News

The Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPCGP) has endorsed Renee Farrow in the Special Elections for District 7 of the Pittsburgh City Council. The election will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2003.

Farrow shows a clear understanding of issues affecting the lgbt community. The Stein Club endorsed her for Allegheny County Council in the 1990s. Farrow’s Web site is www.reneefarrow.com/.

Assessment of the Needs of the LGBT Community Presented (February 2003)

A study assessing the needs of the lgbt community of Allegheny County was conducted as a project of Persad Center, Inc. in collaboration with the Gay and Lesbian Community Center and the Seven Project. The researchers, Sandra Crouse Quinn (Principal Investigator) and Deborah Aaron (Co-Investigator), presented their results on January 30.

The researchers received 910 completed surveys and conducted several focus groups targeting specific populations within the lgbt community.

In the area of the legal and political environment, the assessment shows that over 91% of the respondents are registered to vote and over 83% vote. Their predominant reason for choosing candidates is based on the candidates’ support for lgbt issues.

Overall, the researchers noted three major areas of concern for the community: (1) no protection against discrimination; (2) no Safe School Law; and (3) no health insurance coverage for hormone therapy and sexual reassignment surgery.

Several GSPCGP members attended the presentation as well as Kathryn Hens-Greco, a candidate for the Court of Common Pleas.

Stein Club Demonstrates Against War (February 2003)

The Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPCGP) marched in the Parade for Peace Procession on Jan. 25 and in the Mass March through Oakland and Rally on Jan. 26. The demonstrations were part of the Regional Convergence Against War, held in Pittsburgh January 24-26.

Jim Ferlo, newly elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate (district 38), was the only government representative who spoke at the rally in Oakland. He is one of the GSPCGP’s past endorsed candidates. For great photos and a transcript of Ferlo’s speech, access PlanetQ’s Web site (February issue). http://www.planetqnews.com/1002/sl2.shtml

GSPCGP Votes to Circulate Petitions for Farrow

At its January meeting, the members of the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPCGP) voted to circulate petitions to get Renee Farrow on the ballot in the Pittsburgh City Council District #7 Special Election. While GSPCGP will vote on its endorsement next month, the members voted to help Farrow with her petition drive, if necessary, to assure her name is placed on the ballot.

"We need her commitment and sensitivity to gay, lesbian, and feminist issues in the debate," said Richard Meritzer, past Chair and current board member of the Club. "She has shown in the past an excellent grasp of social issues. Her voice in this race will give direction to the discussion which will educate the entire electorate."

Farrow was endorsed by GSPCGP for Allegheny County Council in 1999.

Stein Club Endorses Regional Convergence Against War (January 2003)

The Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPCGP) has endorsed the Regional Convergence Against War, being held in Pittsburgh January 24-26. The Club remains unconvinced at the necessity of a war against Iraq. While Pres. Bush focuses attention on the War, he continues to neglect conditions at home which are deteriorating for the lgbt community.

The Club plans to participate in the Parade for Peace Procession on January 25, 3:00-5:00 pm and in the Mass March and Rally on January 26, 1:00-3:00 pm. For more information, contact Pittsburgh Organizing Group, pog@mutualaid.org, www.organizepittsburgh.org; 412-682-4035; or Thomas Merton Center, info@ThomasMertonCenter.org, www.ThomasMertonCenter.org, 412-361-3022.

Gertrude Stein Political Club to Endorse Candidate for Ferlo’s Vacant Council Seat (January 2003)

The Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPCGP) is planning to endorse a candidate in the Special Elections for District 7 of the Pittsburgh City Council. Jim Ferlo vacated this seat when he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate (district 38) in the General Election last Fall. The Special Election is scheduled for the end of February.

The endorsement vote is scheduled for February 13, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. It will take place during the Club’s open membership meeting held at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. GSPCGP will post its endorsement result on the Club’s Web site at www.gertrudesteinclub.org.

Stein Club Sends Letter to Gov. Rendell in Support of Chris Ward’s Appointment to Common Pleas Court (January 2003)

Dear Governor Rendell:

The Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPCGP), at a meeting on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2002, unanimously voted to recommend that you re-appoint Christine Ann Ward of 723 Copeland St., Pittsburgh, for one of the vacancies on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

We are aware that your predecessor appointed her. Atty. Ward’s appointment, along with two others from Allegheny County and six from Philadelphia, were voided when the State Legislature did not act on the nominations before adjournment. We understand that the State Senate Judiciary Committee decided that there was not adequate time before the end of the legislative session to give the nominees adequate consideration.

Several active members of the GSPCGP are also members of the bar, and strongly endorse the conclusion of the Judiciary Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association, which rated Atty. Ward as “Highly Recommended.” As you know, this is the highest possible rating.

If Atty. Ward’s judicial qualifications were sufficient to gain nomination from a Republican governor, we would hope that a Democratic governor would do likewise.

Moreover, several active members of our multi-partisan organization are members of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. It is their judgment that Atty. Ward, especially with your appointment, would be a strong candidate in the May primary and an asset to the party in the November general election.

This is an opportunity for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas to gain a woman on the bench with a strong legal record and a strong record of community service.

Very truly yours,

Barb Albinini, Chair, GSPCGP

Fundraiser to be Held for Allen Kukovich (January 2003)

Pennsylvanians for Kukovich are holding a fundraiser for Allen Kukovich of district 39 in the State Senate on January 23, 5:30 pm-8:00 pm. It will be held in the O’Neill Room, 23^rd Floor, Regional Enterprise Tower (Old Alcoa Building), 425 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

“In the General Assembly, the State Senate, and as chair of the state Democratic Party, Allen has been the leader we could count on for all the issues we care about — from abortion to workers’ rights and all things progressive in between. Join us to eat, drink, and say thank you to a man who makes us proud to be Pennsylvanians,” said Jeanne Clark, co-organizer and a member of the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPCGP).

GSPCGP has endorsed Sen. Kukovich in previous elections, including for his recent re-election to the state senate. Sen. Kukovich has been instrumental in getting the PA Hate Crime Bill passed in the senate.

The suggested donation is $50. RSVP to Clark at 412-258-6680 or Andrea Geraghty at 412-261-7070, or send a check to Pennsylvanians for Kukovich, c/o Dernar and Associates, 4158 Old William Penn Highway, Murrysville, PA 15668.

LGBT Victory! PA Hate Crime Bill Signed by Governor (January 2003)

Pennsylvania House Passes - Governor Signs
Landmark Hate Crimes Legislation

Law Adds Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender, Ancestry and
Physical and Mental Disability to Ethnic Intimidation Act

Harrisburg, PA - On December 3 at 4:15 pm Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker signed House Bill 1493 - the Hate Crimes Bill - into law. It is the first piece of pro-gay legislation to become law in Pennsylvania.

A week earlier, on November 26 at 8:45, the Pennsylvania House passed the legislation to amend the state's Ethnic Intimidation Act by adding actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, mental and physical disability, and ancestry to the existing law. The current Ethnic Intimidation Act already includes Race, Religion, National Origin and Color.

The bill's passage was the result of a broad-based community effort from numerous organizations and individuals across the state strong bipartisan support from the leadership in the house. The community effort was lead by: the Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Alliance (PA-GALA); the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition (SPARC); the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights; the Pennsylvania Gender Rights Coalition; OUTFRONT; the Log Cabin Republicans of Pennsylvania; the Human Rights Campaign; PFLAG - Parents, Friends, Families, of Lesbians and Gays; as well as many LGBT youth organizations and a wide variety of student groups across the Commonwealth.

Michael Snow of the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPCGP), and now a GSPCGP board member, served as the Club’s liaison to SPARC and was instrumental in leading the lobbying effort in Western Pennsylvania.

A number of house members were especially helpful in the bill's passage including several of the amendment's sponsors, including Republicans Steve Nickol (York County), Pat Browne (Lehigh & Northampton Counties), Lita Cohen (Montgomery County), and Roy Cornell (Montgomery County) and Democrats Steven Stetler (York County), Babette Josephs (Philadelphia), Mark Cohen (Philadelphia), Dan Frankel (Pittsburgh), Jennifer Mann (Lehigh County), TJ Rooney (Lehigh & Northampton Counties), and Mike Veon (Beaver County). Frankel has been endorsed by GSPCGP in numerous elections.

Pennsylvania has joined 27 other states and the District of Columbia in extending hate crimes protections to lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and the fifth state to add gender identity. The bill won passage by a 118 to 79 vote after two hours of discussion.

The bill passed the State Senate in June of 2001. PA-GALA plans to post the complete Senate and House votes on its Web site (pagala.org).

Stacey L. Sobel, Esq., the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights' executive director, who drafted the bill's language added, "The legislators who voted for this bill stood up for their most vulnerable constituents and let it be known that we will not condone hate crimes in this state. When this legislation becomes the law, we will finally have the tools we need to aggressively prosecute these crimes and assist victims in Pennsylvania."

Barb Albinini Leads Stein Club in 2003 (January 2003)

Barb Albinini of Swissvale has been elected as chair of the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh for 2003. She has served as a member of the Board for the last two years. Along with the Club’s key function of endorsing pro-lgbt candidates for political office, Albinini wants to focus the Club’s attention this year on outreach, fundraising, and increasing membership.

Long-time GSPCGP members Bill Wekselman and Janice Rensi, both of Squirrel Hill, have been re-elected as Recording Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Newly elected Board members Richard Meritzer of Stanton Heights and Michael Snow of North Point Breeze join re-elected Board members Sue Richmond of North Hills, Sarah-Wade Smith (currently in Bethel Park), and Bozena Zdaniuk of Squirrel Hill.

Terms are for one year; the chair can serve for no more than three consecutive terms. No one was elected for Corresponding Secretary. For more information, or to join GSPCGP, e-mail membership@gertrudesteinclub.org or access www.gertrudesteinclub.org.

Stein Club Bar Tour: Catherine Chosen over Candace! (January 2003)

Candace Gingrich – Newt’s out-of-the-closet lesbian sister who works for the Human Rights Campaign – joined the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh’s (GSPCGP) bar tour on behalf of the Rendell campaign. She was accompanied by now Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll on the weekend before the General Election, 2002. GSPCGP volunteers said, at Donny’s, where Friday night's clientele is predominantly female, the response was extremely effusive. But it wasn't Candace that the women were fawning over - it was Catherine!

In fact, Candace seemed to feel slighted by the fact that the women were so much more attracted to Catherine than they were to her that she suggested a new poster, with a picture of Catherine, entitled: "Catherine Baker Knoll - Chick Magnet."

5 GSPCGP Report: Rendell Meeting (October 10, 2002)

GSPCGP member Michael Snow attended a summit put on by the Rendell for Governor Campaign for lgbt activists from around the state on Sunday September 15, 2002 in Harrisburg. Scott Safier and Champ Knecht were the other Pittsburghers present.

1.) Most of the presentations focused on polling data and asking lgbt organizations to do work to "Get Out the Vote." Apparently every governor's race in Pennsylvania in the last 40 years between two non-incumbents has been within 3 percentage points. So this race will go to whomever turns out the most people. Philadelphia and its suburbs are heavily for Rendell, the T is heavily for Fisher, so high turnout in Phillie couples with catching swing voters in Pittsburgh and its metro area to become the key to the race.

2.) The campaign has hired Mike Marisco, a staffer for a Philadelphia City Council member, to coordinate efforts in the lgbt community. He asked activists to ask their members to do voter registration, phone banking, and door knocking with the campaign.

3.) Campaign staffers asked lgbt organizations if they would pool their telephone and mailing lists and give them to the campaign which would cull duplicates and errors. The combined list would then be of use to us later.
PA Gala from Allentown refused to work with the Philadelphia groups on this matter. (GSPCGP does not give out its membership list.)

4.) Staffers then turned to organizations and asked what their plans were to get out the vote in terms of phone banking and volunteering for the campaign. GSPCGP later reported to Marisco what the club has done and will do for Rendell in terms of ads, slates, and bar tours.

5.) The campaign asked those present to begin working on items that the lgbt community would like to see a Rendell administration implement as executive orders.

-Michael Snow

GSPCGP Update: Hate Crime (October 10, 2002)

In the SPARC conference call October 1, the following information was given:

1.) Representatives from SPARC met with House Majority Leader John Perzel the week before the call. The Hate Crimes Bill, HB 1493, will likely come up for a vote early on the legislative agenda in a post-election session.

2.) It is still crucial that GSPCGP members meet with representatives in their district offices in the weeks before the elections, urge friends to write and call representatives, and collect Hate Crimes Postcards on the bar tour.

A sample letter is at the following link.

http://www.sparc-pa.org

Hesitant friends who claim not to know who represents them can find out almost instantly, at the following link, if they know their zip code + 4 (a link will look up the extra four digits for them very quickly too):

http://www.vote-smart.org/index.phtml

4.) We have a victory to announce. Since the Stein Club ran its ads and handed out the Hate Crimes brochures, 3 non-sponsoring representatives listed in the ad now have signed on as co-sponsors of the Hate Crimes Bill.
-Michael Snow

Gertrude Stein Political Club Endorses Ed Rendell for Pennsylvania Governor

(September 19, 2002)

The Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPC) has endorsed Ed Rendell (Dem) for Pennsylvania governor in the General Election on November 5. During his political career, Rendell has demonstrated his support of gay rights and women's issues.

"We haven't had a governor in Pennsylvania good on lgbt issues and women's rights since the 1970s," said GSPCGP recording secretary Bill Wekselman.

Judy Meiksin, the Stein Club chair, commented on Republican State Treasurer Barbara Hafer's backing of Rendell for governor. The Stein Club has consistently endorsed Hafer for public office. Meiksin said, "It was refreshing to see Barbara Hafer cross party lines to back Rendell. It's good to see candidates we've endorsed maintain their support of our issues and even support one another, regardless of their political party."

In the gubernatorial race, the Stein Club also heard from the Libertarian and Green parties. The Club members gave an honorary mention to lieutenant governor candidate Vicki Smedley (Green). While the Green Party platform is good on lgbt issues, they said, the candidate for governor did not seek the Stein Club's endorsement. The Republican party also did not seek the Club's endorsement.

In the Primary Elections, the governor and lieutenant governor are voted for independently of one another. However, in the General Election, they are then voted on together as a ticket. The Stein Club made no endorsement for lieutenant governor.

Pittsburgh City Council member Jim Ferlo (Dem) received the Stein Club's endorsement for Pennsylvania Senate, district 38. As a city councilor, Ferlo has consistently supported lgbt rights.

In the race for Pennsylvania representatives in the General Assembly, the Stein Club particularly looked for candidates who support hate-crime legislation currently under consideration in the House that would provide protection to the lgbt community. GSPCGP endorsed incumbents Frank Pistella (Dem) in district 21, Dan B. Frankel (Dem) in district 23, and Joseph Preston, Jr. (Dem) in district 24. The Club also endorsed new-comers Jake Wheatley (Dem), from the Hill, in district 19 and Paul G. Fero (Rep), from Monroeville, in district 25, and Mike Crossey (Dem), from Mt. Lebanon, in district 42. Crossey was elected to the Allegheny County Council in 1999 with the support of the Gertrude Stein Political Club. Under the new Allegheny County Home Rule Charter, Crossey had to resign from County Council as soon as he declared his candidacy for the State Legislature.

The Stein Club also noted that new voter registration forms are available for those not already registered. The old form disqualified those convicted of a felony from registering. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that this requirement is discriminatory and illegal, and it has been deleted on the new forms. Someone registering to vote can either strike out the felony conviction line at Section9(2) or obtain a new form. New voter registration forms are available from Allegheny County Elections Division, Room 609 of the County Office Building, located at the corner of Ross Street and Forbes Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh. Regular business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The telephone number is (412) 350-4510. Forms are also available at various locations throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area. The last day to register to vote for the General Election is October 7.

Before each election, GSPC, a multipartisan organization, sends questionnaires to candidates of all participating political parties. The endorsements are made by Stein Club members. The Club has invited candidates who received endorsements or honorable mention to tour the lgbt restaurants and clubs on November 1 and 2, the weekend before the election. For more information, contact GSPCGP at 412-521-7061 or gspcgp@stargate.net, or access the Stein Club's Web site at www.gertrudesteinclub.org.

Gertrude Stein Political Club Launches Web Site:

www.gertrudesteinclub.org (September 19, 2002)

The Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPC) has launched a Web site in time to announce the Club's endorsements for the General Election: www.gertrudesteinclub.org.

"The Web site is easy on the eyes and a joy to navigate," said one member.

As soon as viewers open the Web site, they can obtain a list of who to vote for. If they want more information, they can read news releases and review the type of questions that the Club sends to candidates.

The site also offers useful links in local, county, state, and federal government, and in non-partisan lgbt political organizations, such as the League of Gay and Lesbian Voters.

The Stein Club's list of upcoming meetings and events are kept up-to-date on the Web site, in addition to information on ways to get involved.

Stein Club chair Judy Meiksin said, "An added bonus to having the Web site is that we can now announce endorsements for Special Elections. For example, if city council member Jim Ferlo wins his bid for State Senate this election, his seat on council will need to be filled. An election for this seat will likely take place before the next Primary Election. In the past, we did not have enough time to consider an endorsement and announce it in the press. Now voters will be able to access our Web site for this information."

GSPCGP works in electoral politics for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and women's rights by helping candidates who are committed to helping the community secure those rights and lobbying elected officials for legislation to protect these rights. We also bring candidates and elected officials to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through a variety of activities including our Bar Tours before each election.

The Stein Club meets the second Thursday of each month, 7:00-9:00 p.m., at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. The meetings are open for anyone to attend.

Message from ACLU-Greater Pittsburgh Chapter (September 18, 2002)

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been working on three issues of particular interest to the lgbt community in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.

Pitt Domestic-Partner Benefits Case. The Pittsburgh ACLU has had to resume the discrimination lawsuit against the University of Pittsburgh to force the university to provide health benefits to domestic partners of gay employees. Two-thirds of the country's research universities already provide the benefits, and it is fast becoming standard business practice in corporate America. But Pitt decided in May, after a year-long study, that now was not the time to treat gay employees fairly and equally. ACLU has re-opened the case in the Court of Common Pleas, before justice Gallo. The Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh has no history of endorsing Gallo.

Domestic-Partner Benefits for Pittsburgh Police. The ACLU is representing a Pittsburgh police officer in a Human Relations Commission suit against the Police Bureau and the union (Fraternal Order of Police), arguing that the City's refusal to give, and the union's failure to request, equal benefits for domestic partners violates the City's anti-discrimination law.

Second-Parent Gay Adoption. The ACLU filed an amicus brief in a PA Supreme Court case that recently held that the state could not prohibit second-parent adoptions by gay couples.

The current Justices listed as sitting on the PA Supreme Court are Stephen A. Zappala, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania; Ralph J. Cappy; Ronald D. Castille; J. Michael Eakin; Russell M. Nigro; Sandra Schultz Newman; and Thomas G. Saylor. Eakin was not present. Last year, Castille and Saylor ruled against allowing visitation by same-sex ex-partners who were not parents.

Message from the Rendell Campaign (September 17, 2002)

Mike Marsico has been hired by the Rendell Campaign as a dedicated staff liaison to the LGBT community. Mike is taking a leave of absence from the Liberty City Democrats in Philadelphia in order to work the LGBT Desk in the Campaign. Mike will be travelling the state and working with the Pittsburgh campaign staff during the seven weeks until election day. To volunteer to campaign on behalf of Rendell in the LGBT community, contact Mike at MikMars1@aol.com.

Letter from the Allegheny County HIV advisory committee

(Tony Silvestre) (September 13, 2002)

Friends and colleagues,

I am sending this email to those of you who may be involved in county or state elections this year particularly for executive positions. I know that I don't have all the names of those representing our interests so feel free to circulate this if you see any merit in it.

Happily, we met with Roddey last year and he promised us needle exchange and he actually did it. I believe that at the county and state level we have more opportunity to garner support than we ever did.

Over the years, I have observed that we often (rightly) ask about legislation but seldom ask candidates such as governor or county executive or the old county commissioners about what they will do in the executive branch.

Because of my work, I have often seen the most vulnerable of our community receiving no or poor services. About a third of homeless youth are gay but there are few programs for them and little training for professionals dealing with them (the Whale's Tale here is an exception but the problem is state-wide). We all know that our schools do not have adequate anti-bullying programs or adequate HIV education. The same is true in mental health, drug and alcohol and other services. For example, routinely, lgbt people going into treatment in D and A treatment centers are told not to mention their homosexuality or gender differences. We all know that if treatment is to work addicts and alcoholics have to deal with their social life, their families including chosen families, self-esteem etc. You can't do that in a therapy group if you are hiding who you are.

I can give many other examples as I am sure that Randy and others of you can. My point is that candidates for governor and county executive appoint the people who run STD, HIV, children and youth, education, corrections, mental health, drug and alcohol, human relations and other services.

I think our community would benefit enormously if politicians are willing to appoint cabinet officials who pledge to work with our community to identify needed policies and programs and to implement them.

In addition, all state and county workers need to be trained on cultural competency including us, of course.

There may be other things that we can ask for in this regard such as the appointment of a top level staff person responsible for ensuring equitable services for lgbt people. Others may have other ideas.

I just hope that we can urge the candidates to remember our most vulnerable community members and to begin to address the problems that they live with.

Take care,
Tony

Hate Crime Update (July 25, 2002)

The state Hate Crime legislation (HB 1493) may come up for a vote in June in the PA House of Representatives. Now is the time to contact our legislators to co-sponsor the Bill, which includes protection for the full lgbt community. Reach Michael Snow at the Stein Club contacts for more information. To find your legislator go to:

http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/findyourlegislator/find.cfm

The following representatives have not signed on as sponsors for this bill.

Allegheny County
Paul Costa, 731-2333	Anthony Deluca, (412) 241-3120
Frank Dermody, (724) 274-4770	Michael Diven, (412) 306-5900
Jeffrey Habay, (412) 492-0270	Ralph Kaiser, (412) 884-1066
David Levdansky, (412) 384-2258	John Maher, (412) 831-8080
Joseph Markosek, (412) 856-8284	David Mayernik, (412) 931-2295
Thomas Michlovic, (412) 823-9228	Thomas Petrone, (412) 928-9514
John Pippy, (412) 262-2260	Frank Pistella, (412) 621-4625
Harry Readshaw, (412) 881-4208	Bill Robinson, (412) 471-7760
Kenneth Ruffing, (412) 466-1940	Thomas Stevenson, (412) 571-2169
Fred Trello, (412) 264-4260	Michael Turzai, (412) 369-2230

Beaver County
Nicholas Colafella, (724) 728-7655

Butler County
Frank LaGrotta, (724) 752-1133	Daryl D. Metcalfe, (724) 772-3110
Richard Stevenson, (724) 458-4911	Guy Travaglio, (724) 283-5852

Greene County
Bill DeWeese, (724) 627-8683

Washington County
Victor Lescovitz, (724) 947-4422	Leo Trich, (724) 228-9047

Westmoreland County
James Casorio, (724) 861-0247	John Pallone, (724) 339-1990
Joe Petrarca, (724) 567-6982	Jess Stairs, (724) 423-5141

2 Candidates Join GSPCGP Bar Tour in May (From the GSPCGP Newsletter, Vol. 4, No. 2, Post-Primary Election 2002)

There was a great candidate turn-out at the Stein Club (GSPC) bar tour on the weekend before the Primary Election, plus one of our Club volunteers won the
contest for "Best Ass" at Sidekicks, where he was stationed Saturday night to pass out slate cards.

Jake Wheatley endorsed for Pennsylvania State House in district 19 toured the bars on both nights, including New York, New York; Holiday; Donny’s; Lucky’s; Liberty Avenue Saloon; Images; and Pegasus. C.J. Deighan’s and the Eagle were also part of the tour.

The other campaigns who joined us included Ed Rendell endorsed for Pennsylvania governor; Allen Kukovich endorsed for Lt. Governor; Pat Dowd, who received an honorable mention from the Club, for the Pennsylvania State House in district 24; and two of the GSPC-endorsed candidates for the Democratic State Committee: Robert Frank (district 42) and Marvin Leibowitz (district 43).

3 GSPCGP Endorses Rendell for PA Governor, Kukovich for Lt. Governor
(From the GSPCGP Newsletter, Vol. 4, No. 1, Pre-Primary Election 2002)

The Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPC) has endorsed Ed Rendell (Dem) for Pennsylvania governor in the Primary Election scheduled for May 21. Rendell supports covering the lgbt community in the state’s Hate Crime legislation. Allen G. Kukovich (Dem), who has been endorsed for Lt. Governor of PA, was instrumental in passing the hate crime legislation in the PA Senate. This legislation will soon be up for a vote by the representatives in the General Assembly. In choosing candidates to support in the General Assembly, the Stein Club especially looked for incumbents dedicated to passing the bill.

Of the incumbents, GSPCGP endorsed Dan B. Frankel (Dem) in district 23 and Joseph Preston, Jr. (Dem) in district 24. Jake Wheatley (Dem) in district 19 and Mike Crossey (Dem) in district 42 have also been endorsed for representatives in the General Assembly. GSPCGP recognizes Patrick Dowd of the Democratic party with Honorable Mention. Dowd is running against Preston to represent district 24.

Two viable candidates in the Democratic party are running to fill the PA Senate seat in district 38: Jim Ferlo, who received the Stein Club endorsement, and Bonnie DiCarlo, who received Honorable Mention by the Club. The Club also endorsed the following candidates for Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee: Brenda Frazier and Sandra Roberts in district 38; Robert V. Frank in district 42; Barbara Danko, Richard Fitzgerald, Marvin Leibowitz, Michael McGeever, and Scott Safier in district 43; and Carmella Mullen in district 45.

4 Rendell Campaign Holds Luncheon for LGBT Community
(From the GSPCGP Newsletter, Vol. 4, No. 1, Pre-Primary Election 2002)

On March 4, the Ed Rendell for PA Governor campaign held a luncheon in the Rivers Club at One Oxford Center for the lgbt community. Nine members of the community and four campaign staff attended the lunch. Richard Meritzer, who represented GSPC, said that the other lgbt organizations represented included the Marriage Coalition, League of Gay and Lesbian Voters, and Persad. While the organizations were predominantly political ones, Meritzer also noted that the community was represented predominantly by white men.

In his introductory speech, Rendell talked about his support for the right of hospital visitation for lgbt people and his support for reversing the law that forbids Pitt to offer domestic partnership rights. He said that, as governor, he would support domestic partnership for state employees.

The luncheon was then opened for discussion, in which Rendell expressed the following: He supports hate crime legislation and employment non-discrimination legislation. He supports adoption reform. He said he would enforce the executive order protecting state employees from discrimination. He was unfamiliar with the recent issue Pittsburgh had over people with AIDS confidentiality. He said that protecting anonymity of people was very important and no amount of research should compromise this protection. He said that his campaign would provide assistance to lgbt groups but only if they provided a good business plan. He promised that during his administration there would be regular relations with the Governor’s office.

5 Candidates for PA Governor Court LGBT Vote
(From the GSPCGP Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 5, Between Elections 2001/2)

Michael Morrill, a Green Party candidate for Pennsylvania governor, visited Pittsburgh in September. He spoke in favor of Hate Crimes legislation and he mentioned the glbt community (in that way) when discussing groups in any context. He has served as director of an abortion rights PAC. He bases his campaign organization on the Green Party Organization, which supports lgbt rights and women’s issues. See his Web site at http://members.aol.com/michaelmorrillpa/.

Ed Rendell, a Democratic Party candidate for Pennsylvania governor, is currently the mayor of Philadelphia. When he visited Pittsburgh in November, he specifically met with women "leaders" and/or leaders on women’s issues. When asked, he spoke in favor of expanding the state’s hate crimes legislation to cover the lgbt community. He said that the Philadelphia government recognizes domestic partnership and that he would implement the same for state employees. He said if the state health care benefits includes viagra, then it should also cover birth control for women. When questioned about covering sex-change operations as San Francisco provides, he (unsurprisingly) seemed unaware of the notion and tied it to health care benefits regarding reproduction.

Barbara Hafer, a Republican Party candidate for Pennsylvania governor, invited GSPCGP members (gratis) to her fundraiser in the Pittsburgh area in November. Hafer has a long history of support from the GSPC. As a public health nurse in 1972, Hafer created the Allegheny County Center for Victims of Violent Crime. She said, "Women finally had a counselor with them at the hospital and a support system during trials. This program became the national model for such programs." Hafer has served as Allegheny County Commissioner, PA Auditor General, and is currently PA Treasurer. Note in 2002: Hafer