Sen. Bob Casey meeting with local LGBT community members


by Michael Mahler


On August 17, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and his Regional Manager for Northwest Pennsylvania Kyle Hannon, met with members and allies of the LGBT community to talk about legislation, issues, and concerns. Attending the meeting were Tammie Johnson (SafeNet, ACLU NW PA), Rich McCarty (Greater Erie Alliance for Equality) Caitlyn Strohmeyer (TransFamily of NW PA), Tyler J Titus (GEAE. TransFamily of NW PA), Michael Mahler (Erie Gay News, NW PA Pride Alliance), Will Koehler (Greater Erie Alliance for Equality), Ciah Koehler (daughter of Will Koehler), Finu Lukose (NW PA Pride Alliance), Paul Lukach (Crime Victim Center of Erie County) and Kim Conti (LBT Women of Erie).


Sen. Casey discussed the following: 


• The anti-bullying Safe Schools Improvement Act (introduced by Casey).

• The Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to extend federal anti-discrimination protection in employment, housing, and public accommodations to include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

• The Hate Crimes Prevention Act, introduced by Sen. Casey after the Orlando Pulse mass shooting, which would ban the sale and ownership of firearms for people convicted of committing a violent misdemeanor hate crime and for those who have received a "hate crime sentence enhancement."


Concerns and issues expressed by attendees included: 


• Countering arguments made against anti-discrimination legislation regarding religious freedom and the use of restrooms and other facilities by transgender people.

• Difficulties in reporting bullying in schools and potential unintended negative consequences of tying federal funding to non-discrimination and anti-bullying legislation (included considerations of intersections of other marginalized communities, such as immigrants, refugees and racial/ethnic minorities).

• Difficulties of transgender youth accessing medical services, leading to subsequent problems for those youth in youth shelters and the corrections system. 

• Accessing housing for the homeless, providing resources for the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence; and also finding sources of funding for non-legislative solutions and tactics for ameliorating social problems.


About the Author

Michael Mahler Michael Kenton Mahler (He/Him) has been the editor of Erie Gay News since it was founded in December 1992. He is also a founding member of NWPA Pride Alliance. He serves on the Governor's Commission for LGBTQ Affairs and is active with Aging with Pride and the Erie County HIV Task Force. He became the first LGBTQ person to be fully out in May 1992 when appearing on local TV coverage. Michael currently works as a software developer for Erie Custom Computer Applications.

Photos

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