Schools are where kids go to learn how to be adults. The influence of a child’s family plays a part, but it is during their time at school that kids develop a sense of identity and an understanding of social dynamics. If we allow bigotry and hatred to penetrate our schools, then the adults we produce will have been raised on those beliefs. A school can literally reshape the community within which it resides. That is why schools and libraries are the first targets of a hate campaign. That is why burning books is considered the first sign of fascism.
Meet the Candidate
Welcome to the 2025 election season series ‘Political Q&A’ – interviews with candidates throughout Pennsylvania. Since 2013, we’ve published nearly 150 of these interviews. We use an email Q&A format to allow the candidates to speak directly to you, the readers.
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 Pennsylvania. If your candidate would like to participate, contact us pghlesbian at gmail dot com. We welcome candidates at all levels of government across the entire Commonwealth. We publish in the order that they are returned and will accept Q&A’s until Election Day.
Please note that Pennsylvania has over 500 school districts. We’d like to talk with candidates in any one of them. Tell your district’s story statewide.
Important to note that I do not edit the responses, including their framing of LGBTQ identities.
These Q&A’s are lengthy because there is a lot of ground to cover. This year, I created about 20 questions per candidate. This is and should be a deep dive because you deserve as much information as possible.
By participating in this Q&A series, candidates are saying that they
- are an LGBTQIA+ ally, specifically supporting equality and dignity for transgender persons
- identify as pro-choice
Eva also initiated the request to participate in this Q&A. Their experience as a librarian is so broadly matched with School Director duties is something new that I Iearned, something that makes really think deeply about school boards in a new way. Eva is also part of a slate, something that is too rare in local races. But seems to be effective so I don’t know why. I appreciate Eva’s thoughtful responses.
Name: Eva Diodati
Pronouns: They/Them
Office Sought in This Election: Pittsburgh Public School Board District 7
How do you describe your identity? I’m a non-binary, fem-presenting, pansexual. Generally, I use queer to keep things simple.
Tell us about your district. What is a hidden gem most people might not know about?
My district includes most of south Pittsburgh, from the South Side, up and over the mountain to Carrick. This part of Pittsburgh is very blue collar with lower to middle socio-economic status. The communities in my district are diverse, with a predominantly BIPOC population. A hidden gem of this district is Hook Fish and Chicken in Mount Oliver. It’s on a side street and can get missed if you are just passing through. The food is tasty, simple, and a really nice change up from typical fast food.
Every community has some level of prejudice, but I do think that with every generation we have seen empathy and acceptance grow. The queer and BIPOC people of the previous generations fought and sacrificed so that we could run as ourselves. It is our duty to then ensure that the next generation has that same opportunity and more.
Questions and Answers
You have a solid background in shaping the culture and programming of your work and community spaces. What about the systemic, policy, and administrative needs?
I have always spoken truth to power. In my work at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, I was the coordinator for our BIPOC Affinity group, where I led an effort to draft and send an open letter to the library administration regarding unjust policies, lack of retention, and microaggressions from fellow staff and patrons. In my local union, USW 9562, I serve as Treasurer and steward. As a union steward I have sat across from management and argued on behalf of my coworkers.
In the past I was part of Fight Back Pittsburgh, a community organization developed through the USW, and we advocated for social justice throughout the city. I marched and stood with Fight for $15 and Fast-food workers, Planned Parenthood, Starbucks workers, Post Gazette workers, SisTers Pittsburgh, and probably a few others. I have yearly participated in May Day and Labor Day events and I am not afraid to stand up for what is right.
Please tell me about your familiarity with the LGBTQ community in your district. Do any of your district schools have Gay Straight Alliances (GSA)?
While I cannot say for sure, I do not believe any of the schools in my district have a GSA. I read through the handbooks for every school in District 7, however, given that the schools determine the amount of detail in those books, some schools had a more comprehensive list of the various organizations with which a student can become involved than others.
Based on this, what do you understand to be our current top LGBTQ concerns and priorities for Pittsburgh Public Schools ? How will you respond to those priorities?
I think the largest concern is combating misinformation and prejudice; while instilling empathy and kindness in our students. I will work with educators to make sure that we are providing our youth with well-rounded and inclusive education. What if, queer icons were posted next to Black icons and feminist icons? What would it mean for children to read books by trans authors? What would it mean if a teacher called a student by their chosen name rather than their dead name? Just incorporating LGBTQ perspectives into school curriculum and environment could create a world of difference in the lives of every single student.
What are restorative practices with regard to student discipline?
Restorative practices seek to address and reduce harm. With regards to students, this means listening to and partnering with students to determine how best to rectify an issue. The benefit of a restorative approach is that it defines bad behavior but does not define the person who has committed the behavior. For example, stealing another kid’s lunch is bad behavior but the lunch thief is not a bad person. Additionally, restorative practices aim to reduce the risk of compounding trauma and harm. Teens who depend on school meals may face hardship if they are suspended from school for a few days. Even though the reason for suspension was valid, the consequences of the suspension could be worse.
What are your thoughts on charter schools within the City of Pittsburgh?
I feel a bit ambivalent about charter schools. I know that many see charters as the enemy of public schools, however, I do not agree. While I am aware that many parents are opting to put their children in charter schools, I think that is a reflection on how our public schools are doing and not on how charters are “stealing” students. Parents want the best for their children and, if their child is not getting what they need from PPS then transferring their child to a charter is what’s in their child’s best interest. I cannot blame families and charters for that; the responsibility is on our public schools to step up and prove our value. Charter schools were created as a means of exploring alternative education methods so that they could then be applied on a larger scale. Clearly, charters are doing something that PPS is not. Let’s figure out what that is and start making moves that will make PPS a place people want to keep their children.
You are one of five candidates on a unified slate sponsored by Black Women for a Better Education. Why did you decide to join this slate?
I decided to join the Black Women for a Better Education slate because their goals and the goals of my fellow slate-members aligned with my own for PPS. We are all deeply concerned for the future of Black youth in our city. Multiple A+ reports have shown clear disparities between the number of Black students and the number of white students suspended from school each year. The highest number of students transferring from PPS to charter schools are Black students. I work with Black teens on a daily basis and I have witnessed the consequences of the current system. I know that Pittsburgh Public Schools can do better by their Black students if people that care are on the school board to ensure that this is a priority. Black Women for a Better Education has also been incredibly helpful during my campaign. I have not run for an office like this before (I was an elected Majority Inspector of election) and I was lost as to how this process worked. They have offered great advice and connected me with resources to help me succeed. The goals of BW4BE drew me to the organization, but it was the amazing people within that really solidified my decision to join their slate.
In about 70% of Pennsylvania, it is legal to discriminate against people based on gender identity and sexual orientation – to fire us, to refuse to rent to us, even to refuse to serve us in a business. The few protections we have come from municipal ordinances, court rulings, and executive decisions none of which carry the weight of legislative action by the General Assembly. This lack of protections impacts students and their families. What impact can a public school system have on legalized bigotry?
Schools are where kids go to learn how to be adults. The influence of a child’s family plays a part, but it is during their time at school that kids develop a sense of identity and an understanding of social dynamics. If we allow bigotry and hatred to penetrate our schools, then the adults we produce will have been raised on those beliefs. A school can literally reshape the community within which it resides. That is why schools and libraries are the first targets of a hate campaign. That is why burning books is considered the first sign of fascism. Schools help mold children into adults that then take over for the last generation as community leaders, employers, workers, and everything in between. That is why I firmly believe that fostering environments of equity, acceptance, and empathy is crucial. Raising kind people means a kind future.
What have you personally and professionally done to protect trans kids?
My personal and professional life overlap quite a lot. My job is in teen services at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Part of our mission is to create an environment that is safe and welcoming to everyone. “Free to the People” doesn’t have an asterisk or disclaimer.
I have always believed in defending trans children and I actively promote this in my workplace. Gender affirmation and acceptance is critical to the wellbeing of every child, but especially with trans youth. I want youth to feel safe and welcome in the library. I regularly incorporate trans authors and literature into my displays and the sundry book lists I create as part of my work. I am also a strict enforcer of library policies surrounding hate speech and bullying. I do not allow transphobic and homophobic language or behavior in the Teen space and I make that very clear. In my personal life, I bring these same ideals to my everyday interactions.
Every school kid learns that we have three branches of government – executive, legislative, and judicial. We also have three levels of government – local, state, and federal. Democracy is supposed to rest at the intersections of these branches and levels. Those intersections also include people – citizens, residents, voters, workers, neighbors. It can be overwhelming when the balance of power is heavily tilted in one direction. What three specific actions will you take to address this imbalance from your office?
Right now, our system is strained. I still believe in checks and balances, but I am also a pragmatist. The balances of our system are clearly skewed to one side and the checks are not checking like they once did. However, the branches of government, to continue the metaphor, rely on the people at the root to survive. If we build a strong foundation, the branches can holler and yell all they want but the tree will remain planted. I will stand strong in the face of any discriminatory legislation, bigoted executive orders, or Supreme Court ruling reversals to ensure our students are protected and receive a good education.
Related question – in what year of school and what class(es) does PPS teach students about government structure, voting,and related topics?
I cannot say for sure when students receive these lessons because I have not been a student in a long time and I do not have any children. I, personally, remember learning the fundamentals in middle school social studies and the more precise details in high school. In fact, it was my highschool Journalism teacher that helped me register to vote. He brought in the forms and explained how to fill them out. That said, I have had several conversations with teens over the last few years about the election process and I make it a point to talk about election day and the importance of voting in every election.
What impact might proposed federal funding cuts have on the school district?
Federal funding cuts will make a difficult job even harder, but they will not stop my determination to do right by our students.
Your specific race is quite unique, especially for School Board – a openly queer candidate and the parent of an out gay adult son, both BIPOC is not a choice I could have imagined when I began blogging politics. Has the local culture shifted toward this more representative ballot? If so, why?
I don’t know if the local culture has completely shifted as it is that both of us care about our communities and want to see them thrive. Every community has some level of prejudice, but I do think that with every generation we have seen empathy and acceptance grow. The queer and BIPOC people of the previous generations fought and sacrificed so that we could run as ourselves. It is our duty to then ensure that the next generation has that same opportunity and more.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your own elementary or secondary education.
A major pivotal moment in my education didn’t happen in school but did happen because of school. At the end of the school year, my middle school English teacher asked the class if we wanted some old McGraw-Hill books of short stories. They were going to be thrown out and she wanted to know if we wanted them to keep. I took one and promptly forgot about it.
It sat on my bookshelf for a while, until one day while I was in high school I picked it up. I landed on a story titled, “There will come soft rains” by Ray Bradbury. I read it and for me that pivoted the way I saw things. Spoiler: it is not a happy story. The story was simple but so effectively remarked on western society as a whole. I knew I wanted to prevent the world of that story from becoming my future. Throughout my entire school career, there were books that made a huge impact on how I viewed other people and how I wanted the world to look when I finally entered it as an adult; however, the one I remember having the biggest impact was this one.
You’ve stated using an evidence based trauma informed approach to the school budget deficit is your priority. What is your experience in developing institutional budgets?
I don’t have much experience in developing budgets but I have a lot of experience with managing money. I have served as the Treasurer for USW Local 9562 since we ratified our first contract as the United Library Workers. Our local has since amalgamated with several other units and I now help manage the combined dues of almost 700 members. I will admit when I do not know something and I am also willing to put in the work to learn. Part of being a school board is that decisions are made as a team and with the input of each individual member. I will collaborate with my fellow board members and enter every discussion prepared to learn and to fight for what is just, not what is easy.
Why did you agree to complete this Q&A?
I agreed because I felt it was an opportunity to introduce myself to a large population of Pittsburghers in a straightforward and honest manner.
Additionally, restorative practices aim to reduce the risk of compounding trauma and harm. Teens who depend on school meals may face hardship if they are suspended from school for a few days. Even though the reason for suspension was valid, the consequences of the suspension could be worse.
Endorsements, Social Media, and Summary
Tell us about your endorsements.
I am endorsed by: Black Women for a Better Education, the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, and USW Local Union 9562
I am recommended by: the Young Democrats of Allegheny County
Please list your social media accounts and your donation links.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572432405317
Website: https://www.diodati4pgh.com/
Donation Link: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/eva-diodati-1
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you for the opportunity.
Other Q&A’s
Other Q&A’s in this election cycle series. You can read previous cycle Q&A’s here. If your candidate would like to participate, please contact us pghlesbian at gmail dot com.
The 2025 Political Q&A Series: Lauren Leiggi, Candidate for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
The 2025 Political Q&A Series: Amy Mathieu, Candidate for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
The 2025 Political Q&A Series: Matt Rudzki, Candidate for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
The 2025 Political Q&A Series: Amy Bridges, Candidate for New Castle School Director
The 2025 Political Q&A Series: Sarra Terry, Candidate for Allegheny Court of Common Pleas
The 2025 Political Q&A Series: Eva Diodati Candidate for Pittsburgh Public School Board District 7
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