What’s the best resolution to the ongoing Boy Scouts litigation: the current settlement; appeal of the verdict; evict the Scouts and put the building up for sale; or another option? Please explain your position. In the current situation, in the aftermath of the court’s ruling, I think the best solution is to not have the city in a position where we continue to have a relationship with the Boy Scouts. I am opposed to their discriminatory policy, and I don’t wish to have any involvement with an organization that discriminates. We have a settlement that we’re trying to move forward that would get the city out of that relationship. And then, over time, they would be able to purchase the building and, during the interim period, would not be able to engage in discriminatory behavior toward male scouts. We would sell the building based on the appraisal for fair-market value, which has been estimated to be about $1.1 million.
Do you support efforts to remove the gender markers from SEPTA’s transpasses? What would you do to work toward that goal? Well, I will certainly talk to appointees on the SEPTA board and reach out to the board chairman as well. I frankly don’t really understand why they have those markers on the transpasses. I’ve been to other cities that have transit systems that just have the bar-stripe on the passes.
Do you support Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s bill to require certain city contractors to provide domestic-partner benefits to employees? I have not seen the bill but, as you may know, I was the person who wrote and got passed the legislation that required the city to provide domestic-partner benefits to its employees. Again, I don’t know the particulars of the council bill, but I certainly support the concept of companies, especially those who do business with the city of Philadelphia, providing those benefits to their employees.
What would you do to curb bullying in Philadelphia public schools? Do you think there needs to be additional actions to contend with anti-LGBT bullying? Bullying is a problem that quite honestly has been a problem as long as we have had schools. Unfortunately, this is sometimes something young people do. But I think there are a number of things we’re doing, and I’m sure there is more we can do. First of all, I would encourage people to use the bully hotline, which is 215-400-SAFE or 7233. Second, the school district adopted a bullying policy in September 2010, which is considered unique and strong. It lays out the process for complaints, investigations and consequences for bullying. And it’s a zero-tolerance policy by the district. We need to make sure people are reporting complaints so that they can be followed up on. But I think clearly there is more that we can do. We want to support and will continue to support the ongoing education that all young people should have with regard to LGBT history and violence prevention. We should deal with supportive curriculum-development and enhancement in that regard, and my Office of LGBT Affairs partners with a variety of LGBT youth organizations, like The Attic Youth Center, Mazzoni Center, GALAEI and Y-HEP. So I think we need to stay focused on this issue and make sure young people understand the consequences of bullying in general and any bullying toward anyone because of their sexual orientation.
Do you support city funding for housing opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS? What would you do to ensure proper funding? I support funding for housing for individuals with HIV and AIDS but the challenge is where does the funding come from in an environment where our resources are shrinking. In many instances, because of the cost of the investment, we’d be in a better position to support the issue if we got a little more help from the federal government. But there are also cuts at that level, so with our resources being cut, I do want people who are HIV-positive or who have AIDS to have good, safe and affordable housing opportunities just like anyone else, but the cost factor is pretty significant. It’s very, very challenging for a city alone to address this particular issue but clearly we need to secure funding at all levels of government, from federal, state and local governments, to take this on.
How would you work to ensure LGBT-owned businesses receive fair and equal opportunities? Well first of all, we recently amended and made stronger the Fair Practices Ordinance, which covers issues in regards to public accommodations and employment, and we have one of the strongest provisions of its kind anywhere in the country. And then we want to be working with the Commerce Department to make sure LGBT businesses get fair and equal services. We want to promote those businesses that cater to members of the LGBT community. I have spent a fair amount of time in the Midtown area, along 13th Street, and have visited a number of restaurants and businesses over there and encourage others to do the same. We want businesses to feel comfortable going after city business and contracting opportunities. I think we have a wonderful diversity of businesses in the city, and we need to let more people know that there are many in the LGBT community who are just business people looking for the same thing as everyone else — a fair shot at getting business and doing business.
What can be done to stem the tide of anti-LGBT violent crimes? Well I think we obviously need to get the word out that this kind of behavior won’t be tolerated here in the city. We have the LGBT Police Liaison Group staffed by the city and Gloria Casarez and Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson, who are actively involved in those activities. We need to better publicize when we find people who have committed a crime primarily because of someone’s LGBT status and show that they pay a dear price for it. This is not a joke or something people can think won’t happen to them. So just like any crime, the city will not tolerate crimes based on this discriminatory behavior.
Do you support the LGBT-friendly Senior Housing Project planned at the William Way LGBT Community Center? Yes, I do. The city is putting $2 million into the project and working with Pennrose and others to support the application for tax credits. I think it’s a great project and a unique one that could really be the first of its kind.
Do you support the Police Advisory Commission’s efforts to obtain Nizah Morris records from the District Attorney’s office? I’m not an expert in the case but I know the Police Advisory Commission recently voted to subpoena records from the DA’s office. We have a relatively new PAC with some dynamic members who take their job seriously. I think the bottom line here is we need to get to the bottom of what happened in this particular situation. The family and friends need closure here and to find out what happened and what’s going on.
Why should the LGBT community vote for you? I would suggest for a number of reasons. I’m asking the LGBT community to support me because I’ve been a champion of civil rights and human rights in the city throughout my entire public-service career. I worked to ensure that domestic-partner benefits were extended to public employees when I was a member of council. It was our administration that updated the [Fair Practices] law with provisions that strengthened it, specifically to be responsive to concerns in the LGBT community. I believe in the human dignity of all people, and I’ve publicly spoken out on these issues for a long, long time. Many members of the LGBT community want the same kinds of things that all other Philadelphians want — a safe city, a smart city for their children and their family members, and jobs and economic opportunities. Whenever there’s been an issue or problem or challenge in the city that’s touched on or affected the LGBT community, they knew they could count on me to stand up and do what needed to be done, say what needed to be said or get involved and engaged in those issues. I have a very long history with the community and I’m proud of that history. I’ve worked very, very hard to be responsive to and connected to the concerns of the LGBT community, as I am with all other communities.