Voters' Guide: Eastern Edition - General '96

76 Pages·1996·11.7 MB·English

by  League of Gay and Lesbian Voters

L e a g ue of G ay
a nd L e s b i an V o t e rs
E a s t e rn E d i t i on
Includes statewide and regional elections in these
Pennsylvania counties: Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Carbon,
Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware,
Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne,
Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton,
Northumberland, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan,
Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, York
General Election V November 5, 1996
Gubernatorial, Lieutenant
Gubernatorial, US Senate,
Congressional, State Senate
and State House Elections
Gay & Lesbian Voters
The gay and lesbian entertainment complex
WANTS YOU TO
* * 1 I I I /
V O T E ! !!
1913 W.BROADST., BETH LEHEM,PA.I80I8
T(6I0)865-I028V
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Contents
LGLV Voters' Guide, General Election 1996
Background 3
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE County/District
Index 7
Those who hold elective office have the power to
District Maps 9
affect your life through legislation. They can pass laws
President 14
which help protect you from discrimination and
Statewide
bashing or they can encourage such behavior. They can
Offices 15
provide funding for proper health care for HTV+ Congress 17
people and women with breast cancer, or they can PA Senate 25
make it more difficult to get care and services. They PA House 29
can pass laws which oppress or protect. What's more,
they will definitely be making these types of decisions
during their terms in office, which may last up to four years after this elec
tion. These candidates have considerable potential to affect your life. By
voting, you can have a say in who will be making these decisions and thus
influence decisions directly impacting your life as a lesbigay person.
RESPONDING TO UNRESPONSIVE CANDIDATES
As much as we try to provide candidates with every opportunity to address
issues of concern to our community, not all choose to do so. We have often
been asked what can be done about such candidates. The most effective
action is for constituents to tell the candidates that they are unhappy and
insulted that the candidate did not respond to LGLV's questionnaire. You can
let them know, for example,that you may not vote for them because they do
not believe our issues are important. There are two situations in which
communicating this message to candidates seems to have been particularly
effective: during campaign events (rallies, debates, etc.) and at the polls, when
a candidate shows up to stump for last minute votes. Your comments may
elicit a response to LGLV's questionnaire the next time the candidate runs for
office.
USING THIS GUIDE
The Guide is designed to be used either by itself or in conjunction with
information on other issues important to you. It is not a slate, and nothing in
the Guide constitutes an endorsement. Both ratings and written summaries
must be used together for a clear evaluation of a candidate; they do not stand
alone. They show the strengths and weaknesses of various candidates across
the spectrum of lesbigay issues. Sometimes candidates may be equal overall in
ratings, but differ on their strengths within the range of lesbigay issues.
COPYRIGHT © 1996 LEAGUE OF GAY AND LESBIAN VOTERS
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written
permission from an authorized representative of the League of Gay and Lesbian Voters.
5819-B 15217 • (412) 421 -4470
LEAGUE OF GAY AND LESBIAN VOTERS THIRD FLOOR; FORWARD AVE,; PITTSBURGH, PA
Candidates for whom we had too little information in every category to rate
have no entry in a rating table.
Besides providing information about candidates running for various offices this
Guide can also be used to help determine districts where potential candidates
supportive of lesbigay civil liberties need to be found and encouraged to run.
Indeed, we encourage such use of this information.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
The League of Gay and Lesbian Voters obtains information for this guide from
various sources: a questionnaire sent to each candidate; voting records; mass
media such as Out!, Planet Q PGN, Au Courant, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the
Altoona Mirror, the Erie Times, newswire services; other civil rights organiza
tions; and various other sources. Although we do everything we can to ensure
the accuracy of all information in the Guide, because of the complex nature of
data collection, we cannot assume responsibility for inaccuracies in the informa
tion presented in the guide, if any exist.
SUBJECTS COVERED
We have covered certain areas of general concern for lesbigay people.
Equality: The area of equality concerns issues of discrimination and protection
from discrimination. This includes questions such as whether they would hire a
qualified, openly lesbigay person or support anti- discrimination legislation.
Violence: This area addresses the problem of hate crimes against lesbigay
people... lesbigay bashing. Many points refer to the Hate Crimes Bill, which
deals with lesbigay bashing as other hate crimes are dealth with in PA: by
providing enhanced penalties for such crimes. LGLV advocates for this bill.
Couples: This area deals with issues such as benefits for, and legal recognition
of, same-sex couples, with the primary goal of attaining the legal tools necessary
to care for our partners as well as our married heterosexual counterparts can.
Marriage: This catagory is only used at the state government level, and refers
specifically to candidate's positions on the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
Benefits: This involves domestic partnership benefits such as health insurance
where some lower standard of relationship than marriage may be recognized.
Custody: This subject deals with discrimination in child custody, adoption and
foster parenting. Often, lesbigay parents face roadblocks to retaining custody of
their children after a divorce simply because of their sexual orientation. Sexual
orientation can also be a roadblock to adopting a child or becoming a foster
parent because of negative stereotypes of lesbigay people.
AIDS: This topic includes a range of issues dealing with AIDS, including
education, treatment and research. Also included are topics such as mandatory
4
HIV testing and associated social policy issues.
QUESTIONNAIRE
The questionnaire sent to each candidate covers a range of issues. Different
types of questionnaires are sent depending upon the race. The following is a
composite of all the types of questionnaires sent:
1. Should government at any level have the right to regulate private consensual adult
sexual behavior?
2. Do you support prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in
a) employment, b) housing, c) public accommodations, d) education, e) health care,
f) federal government programs?
3. Would you hire an openly lesbigay person to your staff?
4. Would you approve a qualified openly lesbigay person to a governmental position?
5. Do you believe a parent's sexual orientation should be a determining or influencing
factor in custody decisions?
6. Do you believe an applicant's sexual orientation should be grounds to deny, or in
anyway influence, that person's opportunity to adopt a child or become a foster parent?
7. Do you support the ban against lesbigay people in the military and the "Don't ask,
don't tell" policy towards lesbigay service members?
8. Military discharge papers (DD214) for lesbian and gay people indicate the reason for
discharge is homosexuality. Do you support removing this notation and any indication
of their sexual orientation from DD214 both retroactively and from now on?
9. Do you support legislation which cuts funding to schools which have programs,
whether counseling or academic, which have the purpose or effect of presenting
homosexuality in a positive light?
10. Do you support the Defense of Marriage Act, which bans federal recognition of
same-sex marriages?
11. Do you support the recognition of same-sex marriage? How about a legal equivalent
(such as domestic partnerships), for same-sex couples?
12. Do you support amending the current hate crimes statutes to cover hate crimes
committed because of the victim's sexual orientation?
13. Do you support collecting statistics on hate crimes, including those committed
because of the victim's sexual orientation?
14. Do you think health or life insurance companies should be allowed to deny insurance
or raise rates based upon sexual orientation?
15. Should they offer gay/lesbian couples the opportunity to purchase family health
insurance coverage?
16. How much funding would you support overall for AIDS programs in the next fiscal year?
17. What would you change and not change in a) current policies for the care and
treatment of People With AIDS (PWAs) (drug approval, home care, medical
subsidies, etc.) and b) current policies addressing public and government education
on AIDS?
18. Should HIV testing be mandatory? If yes, for whom?
19. Do you support protecting the confidentiality of a person with regard to his or her
HIV status?
20. Do you support anonymous HIV testing?
21. Please add any other relevant facts or opinions. Include as much information as you
like. Please cite relevant legislation, testimony, or activities, if any, with which you
have been involved.
22. What message would you like to send the lesbian and gay voters in Pennsylvania?
5
L e g e nd
// - Excellent NB - No Basis for Evaluation | - Independent*
/ - Good ff - Democrat N - Natural Law
0, - Neutral fit - Republican C - Constitutional
KK - Poor R - Reform/Patriot S - Socialist!
te - Unsatisfactory L - Libertarian Strong ties to the
Radical Right
* indudes many very small third parties and pseudo-parties (created for one candidate)
! includes both the Socialist Workers Party and the Socialist Equality Party
Join us!
W r i te or c a ll f or m o re i n f o r m a t i on
State Office League of Gay and Lesbian Voters
5819-B Forward Ave.
Pittsburgh, Pa 15217
Phone/fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.woodworks.com/lglv/
Chapters
LGLV/Clearfield $LGLV/Lehigh Valley LGLV/State College
PO Box 565 PO Box 20781 PO Box 10986
Clearfield, Pa 16830 Lehigh Valley, Pa 18002 State College, Pa 16805
[phone] [phone] [phone]
LGLV/Erie LGLV/NorthEast PA LGLV/Washington
PO Box 8083 PO Box 2823 PO Box 1064
Erie, Pa 16505 Wilkes-Barre, Pa 18703 Washington, Pa 15301
(814) 8984210 [phone] [phone]
LGLV/Harrisburg LGLV/Philadelphia
' POBox 17275
PO Box 1921
Philadelphia, Pa 19105
Harrisburg, Pa 17105
[phone]
[phone]
[phone]
LGLV/Johnstown
LGLV/Pittsburgh
PO Box 1205
5819-B Forward Ave.
Johnstown, Pa 15907
Pittsburgh, Pa 15217
[phone]
[phone]
C o u n t y / P i s t r i c t / P a ge I n d ex
District Page District Page
x5erks Lebanon
Congress 6 19 Congress 1 T 1 A
Senate 1 1 27 Senate A1/ O n24o race
44, 48 no race douse 4180 1-102 42
House 124, 128-130 47, 49 Lehigh
187 68 Congress 15 23
Bradford Senate 16, 44, 48 no race
Congress i n ii douse 151-155, 185 5enU -c5i1 , a0a0
Senate 2i 3i 1 o 1 07 68
House 6688,, 111100 2381 , 42 Luzerne 18/
Bucks Congress 11 22
Congress o 2111 Senate 1 A 7ft no race
Senate 81 0, 12 no race douse 1141,6 -2102 2 45-47
House 18, 31, 29,30 Monroe
rice C7
140-145, 152, 53-55, 57 Congress 10, 11 no race, 22
I/O AA Senate 18, 20, 22 no race
Carbon 29 28
Congress 11 22 douse 118,138,189 46, 52, 68
Senate 29 2108 Montgomery
House 122 47 Congress 6-8, 13, 15 19-20,22-23
Chester Senate 5,17, 26, 27
Congress 7, 16 20, 24 4, 24, 44 no race
Senate O 1ft A A 1A 1Q #-»/•. douse 53,61,70, 11 "51
House y1 , "5i y1,^ £4 4 221090 , 28, no race 146-154 3r 1r , r3 o2
13, 26, 58-59, 61 Montour 55-58
Columbia 155-158, 167 Congress 11 11
Congress 11 ii Senate 27 221028
Senate 27 22iq28 douse 107 43
House 1 A-7 1 AA 43, 44 Northampton
Dauphin 107, ioy Congress 15 23
Congress 17 21 4/i Senate 16,18 no race
Senate 1 c 2/ douse 133,135-138 C l CO
House 1 A A 1 A/^ 42-45 183 6b6l -52
102-106
Delaware Northumberland
Congress 1, 2, / 17 rtr\ .--»OH Congress 6, 11 7ft 11
Senate 8,9,17 ni o/ ,r nacoe r, a2c6e,, z2u7 Senate 27 2210U8 , 22
House 159-168,185, CO Al A1 douse 107,108 A 1
191 6o9y -02, o/ Philadelphia 42
Lackawanna Congress 1-3 17-18
Congress 10 2111 Senate 1,3,5,7 25-26
Senate 22 no race 2,4,8 no race
House 112-115 44-45 douse 169-170, 62
Lancaster 172-177, 63-64
Congress 16, 17 24 179-182, 65-66
Senate 13, 36 27, no race 184-186, 188, 66-68
House 13,37, 43 29, 30, 31 190-192 69
96-100 34-35 194-195, 70
197-198, 70- 71
200-203 71- 72
District Page
Pike Wayne
Congress 10 21 Congress 10 21
Senate 20 no race Senate 20 nnnooo rrraaaccceee
House 139 53 House 115, 139
444555,,,555333
Schuylkill Wyoming
Congress 6 19 Congress 10 21
Senate 29 28 Senate 20 no race
House 123-125 47-48 House 111 44
Sullivan York
Congress 10 21 Congress 19 28
Senate 23 28 Senate 13,28 27, no race
House 111 44 31,33 28,29
Susquehanna House 92-95,193, 33-34, 69
Congress 10 21 196,199 70, 71
Senate 20 no race
House 110-111 44
C R E A T I O NS
A VE DA.
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22 North Third Street Easton, PA 18042
258-1111
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