Earlier this week, Ed Rendell relinquished the helm of state government to newly inaugurated Gov. Tom Corbett after an eight-year run as governor and a more-than 30-year career in public office.
Before leaving office, Rendell spoke with PGN about the LGBT victories and losses the state saw under his administration and the future of the state’s LGBT-rights movement.
Rendell’s relationship with the community began when he was elected as Philadelphia’s district attorney in 1977 and he said that, while his term as governor has helped to keep him attuned to LGBT issues, his commitment to the community has always been strong.
“Throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s, I did things like instruct the Philadelphia Police Department not to enforce sodomy laws and then helped to get those laws off the books,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve evolved much in the last eight years because I’ve held the same views and feelings about this community since the ’80s.”
One of his gubernatorial campaign pledges was to offer an open and inclusive environment for LGBT government employees, and Rendell said he was particularly proud of the number of out staffers he was able to employ.
“Certainly the number of LGBT men and women that we had in the government was probably unprecedented,” he said. “We had Steve Glassman as head of the Human Relations Commission for all eight years and people in other key positions, and I don’t think any other administration in Pennsylvania has come close to that.”
Legislatively, Rendell noted that while some LGBT advancements were stymied by conservative resistance, the past eight years have seen increased attention and discussion about the issues.
As mayor of Philadelphia, Rendell issued the city’s domestic-partner executive order and said that, during his two terms as governor, he continued to fuel talks about state relationship recognition for same-sex couples, although there was significant “pushback from conservatives.”
He also said he continued to pressure lawmakers to approve the LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance and, although the measure has continued to stall, the foundation has been laid for its success.
“I think we are continuing to move the ball forward,” he said. “I think the legislature will pass it, and I believe Gov. Corbett will sign it.”
While he said support is evident for the nondiscrimination measure, he doesn’t foresee marriage equality succeeding in the Keystone State in the near future.
“Of all the issues, I think that’ll be the toughest,” he said. “In terms of antidiscrimination, there’s a general belief that it’s the right thing to do among the legislature and among the population in Pennsylvania. People are not for discrimination against anybody and that does have broad support. Polls still show a fairly substantial — not what it once was — but still a substantial number of people against gay marriage.”
Despite the tenor of the new regime, Rendell said during his administration, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle became increasingly aware of and connected to the community, which he said is due in part to strong lobbying from LGBT activists.
“I think there’s been a clear softening of the rigidity that many members of the legislature have on LGBT issues. I think that’s happened as the country is changing socially and as Pennsylvania is changing, but it’s also happened because the community has done good work,” Rendell said. “The community has done great work with the legislature, talking with them and asking for reasonable and responsible changes in law. They’ve done very good lobbying and advocacy, and it hasn’t just been among Democrats who are obviously traditionally more open to LGBT issues but also among Republicans.”
Rendell has been a frequent face at LGBT events throughout his tenure as governor, attending Pride events throughout the state and taking part in several LGBT get-out-the-vote pub crawls in the Gayborhood.
That visibility traces back to his campaign for DA, when he was the first politician to openly campaign in gay bars.
Rendell noted that before he signed the city’s domestic-partner executive order, he received 45,000 postcards in opposition, an effort organized by the Catholic Church — and 15 letters from Catholic priests, apologizing for them and expressing support.
Despite that outcry, Rendell said his visible support for the community didn’t waver and also didn’t affect him politically, as he noted many public officials fear.
“For politicians who think there’s a political peril to supporting LGBT issues, I think I’m a living example that there’s no peril and that it’s actually a positive thing for you politically; the community has gotten much stronger in terms of giving money and voter participation … And I have had a wonderful, wonderful relationship with those LGBT voters and with the entire community.”
And Rendell pledged continued support.
“If the community ever needs help in advocating in the future, I’m just a phone call away.”
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].