Gov. Tom Wolf spoke at a fundraising event for a local LGBT-advocacy organization Thursday. More than 50 people attended the Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club’s Spring Fundraiser at Stir. Henry Sias, who if elected in Tuesday’s primary could become the nation’s first trans male judge, introduced Wolf to the audience.
Sias opened by discussing the importance of leadership representation and the disproportionate impact of homelessness on LGBT youth. He noted President Donald Trump’s administration recent rescinding of protections for transgender students.
“We have to be a beacon to those kids,” Sias said. “We have to show them that we can be loved, that we can contribute to our community and have that community embrace us; that’s why I’m running so out and so loudly in letting the world see who I am and and I thank you all for that. And I thank the governor for elevating us. He lifts us up and lets us be that beacon to those kids who need to see a future in which they can be loved. I’m proud to introduce Gov. Wolf. I’m proud he’s my governor and I’m thankful we have him as a beacon.”
Wolf echoed Sias’ statement.
“I think Henry is absolutely right,” the governor said. “We want a community where people can grow up being who they are and not feel any shame of that and not feel like they are going to be not as loved. That’s a great thing for those people, but you know what? It’s a great thing for everybody else too. That’s the kind of Pennsylvania I want — a Pennsylvania that is open, embracing and welcoming to everybody.”
Wolf discussed an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination executive order he signed last year that expanded protections for commonwealth employees and employees of businesses contracted through the commonwealth based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
However, Wolf said there is still a lot of work to do statewide, particularly to pass an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law.
“I am so ashamed of my state because in this state, you can still be fired from your job because of who you love, because of who you want to be and because of your identity. That is so wrong and we need to change that.”
“I don’t want to be judged as a citizen of a state that behaves that way to anybody,” he added.
Wolf concluded his speech by thanking the guests for “stand[ing] up for the kind of Pennsylvania we all know we need and we can achieve.”
“Thank you for leading the way,” Wolf said. “Thank you for your courage. Thank you for doing all of the things that you’re doing for me.”
He ended with a joke echoing Trump’s campaign slogan, eliciting laughs from the audience.
“Let’s make Pennsylvania really great,” Wolfe said before pausing, “again.”
Following his speech, Wolf spoke to PGN about why the LGBT community should vote in Tuesday’s primary.
“What we want is a society where everybody feels free to be himself or herself and what everyone here is doing is showing their courage to stand up and say, ‘I want to be recognized for who I am and I need you to accept that,’” Wolf said. “I think that’s good for all of us because if you live in a society where not all people are free to do that or feel that way, then no one is going to feel free to be that way. We need everybody to stand up for their individuality and their own freedom.”