Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

One of the first bills I co-sponsored as a legislator was HB 300 and the fair workplace legislation. As Auditor General I supported and promoted people from the LGBTQ community including the first member of that community to serve as Budget Director for the Auditor General. My 2020 congressional campaign manager is part of the LGBTQ community. I have a history of working with the LGBTQ community and not just talking – but delivering action.

Meet the Candidate

Next, read this post of our 2024 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 in ase contact us pghlesbian at gmail dot com. We welcome candidates at all levels of government across the entire Commonwealth.

These Q&A’s are lengthy because there is a lot of ground to cover.

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
• recognize the 2020 election of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris

I’ve mentioned Eugene DePasquale before on this blog both in his role as a State House Representative and Auditor General. I met him for the first time in August 2023 at DemStock. We had a good conversation about LGBTQ state politics and had planned to meet to discuss again. His participation in this Q&A series is consisten with his many years of support for our community. And doing so early in the campaign season and early in the Q&A season indicates that he understands the importance of LGBTQ voters.

Also his campaign profile photo includes a lightsaber. That’s a first!

Name: Eugene DePasquale

Pronouns: he/him

Office Sought: Pennsylvania Attorney General

How do you describe your identity? I identify as a cisgender white man, who grew up in a working class family in Pittsburgh.

I am seeking to become the first child of a convicted felon elected state Attorney General. I also did not have health insurance as a kid because my brother had muscular dystrophy. I know the struggles of working-class families, they are very much part of who I am, and I have dedicated my career from state representative to Auditor General to tackling real issues that impact everyday Pennsylvanians.

Questions and Answers

Tell us about your district. What is a hidden gem most people might not know about?

Pennsylvania is full of hidden gems – they’re around the corner in every small town and large city. One of the best parts of running for office statewide is that I get to discover a new one every day! Having said that, the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is breathtaking.

Please tell our readers about the Attorney General in Pennsylvania. High profile and politically complex issues are a huge piece of the role of the Attorney General. The reality is that the Attorney General isn’t in the courtroom – they’re in the public eye and providing leadership on issues of importance to Pennsylvanians. I have a track record of taking on tough political fights and leading on important issues, even when it’s not popular.

The first impact is that Democratic priorities like child tax credits, education funding, and the Fairness Act have now moved through the house, unfortunately to largely be stymied in the Senate. Perhaps even more importantly, Republicans can no longer attempt to govern by constitutional amendment, particularly on issues like abortion access.

Do you support reelecting President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024? Why or why not? Absolutely. President Biden’s administration has been one of unprecedented growth and stability following a term of instability and chaos. We need a government we can count on and another term will give us that.

The class of 2022 has been touted as the most diverse ever. Western PA sent three openly LGBTQ women, one of whom is Black, one a Jewish woman, and one an autistic woman. We elected a Jewish man as Governor and a Black man as Lt. Governor. And we sent Summer Lee, a Black woman to the US Congress. How did all of this representation manifest in the work of the Pennsylvania Government?

At the end of the day, this is the result of years of grassroots efforts to not just engage with their representatives, but elect representatives that were as diverse as the communities they serve. I am thrilled to see this kind of growth in recent years and I believe our government will only benefit from their perspectives and input.

One duty of the AG is to serve on the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission. They establish certification and training standards for Municipal Police Officers. They also oversee training and certification of Lethal Weapons Agents (Act 235), the certification of schools and instructors for both programs, and the retired law enforcement identification program. Please give examples of how this Commission can actively address much-needed reform of municipal policing? ‘

I will advocate for reform in our police departments to make sure training is improved and relations across our state meet the desired outcome of more equitable treatment and policing that is better connected with the community, and I will be prepared to hold people accountable when they don’t meet those standards.

One of your most significant achievements while Auditor General was acknowledging and reducing the number of untested rape kits in Pennsylvania. As Attorney General, how will this experience inform your work? This is some of the work that I’m most proud of as Auditor General. What I hope this will show is my commitment to fighting to deliver justice for Pennsylvanians and my work ethic to deliver those results. It also displays my experience in tackling a complex and lengthy investigation.

How has your familiarity with the LGBTQ community in Pennsylvania evolved over the course of time you’ve been in office? As a legislator, I was always proud to support marriage equality and fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community. One of the first bills I co-sponsored as a legislator was HB 300 and the fair workplace legislation. As Auditor General I supported and promoted people from the LGBTQ community including the first member of that community to serve as Budget Director for the Auditor General. My 2020 congressional campaign manager is part of the LGBTQ community. I have a history of working with the LGBTQ community and not just talking – but delivering action. This is the same approach I will take as your attorney general. I also supported marriage equality in my first statewide race. This was before President Obama took the position.

What specific legislative actions or administrative activities have you supported to affirm LGBTQIA residents in your various previous elected offices as State Representative and Auditor General? 

See above, and I’m committed to ensuring proper representation of the LGBTQ+ in my staff and anywhere I might have a direct say in that representation, as well as advocating for that representation wherever possible.

How can the Attorney General lead the resistance to the assault on transgender children? 

The Attorney General is primarily a leadership role and has the opportunity to take on issues of great importance – like fighting back against the assault on transgender children. I’m determined to do everything I can to combat false narratives and ensure our schools and communities are safe for our children.

The Democrats gained control of the PA House in 2022. What impact did that have on Pennsylvania politics overall?

The first impact is that Democratic priorities like child tax credits, education funding, and the Fairness Act have now moved through the house, unfortunately to largely be stymied in the Senate. Perhaps even more importantly, Republicans can no longer attempt to govern by constitutional amendment, particularly on issues like abortion access. It also directly impacts the Governor having a better negotiating position for improving school funding and also ensures bad bills won’t need to be vetoed.

We are living in an era of relentless scams, especially via cell phone robocalls and now endless messages on Facebook.. This not only takes advantage of people, but has a significant impact on our collective mental health. How will your  AG office address this significant social  threat? 

While it would be very difficult to stop every scammer, the Attorney General’s office can do a few things to help handle this problem. The first is simply advocacy and education so that people know what to look out for and are better aware of when they may be the target of a scam. I’ll also use the consumer protection laws that we have to crack down when a crime occurs and pursue justice for anyone that is a victim of a scam. Finally, I’ll work with other Attorneys General to address this problem nationally since many of these crimes occur across state lines.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’m glad to have the opportunity to share more about the campaign with the readers. If you’re interested, please go to www.DePasqualeforAG.com to learn more.

Another significant issue is the refusal of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Block Communications to provide a fair workplace or to honor their legal obligations. This is terrible for labor, but also destroying our flagship media resource. Have you taken the pledge to avoid speaking to the Post-Gazette scab employees? Upon election, what can your office do to save Pittsburgh’s daily newspaper and the fourth estate? 

My campaign is not speaking to the Post-Gazette during its strike. As Attorney General, I would welcome the opportunity to help bring a resolution to the ongoing issue. As Attorney General I can also help ensure striking workers are protected.

Western Pennsylvania  was heavily represented, in the number of dioceses with credible allegations and victims in the Attorney General Report on Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church – including some of my friends and neighbors. How will you advance holding the perpetrators and their protectors accountable for the harm they’ve caused? 

Then Attorney General Shapiro was a real leader on this issue and I intend to continue the work he did to hold the people and institutions that perpetrated these crimes accountable. I will also be a voice for the Constitutional Amendment which is critical for bringing justice to victims.

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?

Engaging with your friends and neighbors is critical to helping to remind folks to vote – and if you’re able to do more, volunteer with local and statewide campaigns or nonpartisan voting advocacy groups to help get more people involved.

The Attorney General is primarily a leadership role and has the opportunity to take on issues of great importance – like fighting back against the assault on transgender children. I’m determined to do everything I can to combat false narratives and ensure our schools and communities are safe for our children.

How  many Pennsylvania counties have you personally visited? 

I have traveled to every county in Pennsylvania! I also received ballot signatures in over 60 counties. This is far ahead of any of my opponents.

Tell us about your endorsements. 

I’m proud to have the support of so many elected officials, advocacy groups, and labor unions.

Campaign Chair, Allegheny State Rep. Emily Kinkead

Beaver County Democratic Committee

Perry County Democratic Committee

Armstrong County Democratic Committee

Northumberland County Democratic Committee

Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers

Central Pennsylvania Building Trades

Ironworkers Local 3

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 520

ATU Local 85

Operating Engineers Local 66

Bricklayers Local 5

Ricky’s Pride PAC

United Rural Democrats

Pitt College Democrats

Steel City Stonewall Democrats

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa

Bucks County President Commissioner Diane Marseglia

Bucks County Treasurer Kris Ballerini

Pittsburgh City Councilman Bobby Wilson

Carlisle Borough Councilwoman  Cate Mellen

Adams County Commissioner Marty Qually

Lycoming  County Commissioner Rick Mirabito

Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Vicites

Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor

Cambria County Controller Ed Cernic, Jr.

Allegheny County Councilwoman Anita Prizio

Allegheny County Councilman DeWitt Walton

Allegheny County Councilman Tom Duerr

Cambria Democratic County Chair Nina Licastro

Oakmont Former Mayor Christopher Whaley

Meadville Mayor Jaime Kinder

Coraopolis Mayor Michael Dixon

York Mayor Michael Helfrich

Pittston  Mayor Michael Lombardo

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti

Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese

Carlisle Mayor Sean Shultz

Cambria County Retired State Senator John Wozniak

Allegheny County Retired US Congressman Mike Doyle

York State Rep. Carol Hill-Evans

Dauphin State Rep. Dave Madsen

Allegheny State Rep. Joe McAndrew

Dauphin State Rep. Justin Fleming

Allegheny County State Rep. Lindsay Powell

Dauphin State Rep. Patty Kim

Allegheny State Senator Jim Brewster

Allegheny State Sen. Wayne Fontana

Clarion County Commissioner Braxton White

York County Commissioner Doug Hoke

Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas

York City Council Edquina Washington

Harrisburg City Council Lamont Jones

Finally, what are three reasons people should vote for you/support your campaign?

My top priorities are protecting our democracy, protecting our most vulnerable, defending reproductive freedom, and ensuring we have safe and vibrant communities. This includes protecting our environment as I am the only candidate who has investigated the drillers, pushing back against anti-abortion extremists as shown through my investigation of real alternatives, and fighting for equal education as someone who fought to change the school funding formula and stands ready to hold the legislature accountable to ensure a fair system gets put in place.

Please list your social media accounts and your donation links.

https://www.facebook.com/DePasqualePA

Twitter @DePasqualePA

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/depasqualeforag?refcode=suekerr

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’m glad to have the opportunity to share more about the campaign with the readers. If you’re interested, please go to www.DePasqualeforAG.com to learn more.

Other Q&A’s

In addition, read 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.

1. 2024 Political Q&A with Makenzie White: What You Need to Know About This Candidate for PA Senate District 45
2. 2024 Political Q&A with Summer Lee: What You Need to Know About This Candidate for US House District 12
3. 2024 Political Q&A with ArvindVenkat: What You Need to Know About This Incumbent Candidate for PA House District 30
4. 2024 Political Q&A with Eugene DePasquale: What You Need to Know About This Candidate for Pennsylvania Attorney General