Philadelphia Gay News Oct. 29 - Nov. 4, 2010
Vol. 34 No. 44
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Election interviews PGN Staff
PENN PUSHED TO THE POLLS: The University of Pennsylvania played host to the first-ever direct-outreach program for LGBT youth voters in the city Oct. 27. The event, meant to encourage local LGBT young adults to turn out for the Nov. 2 election, featured remarks by LGBT-friendly politicians including state Sen. Daylin Leach (from left); Reps. Babette Josephs and James Roebuck; Susan Clark-Sestak, wife of U.S. Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak; out candidate for state representative Fern Kaufman; and Sherri Cohen, who is looking to become the first lesbian member of Philadelphia City Council. Photo: Scott A. Drake
For the mid-term elections, PGN reached out to candidates for U.S. Senate and House, governor, lieutenant governor and state Senate and House. Of the 49 candidates we attempted to contact, 14 responded, 29 did not respond and six had no contact information. As expected, Democrats were more likely to respond and were better on LGBT issues than Republicans. For this effort, we posed the same set of questions to each candidate in the race, tailoring questions to the state or federal level. We attempted to interview the Congressional and gubernatorial candidates by phone and the rest by questionnaire. For the Congressional interviews, two candidates replied to the questionnaire but were unable (or unwilling) to take us up on our phone interview request — Republicans Pat Toomey and Rick Hellberg.
if he ascends to the Senate. “I believe, like all other communities, the LGBT community is looking for someone who’s willing to be held accountable. People want someone who’s willing to do the right thing and not just trying to be a politician and worry about keeping their job,” Sestak said. “I want to restore principles and even work for principled compromises with the other side. We need people who want principles to triumph over politics and let the chips fall where they may and the consequences be what they may for one’s job, because it’s about doing what’s right for the people.” Pat Toomey
Fo r m e r U . S . Rep. Toomey lost his Senate bid to unseat Arlen Specter four years ago, but is back in Pennsylvania’s Senate race against Sestak. Toomey said he
U.S. SENATE Joe Sestak
Democrat Congressman Sestak is facing off against Republican Pat Toomey in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the nation. Sestak, who defeated longtime incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter in the spring, has supported numerous pieces of LGBT legislation since taking office. He has served as a cosponsor of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, the Respect for Marriage Act — which would repeal the federal ban on same-sex marriage — and the measure to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” “I believe in equality; that’s why I have a 96-percent rating by the Human Rights Campaign. My opponent has a 6-percent rating,” Sestak said. Sestak supports domestic partnerships THE BIG 2-1: SafeGuards LGBT Health Resource Center recognized 21 individuals and civil unions for same-sex couples and and organizations who have been influential in shaping the agency’s growth and development during its 21st-anniversary celebration Oct. 21. Honorees included would also support marriage equality, as Mazzoni Center, the AIDS Library, Philadelphia FIGHT, COLOURS and individuals Chris long as churches are permitted to follow Bartlett (front row, right), the founder and first executive director of the agency, and their own discretion, he said. Safeguards board chairperson Soda Nobuhle (front row, second from left). Photo: He said the issue of HIV/AIDS housScott A. Drake ing needs more attention, adding comprehensive sexual education needs to be encouraged to raise awareness about HIVEndorsment editorial Page 10 prevention efforts. Sestak said he would continue to be a Voting for LGBT allies and friends Page 11 strong advocate for the LGBT community
See CANDIDATES, Page 8
Endorsements U.S. Senate:
Joe Sestak
U.S. House: 2nd District: 6th District: 7th District: 8th District: 13th District:
Chaka Fattah Manan Trivedi Bryan Lentz Patrick Murphy Allyson Schwartz
Governor: Dan Onorato Lieutenant Governor: Scott Conklin Pa. Senate: 2nd District: Christine Tartaglione 8th District: Anthony Williams Pa. House: 26th District: Fern Kaufman 152nd District: Robert McGuckin 175th District: Mike O’Brien 179th District: Tony Payton 182nd District: Babette Josephs 184th District: William Keller 185th District: Robert Donatucci 186th District: Kenyatta Johnson 203rd District: Dwight Evans Philadelphia Charter: Question 3: Yes