Q&A with Jonathan Lovitz, Candidate for PA House District 18

I am the most experienced public servant; the most endorsed and best funded candidate, ready to help flip seats across PA after the primary; and the most prepared to tackle bipartisan issues with proven results.

We can never forget that our community includes too many unsung heroes who are beacons of hope for women, communities of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, and so many others who need to stand in solidarity for a stronger country.

This is the next post of our 2022 primary election season series ‘Political Q&A’ with progressive candidates throughout Pennsylvania. Candidates can be anywhere in Pennsylvania running for any level of office. Please note that these are not necessarily endorsements, more of an opportunity for candidates to connect with the LGBTQ community, progressives neighbors, and others with an interest in Western Pennsylvania. If your candidate would like to participate, please contact us pghlesbian at gmail dot com. We welcome candidates at all levels of government across the entire Commonwealth

By participating, candidates are saying that they

must be an LGBTQIA+ ally
identify as pro-choice
must affirm that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election and that you accept the certified Pennsylvania’s election results

I learned about Jonathan Lovitz’ campaign through Facebook when another candidate submitted a Q&A. His palpable enthusiasm caught my attention. It is almost breathtaking that in the span of this blog’s existence, we’ve gone from having the first out gay (and LGBTQ) member of the General Assembly (Mike Fleck) to having two qualified queer candidates running for office this cycle along with the dozens of out LGBTQ elected officials around the Commonwealth. The history just keeps unfolding as people step forward to run for public office. Jonathan has already opened my eyes to pieces of the queer story in Philadelphia I never considered. I’ve only been there once in my life and that was for just a single day. One day that might change. In the meantime, I hope these Q&As tie together some of the common queer and trans themes in our elections.

Name: Jonathan Lovitz

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Office Held/Seeking: Representative in the General Assembly, District 182

How do you describe your identity? Openly gay since coming out in 2000

Tell us about your district. What is a hidden gem most people might not know about? The 182nd is the beating heart of Center City Philadelphia. We are the Commerce center; we are the center of art, culture, food, and diversity of experiences– all the elements that make Philly so special. And it needs a champion who is as experienced at making progressive change as he is experienced at navigating the intersection of city and state politics that arise when progress and economics may feel at odds with one another. Its gems include the tremendous cultural institutions– the theaters, galleries, community centers– that inspire us, give us hope, and fuel our economy.

How has redistricting impacted your district? As a Democratic party and a Commonwealth we owe a major debt of gratitude to House Leader McClinton and Senate Leader Costa for bringing fairness and equity back to the redistricting process. It’s encouraging to see neighboring boundaries also change shape to reflect the rich diversity of new residents and new businesses flowing into Philadelphia, and across PA. The 182nd has greatly expanded population and it’s wonderful to see so many new voters and taxpayers coming to our part of the city.

Please tell me about your familiarity with the LGBTQ community in your district and the region. How has your first term in office impacted that familiarity? The 182nd District is the only home I’ve ever known in Philadelphia – and living, working, and fighting for my neighbors here is what gets me out of bed every morning. This is my community, my family – and I will be one of the strongest champions they’ve had in this– or any– legislature. As openly gay Congressman Ritchie Torres said, ”I’ve seen firsthand his dedication in the rough and tumble of politics…[T]here is no one who fights harder for our community than Jonathan Lovitz.”

It continues to be the honor of my life to dedicate myself to public service, and I’m so grateful to be able to serve the LGBTQ+ community as passionately for a full-time career, as I do in my personal time. Working in the diversity and inclusion space professionally has introduced me to such incredible leaders in politics, business, the arts, and those who are heroes just by being out and proud where they live. We can never forget that our community includes too many unsung heroes who are beacons of hope for women, communities of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, and so many others who need to stand in solidarity for a stronger country.

I am especially proud to serve locally in the District on the Board of Directors of the Global Philadelphia Association and the William Way LGBT Community Center.

I am also so very fortunate and grateful that my work in advocacy has allowed some of my heroes to become colleagues — and even better, friends. I once got to thank Harvey Fierstein backstage before a charity event we were in together for helping me find peace and acceptance through his plays when I was a teenager struggling with my identity. The same goes for Wilson Cruz and B.D. Wong, who has done so much to save young lives through character representation on stage and screen–and now they are both close friends of mine. Jim Obergefell, the winning plaintiff in the Supreme Court marriage equality case, has become one of my closest friends and did me the incredible honor of marrying my husband Steve and me in October of 2017. He also introduced us to the incomparable Edie Windsor, a Philly girl who left us far too soon.

Because of the exposure I got from my time with Logo TV, working in the news, etc., I began speaking with a lot of groups that focus on LGBTQ youth. I love the work of The Trevor Project, GLSEN, and the Tyler Clementi Foundation. Now I work very closely through NGLCC with the Matthew Shepard Foundation. That means so much to me because I think Matt’s parents are so incredible, and I feel so blessed to know them, but also because one of my favorite roles when I was still in the theater was in The Laramie Project,which is the story about what happened after Matthew Shepard’s death. So to come full circle now and work for the benefit of causes like those that we talked about in that play is really special to me.

I’m so thankful that my work has continued to allow me to use my public profile and platform to help others.

I regularly speak to high schools, colleges, and universities, encouraging young people to get involved in public service and use their passions to make a difference in their communities.

Based on this, what do you understand to be our top LGBTQ concerns and priorities for the General Assembly? How will you respond to those priorities? Full nondiscrimination statewide; economic and housing security; and affordable, inclusive healthcare for our LGBTQ neighbors must be top priorities for the Assembly— because they affect every single community represented by it. We can never forget that our community includes women, communities of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, and so many others who need us to stand in solidarity for a stronger, more inclusive Commonwealth.

It continues to be an honor to support nondiscrimination legislation at the federal and state level across America. I will bring my ability to get bipartisan legislation done to finally secure LGBTQ statewide protections in PA that mirror the Equality Act, while also ensuring the unique needs of LGBTQ citizens are protected in economic devleopment initiatives, new infrastructure, healthcare, and so much more.

Helping communities do better and helping them invest in a better future for the people around them is what I do for a living – and why I’ll be the most effective legislator when I get to the PA House. And I want to keep doing it in Harrisburg for the people of the 182nd. This moment really needs leadership with experience. We need people who will not only get the job done but will also support the bigger mission of getting more pro-equity democrats elected to address the diverse needs of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians.

The ongoing violence against our communities, especially against our trans siblings, is a stark reminder that our work together continues. Once again, the movement for long-overdue social change in America is being led by communities of color, especially right here in Philly. And the LGBTQ community must continue to stand in solidarity with them. If you don’t think racial justice is an LGBTQ+ fight too, you simply don’t get it. And that is why my campaign – and my life – is guided by what the least among us need most, and not by the needs of the most powerful.

I won’t need on-the-job training when I get to Harrisburg; I’m already doing the work for the LGBTQ community – and all the communities that make up its diverse fabric. As the Washington Blade mentioned in its national endorsement of my candidacy, “At NGLCC, Lovitz has helped write and pass more than 25 state and local laws, including in Pennsylvania, extending economic opportunity to minority-owned businesses around the country. As the country struggles to emerge from pandemic restrictions, we need more legislators at all levels of government who understand the importance of small business and LGBTQ inclusion. Lovitz has the experience in business and in his work on equality issues to deliver tangible results for Philadelphia.”

During my time at the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), I was honored by organizations throughout Pennsylvania and across America for my leadership on pro-LGBTQ issues, including saving small businesses, fighting for equality, anti-violence, and civic engagement.

I saw the impact of that work when I helped bring the world’s largest LGBTQ business conference to Center City Philadelphia, securing millions of dollars in new revenue for our local, community-owned businesses and organizations. The groundwork for creating unprecedented economic success for TGNC and BIPOC business owners and employees I was a part of here in Philly has led to exponential growth in Black, Hispanic, and trans-owned entrepreneurship. That creates the kind of visibility that results in life-saving changes in hearts, minds, and economies.

I helped found the PhillyVoting.org initiative, expanding voter registration and civic confidence in the City of Philadelphia during the toughest days of the pandemic. The project would not have been as successful without the spotlight that Liberty City and other networks helped me place on the disenfranchisement of so many LGBT+ and BIPOC voters in PA.

Also, LGBTQ Veteran support is critical in PA, and often not discussed among Philadelphia leaders nearly enough. In 2018, I first volunteered to help advance pro-diversion policies around the country when I met leaders from the National Association of Drug Court Professionals at a conference sponsored by the National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC). I devoured their research into mental healthcare alternatives to incarceration coupled with workforce skill development/small business startup training and witnessed the profound change in the emotional and physical well-being of these offenders when treated with dignity and medical support. I worked with these orgs to help LGBTQ+ veterans across the country overturn “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” discharges and make them eligible for financial support and small business development opportunities.

The threats of ‘religious liberty’ laws and exemptions target both LGBTQ rights and women’s rights. Pennsylvania has no law protecting marriage equality, second-parent adoption, nondiscrimination, or similar important rights. If SCOTUS overturns or waters down Roe vWade and the ‘penumbra of privacy’ protecting us, what do you anticipate happening in Pennsylvania? Religious beliefs are to be personally held and practiced, not weaponized to harm LGBTQ+ citizens or our allies. Perhaps most frightening among the implications in cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop and Bostock is that we could be facing an assault on all American minorities under the façade of “religious liberty.” In recent months, we have seen unprecedented cooperation and solidarity between our nation’s diverse communities. Too often, conversations about LGBTQ rights ignore the essential fact that we must include women, communities of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, etc. If sanctioned by the Court, it could soon be perfectly legal for businesses with religious objections to make second-class citizens out of any community, religion, or nationality with which its management may disagree.

As I told WHYY in an interview in 2019: That social contract that binds our tax dollars together for the collective good of our society also binds our society together for the collective good of our economy. We may not ever fully agree with one another, but we must respect that keeping businesses, schools, and public facilities open for all is at the very heart of who we are as Americans. The City of Philadelphia currently offers its LGBT citizens several essential protections from this kind of public discrimination, but even those in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection face uncertain times ahead should the court endorse the cakemakers’ recipe for discrimination to be fully baked into law.

The legislature should have been passed legislation that guarantees the rights in the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision into law years ago. But the urgency of the current war on women demands we get this done now. I am a proud volunteer and donor to both Planned Parenthood and NARAL, and it’s been an honor to advocate for womens’ healthcare protections in the many states where I actively work with legislators, including right here in PA. We must also drastically increase prenatal care funding and community healthcare resources to help mothers and families succeed at every step in their family planning journey.

I don’t think Harrisburg has the will to move forward on Infrastructure funding. Convince me otherwise. Infrastructure is one of the most important, bipartisan needs facing PA— as I recently discussed with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Philadelphia. Among the reasons the Laborers’ District Council was my earliest labor endorsement was my commitment to fighting for improved mass transportation and development projects in the Philly-area, as well as across the Commonwealth– resulting in good union jobs in construction, followed by good union jobs in management and execution. I will fight for every infrastructure dollar possible for our Commonwealth, and for our union builders.

Balance is key to winning the era of new infrastructure development that creates jobs and grows our Commonwealth, while also preserving our planet for our children and posterity. We can – and must – ensure our strongest, safest energy future, preserve union jobs, and also prepare for a future that looks very different from today. My years of working at the intersection of small businesses and large corporate and government contracts, especially those focused on sustainability, have affirmed that “going green” and growing our labor-based workforce need not be mutually exclusive. In fact, green jobs can be a catalyst for exponentially more union infrastructure and cleanup projects if negotiated and planned pragmatically, winning for all parties involved.

Your campaign platform is unique in highlighting the value of the arts economy and the arts as a state level issue. You argue that not only do the arts benefit our culture and general welfare, but also our economy. How is this a state issue? Thanks to the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, we know the arts drive $4.1 billion in economic impact for the City of Philadelphia, while supporting more than 55,000 full-time equivalent jobs. The creative economy generates $1.3 billion in household income and over $200 million in city and state tax revenue. And yet we continually slash funding for our city’s artistic and cultural treasures, deeming them “less valuable” than industries that generate far fewer direct benefits to Philly.

When you zoom out beyond the cultural institutions and businesses that support them, you also have dozens of industries — from marketing firms to catering companies to framing shops — that thrive because of their creative industry clients throughout the city. This isn’t an example of “trickle down economics” actually working (hint: it doesn’t). It is the embodiment of perhaps the best sentiment uttered by Dolly Levi, the titular Hello, Dolly!, “Money is like manure, it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around encouraging young things to grow.”

And growth is just what they do.

When arts programs become the first line items cut from school budgets, it’s often public-private partnerships with local venues that supplement essential exposure to the arts. That exposure sets young minds up to succeed by sparking curiosity, entrepreneurship, and empathy in their fellow citizens. Arts, culture, and community outreach groups are busy adding public art to our streets, turning abandoned lots into colorful gardens and outdoor performance venues, and providing resources and valuable programming to our communities that teach a sense of shared humanity and much-needed cultural perspective.

As one of my favorite moments in my favorite TV show of all time, ‘The West Wing,’ says: “There is a connection between progress of a society and progress in the arts. The age of Pericles was also the age of Phidias. The age of Lorenzo de Medici was also the age of Leonardo Da Vinci. The age of Elizabeth was the age of Shakespeare.” It only makes sense that the age of Gritty is the age of Philadelphia’s biggest investment yet in the arts and the creative economy.

Trans youth, indeed all LGBTQ youth,are under assault in our Commonwealth and in your district. Programs have closed in the wake of the pandemic. Schools struggle with bullying and book bans. Four young BIPOC trans folx were murdered in the SW PA region over the past year and that number is much higher in Philadelphia. Affordable housing is dear, discrimination is everywhere. But the General Assembly is prioritizing the non-issue of trans girls playing soccer as the real threat. What are you going to do about that? These are precious children, not rejects – and they should never be an afterthought in policymaking just because their needs are often far from the understanding and lived experiences of policymakers. As we learn how to better shape policies that ensure safety and fairness in adoptions from Fulton v. Philadelphia decision, we must also keep an intentional focus on the young people being moved through that process.

Far too many LGBTQ youth in our system have the added layer of trauma stemming from rejection or mistreatment simply because of their identity or expression. We must ensure those looking out for them – social workers, foster care system administrators, and prospective parents – all have training and access to resources to protect and affirm these children. This is especially true in group home situations, where we find an exponentially higher number of LGBTQ+ children from minority communities. They deserve the same quality of care and safety that we are seeking for those in other group living situations, including shelters and rehabilitation facilities.

Because of my long history working with LGBTQ+ homeless youth in crisis (through networks such as the Ali Forney Center, True Colors Foundation, Attic Youth Center, and The Trevor Project), I was honored with the endorsement of Youth Political Strategies, fighting for a better PA for our young Pennsylvanians. With 20-40% of all homeless youth identifying as LGBTQ+, and with more than half of the states lacking nondiscrimination protections in public services like homeless shelters, far too often our youngest community members have been allowed to fall through the cracks and remain forgotten.

To help them here at home I want to borrow a page – literally – from the recommendations of GLSEN and other partners in the Queer Youth Homelessness Coalition (for which I volunteered as a policy advisor in NYC), and focus on a substantial increase of funding and statewide resources for: prevention and family preservation services, crisis emergency shelters with case managers seeking family reunification, and youth housing with positive youth development services. Several surveys of both underhoused queer youth and their service providers have identified housing and identity-related supports as the two greatest needs for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. With data in hand, we can make an evidence-based appeal to budgemakers and community financing partners to heavily invest in these young people who need and deserve us fighting for them.

Too many LGBTQ+ Philadelphians face additional discriminatory factors when faced with eviction, liens, etc. We must go even further than current statutes to ensure those with the most need for support in the face of eviction always have it– including ironclad nondiscrimination protections. That includes putting our weight behind a comprehensive Tenants’ Bill of Rights that would, among its benefits, help with expunging eviction records that make it nearly impossible to obtain safe and decent housing if the landlord’s claim is found unwarranted. We must also ensure access to counsel and legal support for those being affected by eviction notices and landlord threats.

There’s a clear need to actively create space for women, especially Black women and other women of color, in elected office AND on campaign and legislative staffs. These are issues of representation and realities. Tell us about your teams. The entire team behind Lovitz for PA is 100% diverse – and represents women, people of color, those with disabilities, and more. That is also why you’ll see every possible element of my campaign sourced from Philly-based small, minority, and LGBTQ-owned businesses. I will live up to the same commitment to inclusion that we should expect at every level of government. My workplace, as well as my campaign, are successful because I intentionally ensure they look like the city and Commonwealth I hope to serve.

This is a reflection of the work I’ve been a part of for many, many years, making sure all workplaces and marketplaces are closer than ever to reflecting the diversity around them. In my professional work, especially as the head of policy for the NGLCC and the National Business Inclusion Consortium, I have personally traveled to more than 30 states and worked with over 400 corporations to expand workplace inclusion, enterprise-wide equity, and authentic community engagement.

To paraphrase President Biden’s feelings on the Lilly Ledbetter Act, ‘Equal pay is about justice, fairness, and who we are as Pennsylvanians.’ And because pay equity is directly correlated to racial justice, ensuring equal pay for equal work has the most profound impact on those already taking home the least money for their labor.

If elected, you would be serving as one of the few out gay cisgender men or out LGBTQ people in general in State government, in fact filling the shoes of an outgoing out gay cisgender man who is not running for reelection in this District. Help our readers understand why that representation matters? Being out and proud has been one of the greatest blessings of my life because of the work it has led me to and the people it has brought into my life. If I can accomplish one thing as an advocate or politician, it would be to help make sure that being out and being successful never have to be mutually exclusive again. To have the kind of platforms I do to make a difference is incredible– and is a privilege I don’t take lightly.

We cannot be what we cannot see. When I was being trained by the Victory Fund to be an effective LGBTQ candidate, I heard such powerful stories about how the kind of visibility, leadership, and gravitas I will bring to this office can have ripple effects that benefit every single member of our community, and our allies. I do not take my privilege as a cisgender white man lightly; I take it as a solemn obligation to ensure that as I work to build longer tables we are filling the seats with the leaders and voices kept too far from the spotlight for far too long.

I am deeply proud to raise our communities’ issues and promote visibility as a regular speaker on MSNBC, CNBC, NPR, and Bloomberg, among others. I also frequently serve as a keynote speaker on pro-LGBTQ+ and DEI issues for the US Dept. of Defense, US Dept. of Treasury,United Nations, The Trevor Project, Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, and many more. Turning the spotlight and platform I’ve earned over my career on future leaders and underrepresented issues is exactly why the right representation matters.

What are the key environmental issues facing residents of your district? The 182nd has an astonishing number of new development projects creating countless new jobs and new homes for residents. That also means we must be focused on the environmental impact of this new development and influx of investment in our city.

Unless we fundamentally tackle climate change, all other social and economic policies we work on are just bandaids on a broken planet. Ensuring our Commonwealth is doing its part to address these issues is a moral and economic imperative. With each passing month that the legislature does not enact green development incentives, green job training, and sustainable sourcing practices on public procurement contracts, we lose precious time– and money.

My years of working at the intersection of small businesses and large corporate and government contracts, especially those focused on sustainability, have affirmed that “going green” and growing our workforce and economy need not be mutually exclusive. In fact, green jobs can be a catalyst for exponentially more union infrastructure and cleanup projects.

Natural gas, agriculture, and manufacturing are bedrocks of the Pennsylvania economy, and it’s time the state government followed the lead of progressive corporations and enterprising municipalities that are investing heavily in cleaner production and pragmatic transitions to energy and waste alternatives. By acting now we can limit increases in the frequency and intensity of flooding, heatwaves, wildfires and other extreme weather events that cost PA taxpayers billions each year. Each step taken to curb emissions and rectify our impact in PA results in countless new private and public sector jobs– many of them union.

Issues of environmental protection and conservation are deeply personal to me, as my husband and I returned to Philadelphia so he could become NBC10 Philadelphia’s climate and environmental policy specialist on their weather team. I’m also very proud to have the personal support and guidance on my campaign from my close friend and colleague, Shawn LaTourette, Commissioner of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

Voter turnout is a significant concern, especially for municipal/local elections. What advice would you offer to organizations and groups concerned with turnout in Pennsylvania? We must do all we can to put the people’s voice back in the hands of the people. That starts with national standards for registration, mail-in voting, and removing the outside influences that tilt elections. We must make it possible for working families to participate equitably in the electoral process, and prevent future gerrymandering that takes power away from the citizens.

I firmly believe your voice is your power, and I will always defend it.

That is why he helped found the PhillyVoting.org initiative in 2020, expanding voter registration and civic confidence in my city of Philadelphia during the toughest days of the pandemic. By hitting the streets with some extraordinary volunteers, I helped register and galvanize nearly a thousand new voters during the most important election of our lifetime in Pennsylvania, with an intentional focus on closing the registration gap for Black, Brown, and LGBTQ voters in PA.

I would support exploring independent, fair and transparent methods to use data to bring greater enfranchisement of voters to the Commonwealth. We must ensure those processes equitably reflect prior gerrymandering and the needs of underrepresented minority voting constituencies.

How can supporters get involved with campaigns while practicing social distancing and other protocols? Technology has made supporting campaigns more accessible and inclusive than ever. If you’re unsure about knocking on doors and meeting one-on-one with voters, there are ways to be incredibly impactful (and safe) by phone banking, text banking, door sign hanging, and more. Volunteer with us: LovitzForPA.com/Volunteer

Tell us about your endorsements. My coalition of support is as diverse as the communities I’ve had the honor of serving throughout my career. I am eternally grateful to have icons (and I don’t use that word lightly) like SCOTUS Marriage Equality Plaintiff Jim Obergefell, the incomparable dup of Dennis & Judy Shepard, and global LGBTQ rights champion David Mixner in my corner– but also a wide array of leaders from a wide array of networks standing in solidarity with me. I am so proud to have union labor support, business owners both big and small, progressive newspapers and community issue PACs, and even a few celebrities in the mix.

But endorsements do not equal votes. Endorsements represent a reflection of the good will and trust earned across a lifetime of service to those in need. The momentum and resources that those endorsements bring me allow me to spend every day focused on meeting with as many voters as possible, earning their trust and ultimately their vote.

The diversity of endorsements behind our winning campaign reflects my years of service to so many communities— from federal, state, and local elected officials; to public and private sector unions; to minority business network leaders; to some of the biggest names in activism and civil rights, they all agree my proven experience is exactly what the 182nd needs.

ENDORSED BY:

PHILADELPHIA LABOR UNIONS:

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
Philadelphia AFL-CIO
AFSCME DC 33
IATSE Local 8
IBEW Local 98
Ryan Boyer and the Laborers’ District Council (LDC) (see release)
The Philadelphia Musician’ Union: Local 77 (see release)

ELECTED & PUBLIC OFFICIALS:

PA Governor Ed Rendell
US Congressman Ritchie Torres
State Senator Brad Hoylman
Brig. General Richard S. Miller, Dpt. Commanding General, 38th Infantry Division (Ret)
Jimmy Vacca, Former NYC Councilmember
Ryan Miccio, Human Rights Commissioner, City of Palm Springs

NATIONAL & PA MEDIA:

The Washington Blade Newspaper (the US’ LGBTQ Paper of Record)
Latino Connection Magazine
Affinity, Inc. Magazine

PENNSYLVANIA DISABILITY CHAMPIONS:

US Congressman Tony Coelho, Father of Americans with Disabilities Act
Joyce Bender, CEO & Host of Disability Matters

GUN SAFETY ADVOCATES:

Everytown / Moms Demand Action “Gunsense Candidate” Designation
Fred Guttenberg, Gun Violence Advocate, Father of Parkland Shooting Victim
Brandon Wolf, PULSE Shooting Survivor, Gun Violence Advocate

PROGRESSIVE PACS/ORGS:

5th Square – Philadelphia’s Urbanist Network
National LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
Roadmap for Progress
Building Bridges for America
Youth Political Strategies

COMMUNITY LEADERS:

Jim Obergefell, Winning Marriage Equality Plaintiff
David Mixner, LGBTQ Advocacy Icon
Dennis & Judy Shepard, Founders of Matthew Shepard Foundation
Janice Bryant Howroyd, CEO, Philanthropist, and MWBE Leader
Jeff Zarrillo & Paul Katami, CA Prop 8 Lawsuit Plaintiffs and Activists
Judith Windsor, Spouse of Marriage Equality Champion Edie Windsor
Audra McDonald, Actor & Social Justice Advocate
George Fernandez, CEO, Latino Connection
Jackie Richter, Trans Activist & Construction Industry Pioneer
George Takei, Actor & AAPI/LGBTQ Activist
Billy Porter, Actor & HIV/LGBTQ Activist
Wilson Cruz, Actor & Hispanic/LGBTQ Activist
Anthony Rapp, Actor & #MeToo/LGBTQ Activist
Greg Louganis, Olympic Champion and LGBTQ advocate

Finally, what are three reasons people should vote for you/support your campaign? I am the most experienced public servant; the most endorsed and best funded candidate, ready to help flip seats across PA after the primary; and the most prepared to tackle bipartisan issues with proven results.

One of my key philosophies for public service– both now and when elected to the PA House– is that a Representative should ask every constituent, elected colleague, and community stakeholder two questions: 1) How can I help with your problem? 2) And how quickly can we work to rectify the cause of your problem so it doesn’t keep happening to others?

When we’re battling the opposition in Harrisburg for our most basic needs and rights: equality, freedom to vote, healthcare, the environment, and education, we don’t need slogans and angry rhetoric. We need results. We need leadership. We need someone who can work across the aisle to build consensus while never compromising convictions about what is right. They told me I could never pass a pro-LGBT bill in Texas; I did. They told me I could never get a disability rights bill done in Massachusetts; I did. It’s time for a new generation of leaders who can deliver with selflessness, and not do the work for selfies. And when folks back home see the results, we might just be able to restore some faith in government once again.

Please list your social media accounts and your donation links.

Donate to us: LovitzForPA.com/Donate

Twitter: @LovitzForPA

Facebook: @LovitzForPA

Instagram: @LovitzForPA

Is there anything else you’d like to add? My passion for public service and taking care of my neighbors is rooted in a belief that when we all do better, we all do better. That is why I dedicate myself– in this election and far beyond– to fighting for the safety and protections of all workers, and an affirmation of the power and necessity of unions; affordable and inclusive healthcare; essential services for our seniors and veterans; gun-free, fully-funded schools; supporting our arts and culture institutions; preserving our environment; and protecting Philadelphians’ important voice in government by protecting their vote. If you would like to Learn a bit more about my policies and experience delivering on them, please visit our issues page at LovitzForPA.com/issues

Thank you, Jonathan.

To participate,

you must be an LGBTQIA+ ally
identify as pro-choice
you must affirm that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election and that you accept the certified Pennsylvania’s election results

Other Q&A’s in this election cycle series. You can read previous cycle Q&A’s here. Responses from this election cycle are listed below in the order they were returned by the campaign.

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