More than two-dozen members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly are stepping up to the plate for LGBT equality.
The state legislature announced this week that it has formed an LGBT Equality Caucus, comprised of 26 members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate, a first for the state.
The caucus, first proposed earlier this year by Equality Pennsylvania, will serve as a resource for lawmakers and the public on LGBT issues.
“This is the first time there would be a consistent voice within the legislature,” said Ted Martin, executive director of Equality PA. “It’s finally a statement that LGBT rights have a place at the table and are going to be discussed.”
Rep. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.) and Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17th Dist.) will serve as co-chairs.
Frankel has been the prime sponsor of the LGBT nondiscrimination bill and Leach, the state’s first marriage-equality bill.
Frankel said the caucus members will work to advance such measures but will also be heavily focused on education.
“We have a vigorous agenda, but it’s an agenda that we’re not in a position to move forward at this time given that conservative members of the Republican caucus control both chambers,” Frankel said. “But at the end of the day, many of us understand that things will only happen with persistence and a sustained effort. So we want to educate our colleagues and the citizens of Pennsylvania about why it’s important for Pennsylvania, for a myriad of reasons, to support these LGBT equality measures. That’s the most important aspect of this.”
Leach said the caucus will work to eliminate the “misconceptions and erroneous factual suppositions” that abound about the LGBT community and will also see that the public is kept aware of where legislators stand on LGBT issues.
“We want to make sure that LGBT issues are getting the attention they deserve in the press,” he said. “People need to be held accountable when they do and do not support equality and, with us having a seat at the table, we can work toward that.”
The caucus will meet regularly, Frankel said, and there will likely be occasion for events with the LGBT community.
LGBT Equality Caucus members can be a good resource for municipalities considering passing local-level LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances, Frankel added.
Other members, all of whom are Democrats, include Reps. Babette Josephs (182nd Dist.), Josh Shapiro (153rd Dist.), Brendan Boyle (170th Dist.), Kevin Boyle (172nd Dist.), Joseph Brennan (133rd Dist.), Tony Payton (179th Dist.), Tina Davis (141st Dist.), Michael McGeehan (173rd Dist.), Matthew Bradford (70th Dist.), Vanessa Lowery Brown (190th Dist.), Tim Briggs (149th Dist.), Ron Buxton (103rd Dist.), Mark Cohen (202nd Dist.), Pamela DeLissio (194th Dist.), Lawrence Curry (154th Dist.), Eugene DePasquale (95th Dist.), Michael O’Brien (175th Dist.), Michael Gerber (148th Dist.), James Roebuck (188th Dist.), Matthew Smith (42nd Dist.), Steven Santarsiero (31st Dist.), Michael Sturla (96th Dist.) and Sens. Larry Farnese (1st Dist.) and James Ferlo (38th Dist.).
Frankel said that while Pennsylvania is “late to the table” in forming the caucus, he is pleased with the number of lawmakers who joined the body and the “significant statement” their support represents.
Members of the LGBT community should question their current or prospective state lawmakers on their interest in joining the caucus, Frankel said, noting that he is hopeful the launch of the group will encourage those who have expressed tepid support to take a more active role in the fight for LGBT equality.
“I’ve frequently met with colleagues about some of these issues who say, ‘Dan, I know you’re right and I’d like to be supportive, but this isn’t something my district would support and it would hurt me politically.’ Across the country, we’re seeing these issues becoming more mainstream and they’re not perceived to be that far out there, so I think legislators should become more comfortable supporting them, and I think our ability to educate will be helpful with that.”
Leach said the growth of the caucus will be a gradual process, one that he hopes includes Republican membership.
“I’d like to see all 253 members join but I know we’re not there yet and probably won’t get there in the short term. But if you look at the polls, people’s attitudes have changed dramatically on LGBT issues in the past 10 years and, in fact, in the last three years. People are recognizing that inequality is no longer sustainable for our society and legislators will increasingly come to see that as well,” Leach said. “There is Republican support for LGBT issues; when we defeated the antigay marriage amendment, three Republicans voted with us. And there are Republicans I know of who have gay brothers or sisters or relatives and who see LGBT equality as important. So I’m hoping this won’t be a partisan issue going forward.”
The members signed on to a mission statement that describes the caucus as an entity for those who “are strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the commonwealth and around the nation. By serving as a resource for members of the General Assembly, their staff and the public on LGBT issues, the caucus will work toward the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence and the improved health and wellbeing for all, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.”
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].