Inspired by a lack of LGBTQ representation among members of Philadelphia City Council, Daniel “Duke” Orsino wants to shake up the legislative body — and his political party.
Orsino, 32, is an out gay Republican challenging Democratic incumbent Councilmember Mark Squilla in the District 1 City Council race that’s part of Philadelphia’s Nov. 5 general election. Squilla was first elected in 2011.
“There never really has been a city councilperson who has been queer-identifying. … There’s also a lack of progressivism in City Council currently and there’s a lack of millennial representation,” Orsino said.
He added that he’s fighting against the mainstream Republican party as part of a movement among millennial Republicans that is growing “particularly here in the city.” His mission? To return the party to its social justice roots, he explained.
“The Republican party was founded as an abolitionist party for the abolition of slavery and somewhere around the 1970s things got a little crazy. What we’re trying to do is put the progressivism back in the party that used to be there,” Orsino told PGN, adding, “There’s a large [contingent] of us that do not like where the party is right now [at the] national and city-wide level, and we want the party taken in a more progressive direction that is LGBTQ friendly and is more open to change and progressive policies.”
Orsino, who attended Rowan University, works at a lab manufacturing orthotics devices. If elected, one of the first issues Orsino will tackle, he said, is pushing to expand resources the Philadelphia Department of Health has to address HIV and AIDS. Drexel Medicine places the city’s infection rate at five times the national average.
Orsino also strongly advocates for ending the city’s 10-year tax abatement policy, which allows a decade-long grace period for paying taxes on new construction made on a piece of real estate in the city. Critics say the law allows the wealthy to take advantage of development opportunities in neighborhoods of lower socioeconomic status, forcing out long-term residents and contributing to gentrification. Orsino’s platform also centers around promoting social equity and a greener city.
Orsino told PGN he would represent Philadelphia’s LGBTQ community as a councilmember by pushing local and state politicians to support barring workplace discrimination against queer folks and fight for legislation that would expand rights for trans people.
“We have to expand the health and outreach for trans-identifying individuals … and protect those who are in the most vulnerable communities,” he said, adding city efforts should also be concentrated on alleviating the number of queer Philadelphians experiencing poverty.
As a councilmember, he said he would reach out to other Republican lawmakers across the city and state to educate them on why they should champion LGBTQ rights.
“Unfortunately, a lot of people in the Republican party don’t understand [LGBTQ rights] because a lot of them are unfortunately straight white males. What has to be done is we have to try to approach this from an education standpoint and trying to build relationships with people you wouldn’t normally build a relationship with and trying to get them to understand where you’re coming from,” Orsino added.
The millennial candidate also hopes his council bid can encourage other out candidates to run for city government positions in the future.
“We need people to step up because if people don’t open their mouths, nothing will ever change,” he said.