by: 
Jordan
JordanFriday, August 6, 2010 at 3:30:00 PM EDT
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I reported in a previous blog on how comprehensive LGBTIQ anti-discrimination laws are currently a ripe issue in the Keystone State, yet the gubernatorial candidates haven't taken a position yet on specific legislation. Well, I have some answers.
Democrat Dan Onorato's campaign has not gotten back to me as of yet, but I discovered he has a troubling past with LGBTIQ issues:
Turns out that Danny Boy voted against domestic partner benefits in 1999 as a City Councilman.
Moreover, in 1998 he was the sole nay vote to adding gender identity and expression to a City human relations ordinance.
Furthermore, this newspaper clipping from same source is pretty disturbing:
Wow, and this was in 1998, when most people thought transgender people belonged on Jerry Springer. Was he living in a cave or something????
However, in 2009, Mr. Onorato, as executive of Allegheny County (the county where Pittsburgh is in) decided that he would sign the same ordinance countywide he voted against city-wide 10 years before.
While it would be tempting to go by his most recent record, I still shall find Onorato shifty until I hear him commit to HB300 and the 1975 Shapp Order.
Meanwhile, on the Republican side, I got this message from Tom Corbett's campaign:
I believe he would support the LGBT community against injustice. Tom Corbett will fight against discrimination and violence against any segment of the population regardless of race, gender, sexual preference.
Wow, still no answer about HB300 or the Shapp order, though it sounds promising until I found out that:
'
To be fair, anti-discrim laws tend to have much wider appeal than gender neutral marriage, but Tom Corbett is also still shifty until I hear otherwise.The question for me becomes, what can we expect will happen to what little rights the LGBT community has in PA now, if Republican Tom Corbett is elected governor. Corbett has already pledged to work for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage if elected. What other harm to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender pennsylvanians can he do?
Pennsylvania is a major bellwether, and HB300 (as well as SB400, which is the single payer bill) will help encourage the country to move in a more progressive direction.
I will have more on other statewide races, as many gubernatorial and state legislative races will be happening across the country this November
-Jordan Gwendolyn
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I believe if you dig around you will find questionairres for Corbett that make clear he isn't the least bit shifty when it comes to LGBT rights. He is 100% against any LGBT legislation. He is signed on to the Ken Cuccineli(sp??) law suit against Health Care Reform, which I point out, only in that he is a Republican of that type. Cuccineli worked to take away LGBT protections at state Universities. Corbett is right in that line of Republicanism.
Re: Onorato:
This is from Onotato literature:
"· He believes that all Pennsylvanians deserve to be protected by the same anti-discrimination law that is in place in Allegheny County. Onorato will also fight for legislation that adds sexual orientation and gender identity to Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law.
· Onorato will have an inclusive Administration in his appointments to the Cabinet, boards and commissions, and judicial nominations.
· Onorato believes that schools must be safe places to learn and for children to socially and emotionally develop, and that LGBT students in particular are too often subject to bullying in our society. He will ensure that Pennsylvania’s anti-bullying law protects LGBT students.
· Onorato supports civil unions and domestic partnerships to provide same-sex couples with essential rights and responsibilities under the law.
I think Onorato is like many politicians who, over time have come to understand the issues of the LGBT community, and have changed their positions, so how he was voting while on city Council isn't indicative of the type of Governor he would be.