On Nov. 5, Doug DiPasquale, 30, will vie to become mayor of Lansdale — a position that would earn him the title of the first openly gay mayor in Pennsylvania.
DiPasquale, who is challenging Republican incumbent Andy Szekely, was born and raised in Berwick but moved to Lansdale in 2004 to start his business, Minuteman Press. DiPasquale is a graduate of Penn State University, where he majored in hospitality management.
DiPasquale became involved in the Lansdale community three years ago, becoming president of the Lansdale Business Association six months after joining. He also serves as the LBA liaison to the borough’s economic-development committee.
DiPasquale is also vice president of the nonprofit Discover Lansdale, where he helps put on a variety of events such as an annual bike night, beer festival and First Fridays.
Outside of running a business and volunteering, DiPasquale said he also makes time to attend all the borough council meetings.
The candidate said the evolving environment in Lansdale is something that not only made him love the town, but also inspired him to run for mayor.
“Lansdale had gotten a new wave of council members about four years ago and they changed the face of Lansdale. When I met these people three years ago, I saw all the hard work they were doing,” he said. “As a resident, you want to make sure that continues. I want to keep it going in a positive direction. I was raised in a small town that was big into their community — it is the reason why I fell in love with Lansdale so much.”
DiPasquale, who was unchallenged for the Democratic nomination in the spring, said he has not experienced any issues running as an openly LGBT candidate, and that Mayor Szekely has not made his orientation an issue. Lansdale, like many towns and cities across the state, recently found itself in the marriage-equality limelight after Szekely was challenged by two residents who received a marriage license in Montgomery County to officiate their same-sex marriage. Szekely, who supports marriage equality, said he would not partake in the ceremony due to state law, which currently prohibits same-sex couples from marrying.
DiPasquale, who was present at the council meeting where the issue was discussed, said he reflected on how he would have handled the issue had he been mayor and concluded that, if the action could have had legal implications for the town, he would not have done it.
DiPasquale has already begun talks with the borough council on crafting an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance and said he is also supportive of advancing both civil-union and marriage-equality legislation statewide.
However, his legislative goals also go beyond LGBT issues.
Specifically, DiPasquale hopes to create a better environment for Lansdale’s small businesses.
“In rough economic times, small businesses need to work together. What does online shopping do for the community? We need to make sure the small businesses are not lost. The world is built on small businesses and the majority of the way America is made is by hard work.”
DiPasquale said although he would be honored to become Pennsylvania’s first openly gay mayor, he would be humbled as well.
“It won’t be a big thing for me because it shouldn’t be. Will it be an honor? Absolutely. Being the first gay mayor in Pennsylvania would be a bittersweet moment, knowing that people can look at me for who I am and still vote for me,” he said.
DiPasquale, who said he is eager to work with a spirit of bipartisanship, noted that having an openly LGBT individual at the table could open up more conversations about community issues.
“We are living in disadvantage by people not thinking we are the same as them,” he said. “It is important to have LGBT people in politics because they get it and they understand what it is like to be a minority.”
For more information on DiPasquale’s campaign, email [email protected] or visit www.electdougformayor.com.