Voters Guide
Candidates for US Senate, US Congress PA-16, PA Governor, and PA State House were asked about their positions on GLBT issues. Their responses appear below. Please remember to vote on November 6!
These were the questions for all candidates:
Anti-Discrimination
Do you support the passage of legislation such as the Equality Act, which would protect LGBT individuals from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation? Please explain.
"Religious Freedom"
Do you support legislation such as the so-called First Amendment Defense Act (introduced in the US Senate in March of 2018) that would allow individuals, government officials or government agencies to deny providing goods and services to LGBT individuals because of religious beliefs. Please explain.
Other
What would you like to let the Erie area LGBT community to know?
Compiled by Michael Mahler
All candidates in a race are asked the same questions. Responses are entered as received, without any changes, including correction for typographical errors. Pertinent information that does not come directly from the candidate will use reliable and verifiable sources, and appears in italics with "Editors' note" preceding the quote.
US Senate
Not Responding: Lou Barletta (R)
Anti-Discrimination
Robert P Casey Jr (D-Incumbent)
I am a co-sponsor of the Equality Act.
Neal Gale (Green)
I believe it is critically important to support legislation such as the Equality Act, as long as people in our society face daily discrimination due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Throughout the country there is a lack of basic legal protections leaving people at risk regarding the bas
Dale Kerns (Libertarian)
Discrimination against people because of sexual orientation or gender identity has no place in our nation. I would strongly support adding LGBT+ people to those protected by the 1964 Civil Rights Act protections against government discrimination through legislation like the Equality Act. In addition, if any private businesses were to express that they refusic areas of their lives including employment, housing, finances, education, access to federally funded programs, and jury duty, as well as their physical safety and that of their families.
Since the majority of LGBTQ Americans report having experienced discrimination in their lives, based on who they are as people, it is imperative that specific, federal legal protections be enacted. It is no longer acceptable for anyone to have to face harassment or discrimination, and the Equality Act would go a long way towards preventing that.
"Religious Freedom"
Robert P Casey Jr (D-Incumbent)
No. While we are a nation that was founded on the rights of individuals to worship as they choose, it is unacceptable to discriminate against individuals or a minority group. Places which provide services to the public should accommodate LGBTQ individuals just as they serve every other person.
For example, I signed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of this position, as it relates to the Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. This case deals with this issue directly.
Neal Gale (Green)
I do not support this proposed legislation. It supports a person's right to discriminate against another person, based on moral objections to that person's nature. And I draw a distinction between morality and ethics, which I believe must be observed here.
Morality is derived from one's own religious beliefs and is highly personal, and should not dictate legislation. Ethics has to do with the rules we have developed to govern our behavior in society, and while our ethical code may overlap with our moral bearings, they are not the same. Ethics keeps us united under a standard set of rules for living, codified into law, while morals may provide personal guidance, which might not be universal, and cannot be allowed to become justification for discrimination.
I am concerned that the basis for the First Amendment Defense Act could be extended to provide justification for an array of acts by citizens under the pretext of moral indignity. This is a dangerous, slippery slope.
Dale Kerns (Libertarian)
I would not support the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) because it grants special privileges to certain religious groups to discriminate. In addition, government officials never have the right to discriminate against people because of their status as members of the LGBT+ communities. This becomes particularly problematic when government has been made the sole or primary provider of certain goods or services, as it then allows elected officials and bureaucrats to refuse to perform their public services for people due to their sexual orientations and gender identities.
Other
Robert P Casey Jr (D-Incumbent)
I have long been a supporter of the LGBTQ community going back to my days as Pennsylvania's Auditor General, where I instituted the state government's first anti-discrimination policy that covered gender identity. I also called for the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the Defense of Marriage Act, and publicly supported marriage equality before Obergefell vs. Hodges established that same-sex couples had the fundamental right to marry..
One of my proudest moments as a Senator is when I recommended Judge Nitza Quinones Alejandro to serve as a federal judge in the Eastern District of PA. Judge Quinones Alejandro made history as the first LGBTQ Latina to serve on a federal bench. I will continue to actively seek diversity in appointments, in not only gender and race, but also look towards promoting qualified members of the LGBTQ community to positions where they can further enrich our communities.
During my time in office, the LGBTQ community has been a strong partner in fighting bullying in schools, cracking down on hate crimes, and pushing for non-discrimination legislation. I'd be honored to have the support of the Northwest PA LGBTQ community as we continue the work of securing civil rights for every Pennsylvanian.
Neal Gale (Green)
As U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, I will support the tenets of the Green Party and work tirelessly for grass roots democracy for us all, social justice, peace over profits and environmental wisdom and stewardship. I will press forward with a progressive agenda to reform our society, with a wholistic approach. One that recognizes the connection between the survivability of our environment, the sustainability of our economic system, the justice we demand throughout our society and how fully we do or do not participate in our self-government.
I encourage everyone to take a close look at who your elected leaders are, what they are really doing and then take a look at my positions at www.gale2018.com. Please make a plan now to vote on November 6th, and vote for me for U.S. Senate.
Dale Kerns (Libertarian)
I am proud to be a member of the Libertarian Party, which since its formation in 1971 has strongly supported the rights of LGBT+ people. Those who are members of these communities have faced discrimination and hatred throughout the history of our nation, and still do to this day. From far before Stonewall to now after Obergefell, these Americans have shown that they can and will fight for what is right. While small steps have been taken to guarantee equality, there is still plenty of work to be done. In the U.S. Senate, I will be a fighter for LGBT+ Pennsylvanians and Americans, making sure that they receive all of the rights and privileges guaranteed to them as human beings.
Lou Barletta (R)
[Editors Note: We received no response from Mr Barletta, but are sharing his remarks about marriage equality:"the Supreme Court has no business redefining the basic definition of what marriage truly is. This ruling undermines the ability of states to govern themselves, and imposes fundamental beliefs from one state onto another." (quoted in PennLive.com June 26, 2015)
US Congress PA-16
Not Responding: Mike Kelly (R-Incumbent)
Anti-Discrimination
Ebert Beeman (Libertarian)
People, in a private capacity, have a right to believe whatever they like and to use their property however they want. I certainly hope they treat everyone fairly but putting a gun to someone's head isn't going to change their bigotry. If someone discriminates against LGBT individuals, they are losing those people as customers or tenants. Their bigotry should and will be called out and they will suffer financial reverses as a result.
I certainly oppose discrimination in employment, housing, and public buildings by the government. Government cannot discriminate and must treat all people equally. Any government employee found to be engaging in discriminatory actions should be fired with the loss of all benefits and I would sponsor and support legislation to that effect.
Ron DiNicola (D)
Yes, I do support passage of the Equality Act. I also believe that all members of the LGBTQ+ community deserve equal treatment and I support the right to Constitutional right to marry as decided by the US Supreme Court in Obergefell v Hodges, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, the Student Non-Discrimination Act, the Tyler Clementi Education Anti-Harassment Act, and the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act.
"Religious Freedom"
Ebert Beeman (Libertarian)
Again, people, in a private capacity, have a right to believe whatever they like. However, a government employee cannot deny providing goods and services to anyone, for any reason. When they are acting as a government employee they are an agent of the state. Government must treat all people equally. This is well-established law. If a government employee feels they can't do something, they can resign or assign the performance of their duty to another government employee. The so-called First Amendment Defense Act would violate the 14th Amendment. It's a typical example of politicians pandering to a base and in the process, violating their oath of office.
No, I do not support the First Amendment Defense Act. This act is attempt to override the Obergefell v Hodges decision and would discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.
Other
Ebert Beeman (Libertarian)
As a member of Congress, you can count on me to be a budget hawk and fiscal watchdog, just as I was publicly applauded for being when I was on County Council.
You can count on me to oppose the current foreign policy of military aggression. You can count on me to sponsor and support legislation to eliminate foreign aid to regimes that persecute the LGBT community.
The Libertarian Party has stood up for the rights of the LGBT community since the parties founding in 1971. In 1972 the Libertarian Party ran an openly gay man for President at a time when doing so could have gotten him thrown in prison.
Ron DiNicola (D)
I want the Erie LGBTQ+ community to know that I will always fight against and oppose any policies and laws which try to roll back or restrict their rights. When I was the Chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party, I was one of the first public leaders to call for enactment of the Erie County Human Relations Commission.
Mike Kelly (R- Incumbent)
[Editors Note: Rep. Kelly has never responded to our candidate surveys, but we have provided information on his positions and remarks. In this guide we provide this excerpt from the Human Rights Campaign, regarding legislation which Kelly has introduced:
"The Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act was introduced in the House of Representative by Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), and in the Senate by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) on April 4, 2017... There are no such safeguards against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.
"In the absence of such federal protections, the door has been left open for adoption or foster care providers to deny adoption or foster care placements with qualified, LGBTQ individuals or same-sex couples on the basis of their personal religious objections. The Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act would exacerbate this problem and deny LGBTQ people the few protections they have in states that have prohibited anti-LGBTQ discrimination in state funded child welfare programs and adoption and foster placement."~From "What is the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act? " Human Rights Campaign, Last Updated: April 20, 2017)
PA Governor
Not Responding: Scott R Wagner (R)
Anti-Discrimination
Paul Glover (Green)
Yes. Every Pennsylvania resident, especially those traditionally disparaged, deserves legal protection from discrimination when decency does not suffice.
Ken Krawchuk (Libertarian)
I believe that we should all be treated equally under the law, meaning no special favors for any group, nor any special handicaps for any group. I would oppose any law granting special protections or quotas for gays or heteros, women or men, minorities or majorities, businesses or individuals, or even politicians. Conversely, I would also oppose any law that denied anyone full enjoyment of all rights and privileges.
The reason is simple: Whenever the government creates special benefits for one class of citizen, whatever that class, they create a benefit that is not legally available to those outside that class. By lifting up one class of citizen over other citizens, in effect the law creates a second class citizenship consisting of those outside the protected class. I oppose second class citizenships and the laws that create them, such as the Equality Act. All must be equal in the eyes of the law.
Scott R Wagner (R)
[Ed. Note: Scott Wagner is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1307, which would have amended the state's Human Relations Act to include sexual orientation, gender identity/expression to the list of prohibited forms of discrimination in terms of housing and employment]
Thomas W Wolf (D-Incumbent)
Pennsylvania remains one of the only states in the country that does not protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination. From my first days in office, I've urged the General Assembly to pass the PA Fairness Act. This act would add protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to existing bans on discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation.
Despite broad, bipartisan support for the PA Fairness Act, the bills have been blocked from a vote in the General Assembly. In the face of this stalled legislation, I took matters into my own hands by signing two executive orders that prohibit any agency under my jurisdiction, or any entity that receives grants or contracts from the commonwealth from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, gender expression, and identity, and gender identity and expression, among other areas.
I also recognize that the LGBTQ community deserves equal benefits and the same state services as everyone else, which is why I have fought to expand state health care benefits for LGBTQ employees. These protections and benefits will greatly expand the economic and social well being of the LGBTQ community.
I will continue to push for passage of the PA Fairness Act and will explore all other potential avenues to further protect the rights of the LGBTQ community.
"Religious Freedom"
Paul Glover (Green)
No. I have already replied to two conservative questionnaires affirming the right of gay Pennsylvanians to receive services, whether wedding cakes or marriage licenses, regardless of narrow religious doctrine. Religions which proclaim love as their highest principle
Ken Krawchuck (Libertarian)
Please see previous answer, which explains why I would oppose any law granting or denying anyone full enjoyment of all rights and privileges. The role of government is only to protect the lives and property of its citizens. Anything beyond that becomes a clash between competing special interests.
Thomas W Wolf (D-Incumbent)
I do not support the First Amendment Defense Act. LGBTQ people have a fundamental right to be protected from discrimination in all areas of life. I am committed to continuing my fight for these protections and I will oppose any legislation that threatens the rights of the LGBTQ community.
Other
Paul Glover (Green)
As the Green Party candidate for Pennsylvania governor I endorse the platform of the Party, including the section on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, seen at https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/gpus/pages/4899/attachments/original/1490478605/2016-Green-Party-Platform-with-Index.pdf?1490478605 page 22:
In keeping with the Green Key Values of diversity, social justice and feminism, we support full legal and political equality for all persons, regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity, characteristics, and expression.
a. The GreenParty affirms the rights of all individuals to freely choose intimate partners, regardless of their sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
b. The Green Party recognizes the equal rights of persons who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersex, transsexual, queer, or transgender to housing, jobs, civil marriage, medical benefits, child custody, and in all areas of life including equal tax treatment.
c. The Green Party will be inclusive of language in local, state and federal anti-discrimination law that ensures the rights of intersex individuals and prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, characteristics, and expression as well as on sex, gender, or sexual orientation.We are opposed to intersex genital mutilation.
d. The Green Party affirms the right of all persons to self-determination with regard to gender identity and sex. We therefore support the right of inter sex and transgender individuals to be free from coercion and involuntary assignment of gender or sex. We affirm the right of access to medical and surgical treatment for assignment or reassignment of gender or sex, based on informed consent.
e. We will pursue legislation against all forms of hate crimes, including those directed against people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, and intersex.Offenders must pay compensation to the LGBTIQ people who have suffered violence and injustice.
f. The Green Party will end all Federal military and civilian aid to national governments whose laws result in the imprisonment or otherwise bring harm to citizens and residents based on sexual orientation, or gender identity, characteristics, and expression.
g. TheGreenParty will enact a policy that theU.S.Government recognize all international marriages and legal equivalents, such as civil unions, in processing visitor and immigration visas. h. The Green Party would end security surveillance and covert infiltration of organizations that promote equal rights on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Ken Krawchuck (Libertarian)
I must congratulate the LGBT community in Erie and across the country for finally receiving the recognition and respect that all people deserve. As with racial minorities, the journey toward acceptance of the LGBT community has been a long one, often a one-step-back/two-steps-forward situation. But acceptance is strengthening, and the long-term prospects are excellent. However, I would caution against overconfidence, especially in the realm of legal remedies. Asking for special privileges runs the risk of creating a backlash and undoing the achievements made to date. Equality is what we all seek, not supremacy. I wish you continued good fortune in your quest for equality
Thomas W Wolf (D-Incumbent)
Long before I was Governor, I stood up for full marriage equality because I strongly believe that government should not be in the businesses of denying two people who love each other the right to enter into a marriage and enjoy the love and benefits that come with it.
PA State House District 1
Anti-Discrimination
Pat Harkins (D-Incumbent)
I have always supported equal rights for all and proudly co sponsored and will vote for passage of HB 300 when it comes before the house for a vote.
"Religious Freedom"
Pat Harkins (D-Incumbent)
While that is a federal piece of legislation and I have no vote on it at this time, I would oppose it if something similar were to land in the Pa house. In my opinion these kinds of legislation are devisive and simply add to more discrimination in society.
Other
Pat Harkins (D-Incumbent)
In my twelve years in the legislature I have worked tirelessly, introduced legislation, held hearings and co sponsored legislation dealing with workers rights, anti bullying and fairness for all. Going forward I will continue to advocate for issues that impact everyone in a positive way in society. I have always been a supporter of LGBT and will continue to be.
PA State House District 2
Not Responding: Timothy P Kuzma (R)
Anti-Discrimination
Bob Merski (D)
Yes. Equality is a right, not a privilege. No one should be denied housing, employment, or access to basic necessities because of their sexual or gender identity.
"Religious Freedom"
Bob Merski (D)
No. The First Amendment was designed to protect the people from tyranny and governmental action; it is not a tool for discrimination.
Other
Bob Merski (D)
My wife and I strive to be allies to the LGBT community and to all communities that have historically been marginalized.
PA State House District 3
Anti-Discrimination
Ryan Bizzarro (D-Incumbent)
Yes, I would support legislation like the Equality Act. People's sexual orientation and gender identity should not be discriminated against in housing, employment, nor public accommodation. Gender and sexuality unfold in each person naturally. That there is a diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities is something to be celebrated and responsibly nurtured. In a free society, like ours, laws should enumerate what the Constitution enshrines: that all people are created equal, each with inalienable human rights. As a country we have not always lived into our stated ideals of liberty and equality. The historic discrimination of LGBT people is a tragic part of our nation's story. But our movement towards full equality is a testament to the best of what we can be, together.
"Religious Freedom"
Ryan Bizzarro (D-Incumbent)
I do not support legislation like the First Amendment Defense Act. The United States Constitution enshrines freedom of belief, not absolute accommodation of personal conscience. That is an important distinction. When personal conscience is exercised in such a way that it harms or discriminates against others in the public square, it violates who we are as American citizens. In truth, there is a reason we distinguish between public and private organizations. In public spaces, we all agree to pursue equality not by religious laws or doctrines, but by the principles of the Constitution. Very specifically, that means we do not impose our religious or philosophical beliefs (or standards) on others when providing goods or services to the public. Faith communities are free to believe and practice what they do within their sacred spaces. But when theology becomes civil law, we become the very thing democracy resists: theocracy and tyranny.
Other
Ryan Bizzarro (D-Incumbent)
I want the greater Erie region to know that I support full equality for LGBT people. As I talk to people throughout the Commonwealth, it strikes me that many people just assume that LGBT people have equal protection under the law. That, we know, is not true. In order to move equality measures forward, Pennsylvania needs to elect more LGBT-supporting people to every branch of government. So long as LGBT-friendly elected officials are in the minority, like in the House and Senate, our advocacy and voting efforts do not make it into civil law. It is for that reason, that I not only humbly ask for your support, but I also ask that we work together to change the face of government in its entirety. Pennsylvania can and should be a place of full equality for LGBT people. Only by getting out the vote will we make that happen.
PA State House District 4
Not Responding: Curt Sonney (R-Incumbent)
PA State House District 5
Not Responding: Brad Roae (R-Incumbent)
