking about the cultural awareness when considering how best to approach these communities.”
Trivedi said his own background will make him an effective leader who can represent the best interests of the LGBT community.
“I’m right on the issues and, frankly, my opponent is not,” he said. “But more so, I think I understand the true meaning of equality and can relate to these issues on some level because of being Indian American. I understand the need for diversity and equality in all facets of government, and I pledge to work with the LGBT community hand in hand going forward with all of my policies and plans to make this district better, more open and more fair and equal for everyone.”
7th District Bryan Lentz
State Rep. Lentz (D) is seeking to represent Pennsylvania at the federal level, filling Congressman Sestak’s open seat in the 7th Congressional District.
Lentz is a cosponsor of House Bill 300, the statewide LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination bill, and said he would support the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act. An Iraq War veteran, Lentz supports the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Lentz, who has a close LGBT family member who is in a longterm relationship, supports repealing the federal Defense of Marriage Act and is in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, although he noted that civil unions may be the first logical step.
“I think once people see that civil unions don’t work in order to provide real equality, it will be easier to make the argument that full marriage is necessary,” he said.
Lentz has supported the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity into the state’s hate-crimes law and said he would support the LGBT-inclusive federal Safe Schools Improvement Act.
“Children can’t learn if they don’t feel safe and, as we’ve unfortunately seen recently in the news, there can be even more tragic consequences,” he said. “Elected officials need to be advocates and push for anti-bullying legislation that sets forth clear criteria and guidelines for both children and teachers on the right way to deal with these situations.”
Lentz said he would recruit a diverse LGBT-inclusive staff and would work to ensure that LGBT businesses were properly represented in federal contracts.
“I have a proven record of standing up for the LGBT community, and I have a record of being able to actually get things done,” he said. “If you check my record, you’ll want me representing you.”
8th District Patrick Murphy
Congressman Murphy (D) is defending his Congressional seat against Mike Fitzpatrick, whom he unseated four years ago.
Last year, Murphy took over the fight in the U.S. House to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” traveling the country with LGBT and ally servicemembers to heighten awareness about the damaging effects of the law and garner support for his bill to repeal the measure. He secured more cosponsors for the legislation than any similar repeal bill has seen in the past, and the House approved his measure earlier this year.
“I have led the fight in the House to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ because I believe in equality and what our Constitution stands for,” said Murphy, an Iraq War vet. “And this is also part of our national security. We’ve let go 14,000 troops since this has been enacted and cost taxpayers $1.3 billion. I believe we will be able to secure the repeal in the Senate when we get back in November.”
Murphy voted in favor of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act and is a cosponsor of other pro-LGBT measures such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act.
Murphy noted that anti-LGBT school bullying can be traced all the way up to the federal government, which he said “sets a bad example for LGBT teens when they tell us that people aren’t qualified to serve in our military just because they happen to be gay. We need to make sure that all young people know that they are valued members of our society.”
13th District Allyson Schwartz
Democratic Congresswoman Schwartz has represented Pennsylvania since 2005 after more than a decade in the state Senate, and pledged to continue to support the LGBT community if reelected.
Schwartz is a cosponsor of such bills as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act; the measure that seeks to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”; the Uniting American Families Act, which looks to eliminate LGBT immigration discrimination; and the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, a measure that would grant equal benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. She also voted for the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act.
She said she would support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, although she believes the issue of same-sex marriage should be left up to the states.
Schwartz has employed a number of openly LGBT individuals and said she has worked with the state and local human-relations commissions to ensure both are “strong watchdogs” for eliminating LGBT discrimination in federally funded small-business opportunities.
While she was a state senator, Schwartz was influential in pushing through the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state hate-crimes law and received special recognition from Equality Pennsylvania for her efforts.
“I have a long history of working closely on issues of nondiscrimination and fairness and equality for the LGBT community here in Philadelphia and now in Washington,” she said. “I welcome the support of the LGBT community, and I look forward to continuing to work together.”
PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR
Dan Onorato
Gubernatorial candidate Onorato is seeking to continue Pennsylvania’s eight years of Democratic leadership, and said he would make his administration one that is attentive to and inclusive of the LGBT community.
As the chief executive of Allegheny County, Onorato signed into law the county’s LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance last year.
Onorato does not support same-sex marriage but said he would work against any effort to amend the state’s constitution to limit the definition of marriage to one man and one woman. He is in favor of civil unions and domestic-partnerships for same-sex couples.
Onorato supports amending the state’s hate-crimes law to include sexual orientation and gender identity and also supports House Bill 300, which would ban LGBT discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.
In addition to enacting HB 300, Onorato said the state needs to raise awareness about LGBT discrimination to protect sexual minorities of all ages.
“We need to make a strong statement that we are not going to tolerate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, from everyone from youth to seniors,” he said. “If we’re serious about it, we need to have both a strong education program and a strong enforcement policy. It’s important that this law has teeth that makes it clear that it’s illegal, but education and outreach are also key.”
Onorato said he would recruit LGBTs to serve in his administration and that his commitment to diversity would continue throughout his run as governor.
“You have to lead by example and, as county executive, I created one of the most diverse workforces in the country. I’m committed to making sure the community has a seat at the table in key levels of state government,” he said. “I’m going to support and push for changes in state law that protect members of the LGBT community, in regards to things like nondiscrimination, hate crimes and anti-bullying, and make sure that we send a very clear signal to the state that discrimination will not be tolerated.”
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Scott Conklin
Democrat Conklin has represented Centre County in the state House for the past four years and said he’s an ally to the LGBT community both personally and professionally, a principle he’s hoping to demonstrate if elected as the state’s next lieutenant governor.
Conklin supports the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state’s hate-crimes and nondiscrimination laws. He supports civil unions and would oppose any measure to amend the state constitution to limit the definition of marriage to one man and one woman.
As a Centre County commissioner, in 2001 Conklin voted for and helped implement a county-wide LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination measure.
Conklin said he believes strongly that youth, LGBTs included, need stronger measures in place and better education to protect them from bullying and violence.
“We need to be proactive, not reactive,” Conklin said of the youth-bullying epidemic. “No one should be bullied for any reason or any circumstance. And that needs to start young: Kids need to be taught that it’s not acceptable beginning at an early age.”
Conklin recently spearheaded a successful measure that seeks to curb teen-dating violence and which defines a dating partner regardless of gender. Conklin said he did see opposition to the measure because of this component, as one lawmaker accused him of trying to advance the “homosexual agenda,” but he said he was adamant that teens in both opposite- and same-sex relationships need protections.
Conklin, who employs a number of openly LGBT people on his campaign, said he would search for the best and brightest employees to staff his office, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity — a principle he also said should be followed in state contracting.
“We have to make sure that when somebody puts a business plan forward, they’re selected based solely on their ability to do business, create a product and create jobs,” he said. “We have to make sure that all individuals who have good plans have the opportunities to excel.”
STATE SENATE
8th District Rhashea Lynn Harmon
Harmon, a native Philadelphian and an attorney, is hoping to unseat longtime state Sen. Anthony Williams (D).
Harmon, a Republican, said she is not in favor of same-sex marriage but would support civil unions and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. She would not support repealing the state’s Defense of Marriage Act but would oppose efforts to amend the state constitution to limit the definition of marriage to one man and one woman.
“I believe that we as human beings do not have the right to interfere in the consensual relationships of adults,” she said. “If same-sex couples decide to spend the rest of their lives together, that is their business. I understand if people take issue with calling their bond a marriage; however, there is nothing wrong with allowing them to have a civil union.”
Harmon said she would be in favor of the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state’s hate-crimes and nondiscrimination laws.
Harmon said her broader agenda, if she is elected to office, should resonate with the LGBT community.
“What I have planned for the community as a whole will affect the LGBT community because I am an advocate for reforming education, lowering taxes, increasing jobs, supporting small businesses and reducing crime,” she said. “Because my plan to address these issues will affect the LGBT community, indirectly I am planning to increase the quality of life, safety, education and opportunities of the LGBT community.”
STATE HOUSE
152nd District Robert McGuckin
McGuckin, an attorney, is looking to turn over control of the 152nd District from Republican to Democrat by unseating Rep. Thomas Murt, who has represented the district for the past four years.
McGuckin, a lifelong Montgomery County resident, is in favor of marriage equality, supports repealing the state’s Defense of Marriage Act and would oppose efforts to amend the state constitution to limit the definition of marriage to one man and one woman.
He would support including sexual orientation and gender identity in the state hate-crimes and nondiscrimination laws.
McGuckin would support funding for LGBT youth programs and said he would be in favor of working with local schools to ensure they are more proactive in handling bullying issues, including LGBT-based youth discrimination.
He said he would strive to ensure that LGBT business owners do not face discrimination in the allocation of small-business loans or other funding opportunities.
154th District Tom Bell
Republican Bell is looking to unseat state Rep. Lawrence Curry (D) and said he will be an ally to the LGBT community in the 154th District.
Bell, a Realtor and lifetime resident of Springfield Township, supports domestic partnerships and civil unions for same-sex couples.
“I am in favor of couples having the freedom to join together and have all the legal rights of what [Pennsylvania] now considers that of married couples,” he said.
A veteran with 24 years of service in the armed forces, Bell is in favor of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Bell said he does not think hate crimes should be given more priority than other similar crimes. He noted that he would not discriminate in hiring practices and would select employees who demonstrate “honorable and loyal service.”
“I look for persons of good character and nothing else,” Bell said.
He added that measures need to be instituted that place more responsibility for youth bullying on the parents of the perpetrators and would advocate for community education to combat discrimination against the LGBT elderly community.
179th District Tony Payton
State Rep. Payton (D) has supported several LGBT-rights measures since taking office in 2007, and said he will continue that record if reelected.
Payton is a cosponsor of House Bill 300, which seeks to ban LGBT discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. He is also a cosponsor of the House measure that would reincorporate sexual orientation and gender identity in the state hate-crimes law.
Payton said he supports same-sex marriage, as well as civil unions and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.
Payton also said he believes that to combat LGBT youth bullying, those in positions of authority must be better prepared to handle such issues.
“We have to make sure we do a thorough education and training process for all of the administrators and teachers so that they can recognize what this looks like and how to prevent it,” he said.
In order to curb the high rates of HIV/AIDS infection among minority communities in Philadelphia, Payton said he would advocate for programs that allow residents themselves to take a more active role in disseminating prevention information and outreach.
“I understand the needs of the LGBT community, and my voting record speaks for itself,” he said. “I have family members in the community, and I represent folks in the community. I keep them in mind when I’m making decisions for my district.”
194th District Pam DeLissio
Democrat DeLissio is vying to fill the open seat left by retiring Rep. Kathy Manderino, who represented the 194th District since 1992.
DeLissio supports same-sex marriage, as well as civil unions and domestic partnerships. She said she would be in favor of amending the state hate-crimes and nondiscrimination laws to be LGBT-inclusive.
She also said she would support enhanced staff and faculty training at area schools in regard to LGBT-youth bullying and is in favor of funding LGBT-oriented youth programs.
As a former advocate for low-income seniors, DeLissio said she is particularly attuned to the needs of the elderly community and would work to ensure that the entire aging population, LGBTs included, is supported.
194th District Hugh Giordano
Green Party candidate Giordano, a union organizer for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, said that, if elected, he would ensure LGBTs see progress in Harrisburg.
Giordano supports same-sex marriage and said he would work to repeal the state’s Defense of Marriage Act, and would oppose any effort to amend the state constitution to limit the definition of marriage to one man and one woman.
Giordano said he is “100 percent” behind House Bill 300, the LGBT-inclusive statewide nondiscrimination bill, and is also supportive of including sexual orientation and gender identity in the state hate-crimes law. He said he would lead the effort to ensure that LGBT parents are treated fairly in adoption and foster-care situations and, as a union organizer and strong believer in workers’ rights, noted he would ensure his staff represents all facets of the district, including the LGBT community.
“I am running as a Green Party candidate, and the Greens believe in social justice,” Giordano said. “The Democrats and Republicans have been weak on gay rights, and I will have no problem fighting for what is right. Running as a Green allows me to do what I feel is right, and not be controlled by a party. I am in this race because I care about people, and I want to fight for the freedoms and rights of all. A vote for me will be a vote for the voice you have been waiting for.”