Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

I am so pleased and/or relieved by the outcomes of the Pennsylvania Primary in Allegheny County.

Note: It feels silly to congratulate candidates on winning a campaign or running a good campaign. I want to congratulate the residents of Allegheny County for not only a win, but a massive shift toward better models of government.

Obviously, not every candidate I supported won, but that’s always the case. You win some, you lose some. But in these races, especially Allegheny County Executive, it isn’t a loss. Weinstein would have been a massive blow to absorb. Instead, we elected a progressive woman while unelecting a terrible District Attorney. One fell swoop.

And I’m not going to diminish the campaigns. Sara Innamarato and Matt Dugan ran campaigns that resonated with the voters. So did Bethany Hallam. I’m very pleased/relieved that their values reflect my own and that the next four years are filled with forward thinking momentum. The vestiges of the old Democratic Party are almost all gone. At least in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

I’m also pleased that Erica Rocchi Brusselars won the race for Allegheny County Treasurer. I’m sure the Allegheny County employees pensioneers are breathing a sigh of relief as well. Rachael Heisler will be our next City Controller. And Corey O’Connor has been officially selected by the voters for the office to which he was appointed last year.

Yes, of course I hope the person I supported (Michael Lamb) is brought into the new administration for all the reasons I supported him.

I guess South Hills residents are concerned about affordable housing after all.

Two decades of old-school Allegheny County Democratic politics came to a resounding end. I am genuinely excited to see what can arise in those ashes.

Looking ahead to the General Election, I’m gravely concerned about the school board seats in Pennsylvania’s 500+ school districts. There’s a long stretch of hate between now and then.

But in the meantime, we can look forward to some concrete changes in our region. Namely, the removal of the warden of Allegheny County Jail, the implementation of robust domestic partner benefits for County employees (same sex and opposite sex), and an investment in staffing the Human Relations Commission. We can look forward to better trained staff, fair policies, and leaders who understand that they do not have the answers on what is best for the LGBTQ community without the input of a representative group of LGBTQ advisors.

I hope we can look forward to

• domestic partnership benefits for same sex and opposite sex employees – ALL employees
• funding for the Human Relations Commission
• updating the Human Relations Ordinance
• fire the warden
• address the antiquated bathroom plumbing policies

To wrap up, I am sharing excerpts from the winners of the primary race relevant to LGBTQ issues.

Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County Executive Democratic Nominee

One of my priorities as County Executive will be to work with the County Jail Oversight Board to hire a new warden.

Based on this, what do you understand to be our top LGBTQ concerns and priorities for Allegheny County? How will you respond to those priorities?

Everyone wants others to treat them with dignity and respect, and we all know it’s wrong for a boss, a landlord, or any politician to tell someone ‘you don’t belong’ just because of who they are. That’s why we have laws and Constitutional protections against discrimination. As County Executive, I will enforce these laws and speak out against any effort to stoke fear against queer and trans folks. I will prioritize ensuring we have protections so our LGBTQIA+ community members cannot be harassed, fired, or evicted because of who they are.

The County Jail is a particularly terrible example of the ways our County is failing the LGBTQIA+ community. The basic human rights of trans and gender nonconforming people are routinely violated, and there is no accountability for these actions. One of my priorities as County Executive will be to work with the County Jail Oversight Board to hire a new warden.

Another priority I have heard from the LGBTQIA+ community is the way in which the Health Department’s Zoning laws are a singular impediment to creating gender-inclusive bathrooms. I will immediately order the Health Department to bring together a diverse set of leaders from the LGBTQIA+ community to rewrite these regulations and remove these unnecessary barriers to creating places where everyone has their needs met.

Anti-discrimination laws don’t serve the LGBTQ+ community if the Human Relations Commission is operating under an unfunded mandate run by volunteers. As County Executive, I will work towards funding the human relations commission with full-time staff to actualize our non-discrimination laws in Allegheny County.

Matthew Dugan for District Attorney

How has your familiarity with the LGBTQ community in your district and the region changed since you began working with the Public Defenders Office?  

I’ve seen the criminal justice system attempt a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model for years. I know  that doesn’t work. When individuals come before the justice system – as victims, witnesses, or defendants – it’s vital to recognize their humanity and dignity. That’s especially true of our most marginalized communities. It’s important for the justice  system to meet people where they are and recognize there are different  concerns/issues/fears for different communities. That’s not something that’s taught in law school, but something I’ve learned over time at the OPD representing 1000’s of  clients.  

Based on this, what do you understand to be our top LGBTQ concerns and priorities for the  District Attorney? How will you respond to those priorities? 

As a campaign we believe that all Allegheny County residents’ priority is a criminal  justice system that recognizes the humanity and dignity of all people who come before  it. Defendants, victims, and witnesses deserve equal rights and respect regardless of  race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.  

Q&A with Corey O’Connor, Candidate for Allegheny County Controller

Yes, I support replacing the ACJ Warden. Current conditions at the jail are deplorable and we need new leadership.

How has your familiarity with the LGBTQ community in your district and the region changed since you took municipal office? 

My priority while on City Council was on engaging with my district’s LGBTQ community and learning how I could use my office to be a more effective partner and ally. I worked directly with stakeholders within the community to craft legislation and solve problems. In addition to the HIV/AIDS Commission mentioned above, I voted to ban conversion therapy in 2016 and to add gender identity and expression as protected classes to the City’s code in 2019. 

Based on this, what do you understand to be our top LGBTQ concerns and priorities? How will you respond to those priorities?

One trend that has alarmed me is the rise of anti-trans violence and the growing number of bills directly targeting trans youth and restricting access to gender affirming medical care. In 2022, I campaigned extensively for state legislative candidates who publicly opposed any efforts to discriminate against transgender Pennsylvanians and will continue to speak out against the spread of anti-LGBTQ policies in general. 

Q&A with Erica Rocchi Brusselars, Candidate for Allegheny County Treasurer

Describe your familiarity with the LGBTQ community in your district and the region? 

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County have a vibrant and ever-evolving LGBTQIA+ community. Here on the northside we have community pillars such as the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation, which was at the forefront of getting equitable access to Covid testing early in the pandemic and is a trustworthy provider of healthcare services for the LGBTQIA+ community. Very close to my home is a new teen convening space called Q-MNTY Center, a project of Proud Haven and Trans YOUniting, on East Ohio Street. Locally, Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities has worked to bring awareness and support of Trans youth with the PROTECT TRANS YOUTH sign project. These three examples are within a mile of my house. While there is much I’m not yet familiar with, I know there is a huge movement and community in our County and region. I look forward to meeting more people and learning more, and I appreciate how generous people and organizations are with connecting.

Based on this, what do you understand to be our top LGBTQ concerns and priorities for Allegheny County? How will you respond to those priorities?

Concerns for fair treatment, holistic health care, and acceptance and protection of children. All of this is amplified for folks who are intersectional with other marginalized communities. As the lead of the Treasurer’s Office itself, I will respond to these priorities by striving to create a work environment that is respectful, empowering and supportive of the diverse needs of employees. As a countywide elected official, I will work to understand and advocate for the needs of my constituents.

Rachael Heisler, Pittsburgh City Controller

How has your familiarity with the LGBTQ community in your district and the region changed since you began working for the City? I’ve become more and more aware of the physical safety issues that have plagued our LGBTQ neighbors, and in particular, members of the transgender community.

Based on this, what do you understand to be our top LGBTQ concerns and priorities for the City of Pittsburgh? How will you respond to those priorities? Threats and acts of violence are unacceptable. Law enforcement must be screened for biases and subsequently trained to handle the public safety needs of LGBTQ individuals.