Pennsylvania
Brian Sims, four other LGBTQ candidates lose races in Pa.
Gay, trans hopefuls competing for Philly state house seat lose to straight ally
LGBTQ candidates running for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, lieutenant governor, and a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in Philadelphiaās āgayborhoodā each lost their races in the Keystone Stateās May 17 Democratic primary.
Transgender community activist Deja Alvarez and LGBTQ rights and economic development advocate Jonathan Lovitz, who ran against each other in a four-candidate race for the 182nd District State House seat in Center City Philadelphia, were thought to have the best shot at winning among the four LGBTQ candidates running in the state primary.
The two were running neck-and-neck to one another but were trailing far behind straight LGBTQ ally and businessman Ben Waxman as of late Tuesday evening. With the votes counted in 52 of 59 of the districtās electoral divisions, Waxman had 41.6 percent of the vote, Lovitz had 19.1 percent, with Alvarez garnering 18.6 percent. CafĆ© owner, community activist, and LGBTQ ally Will Gross had 20.5 percent of the vote.
Lovitz and Alvarez along with Waxman and Gross were running for the seat held by gay State Rep. Brian Sims, who gave up the seat to run in Tuesdayās primary as the stateās first out gay candidate for lieutenant governor.
Sims lost that race to fellow State Rep. Austin Davis by a margin of 63.3 percent for Davis and 24.5 percent for Sims with 88 percent of the votes counted. The Associated Press declared Davis the winner early in the evening. A third candidate in the race, Ray Sosa, had 12.2 percent of the vote.
In a development that surprised many observers outside Pennsylvania, more than 40 prominent LGBTQ leaders from across the state endorsed Davis over Sims earlier this year, saying Davis is a strong and committed supporter of LGBTQ rights and has the best chance of winning in the general election in November.
Davis also received the strong backing of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who ran unopposed in Tuesdayās primary for the Democratic nomination for governor. Shapiro, who also received strong backing from LGBTQ activists, said he considered Davis to be his running mate in the primary.
The fourth of the LGBTQ candidates running in Tuesdayās Pennsylvania primary, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of the 181st District in North Philly, ran as a longshot candidate for the stateās U.S. Senate seat being vacated by GOP incumbent Patrick Toomey. Kenyatta lost to Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who was declared the winner with 88 percent of the votes counted.
Fetterman had 59.3 percent, with Kenyatta finishing in third place in a four-candidate race with 10.0 percent of the vote. U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb finished in second place with 26.6 percent of the vote as of early Wednesday morning, with IT specialist and former small business owner Alex Khalil finishing fourth with 4.2 percent of the vote.
Kenyatta, who was one of three gay speakers who joined others in delivering a joint keynote address at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, received the endorsement of the Philadelphia Gay News in his bid for the U.S. Senate seat.
Gay Democratic and LGBTQ rights activist and former congressional staff member Sean Meloy, who ran for the U.S. House seat in Pennsylvaniaās 17thĀ Congressional District in the Pittsburgh suburbs, was the fifth LGBTQ candidate competing in the stateās May 17 primary. Meloy lost his race to Chris Deluzio, director of the University of Pittsburghās cyber policy center.
With 93 percent of the votes counted, Deluzio had 63.2 percent of the vote compared to Meloy, who had 36.8 percent. If Meloy had won the race he would have become Pennsylvaniaās first out gay member of Congress.
The race in which Lovitz and Alvarez competed for the State House seat in the 182nd District, which is believed to have more LGBTQ residents than any other legislative district in the state, drew the most attention among LGBTQ activists both in Philadelphia and in other parts of the country.
Both have been involved in LGBTQ rights issues for many years. Lovitz drew support from a wide range of LGBTQ and labor and small business leaders who he knew in his past role as senior vice president of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Alvarez, a widely known transgender activist who led local community-based organizations providing services to the LGBTQ community, would have been the first transgender person to serve in the Pennsylvania General Assembly if she had been elected to the State House seat.
The LGBTQ Victory Fund, the national group that raises money in support of LGBTQ candidates for public office, drew criticism from some activists for endorsing Alvarez over Lovitz. Some argued that the group should have remained neutral or backed Lovitz, who had raised far more money for his campaign and appeared to be the most viable of the two candidates. Others expressed concern that two LGBTQ candidates running in a four-candidate race could result in a split in the LGBTQ vote that would help the straight candidates, who were known LGBTQ rights supporters.
As it turned out, the approximate combined share of the vote that Alvarez and Lovitz received ā 38.2 percent ā still fell short of the 42.6 percent of the vote received by Waxman.
Pennsylvania
Malcolm Kenyatta could become the first LGBTQ statewide elected official in Pa.
State lawmaker a prominent Biden-Harris 2024 reelection campaign surrogate
Following his win in the Democratic primary contest on Wednesday, Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, who is running for auditor general, is positioned to potentially become the first openly LGBTQ elected official serving the commonwealth.
In a statement celebrating his victory, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President Annise Parker said, āPennsylvanians trust Malcolm Kenyatta to be their watchdog as auditor general because thatās exactly what heās been as a legislator.”
“LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is all in for Malcolm, because we know he has the experience to win this race and carry on his fight for students, seniors and workers as Pennsylvaniaās auditor general,” she said.
Parker added, “LGBTQ+ Americans are severely underrepresented in public office and the numbers are even worse for Black LGBTQ+ representation. I look forward to doing everything I can to mobilize LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians and our allies to get out and vote for Malcolm this November so we can make history.ā
In April 2023, Kenyatta was appointed by the White House to serve as director of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans.
He has been an active surrogate in the Biden-Harris 2024 reelection campaign.
Pennsylvania
Blade editorās book reading canceled after threats in Lancaster, Pa.
Weekend bomb scare led to evacuations, drag story hour disruption
An April book reading in Lancaster, Pa., featuring author Kevin Naff, editor of the Washington Blade, and Nick Benton, owner and editor of the Falls Church News-Press, was canceled this week following bomb threats targeting the Lancaster Public Library on Saturday.
Police evacuated an area of downtown Lancaster on Saturday after multiple bomb threats were made targeting a drag queen story hour event at the Lancaster Public Library. After the threats were made, the event was canceled, according to a report from WGAL-TV.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our community as we work to process today’s events together,ā read a statement from Lancaster Pride. āWhile we support the freedom of speech, we stand firm and cannot and we will not let hate, fear, and intimidation stop our collective movement for love and support for all.”
Naff was scheduled to read from his book, āHow We Won the War for LGBTQ Equality ā And How Our Enemies Could Take It All Away,ā at a Lancaster-area library event moderated by Benton on April 18. A library official declined to comment on the cancellation.
“I am disappointed by the cancellation but it was the right call given the recent threats targeting the LGBTQ community in Lancaster,” said Naff. āMAGA Republicans must dial back their rhetoric and their attacks on our community; they are dangerous and draconian and will cost lives.ā
The event was planned as a fundraiser for the Quarryville Library after Fulton Township revoked its funding because the library carries LGBTQ-themed books.
āI think everyone is a little bit surprised. We are in a conservative area so everyone has their own beliefs but as the public library we are here to serve everyone,ā interim director of the library Sarah Bower told WHTM News in November after the funding was canceled.
Johnny Weir, the Olympic figure skater and commentator, is from Quarryville and later donated $1,000 to the library. Weir was supporting Naffās April 18 event and promoting it on social media.Ā
“It is a sad reality that fear generated by threats of violence that have escalated in the Trump era is stifling the public’s access to aĀ free and open sharing of views, an outcome that is in absolutely no one’s best interest,” said Benton.Ā Ā
To donate to the Quarryville Library, visit: https://quarryvillelibrary.org/get-involved/support-your-library/
Pennsylvania
Pa. state trooper in altercation with prominent LGBTQ leader
Celena Morrison pulled over on Philadelphia expressway, detained
The Philadelphia Gay News originally published this article and the Washington Blade republished it with permission.
BY LAUREN ROWELLO | Video footage uploaded to Facebook shows an altercation between a state trooper and two prominent Philadelphia LGBTQ+ leaders. Celena Morrison, executive director of Philadelphiaās Office of LGBT Affairs, was pulled over by a state trooper on the Vine Street Expressway on the morning of March 2 and later detained by police.
Morrisonās sister told PGN that Morrison was pulled over āfor not having their lights on while tailgating,ā which a video of the encounter that Morrison recorded confirms. Darius McClean, Morrisonās husband and acting COO of William Way LGBT Community Center, was present during the incident and was also detained.
āMy sister started recording when the officer became aggressive,ā said Morrisonās sister, who uploaded the video to her Facebook. It shows a portion of the traffic stop encounter. It is unclear what occurred before Morrison started recording. Morrisonās sister said that McLean was following his wifeās car in a separate vehicle at the time of the stop and pulled over behind her during the traffic stop.
Morrison told her sister the officer āpulled him out of the carā then Morrison got out of her own vehicle to explain that McLean is her husband.
āShe started recording when the officer pulled his taser,ā Morrisonās sister explained.
In the video, which is described in greater detail below, Morrison accuses the officer of punching her and drawing his gun on her. In the video, the officer says that both McLean and Morrison are āunder arrest for resisting.ā
Philadelphia Police confirmed that Morrison and McLean were taken to Philadelphia Police Headquarters at 400 N. Broad St. Morrisonās sister says the pair was processed, charged with disorderly conduct, and detained until approximately 9 p.m. on March 2.
āMy concern is over her safety since she is transgender,ā Morrisonās sister told PGN. She is especially concerned with āthe way the police officer charged at her for recording,ā which can be seen on the footage. One commenter replied to the video on Facebook, āThis is OUTRAGEOUS. This has to go straight to the governorās office.ā
What the video shows
The video begins with Morrison repeatedly stating, āThatās my husband,ā to the officer who is seen kneeling on McLeanās back as McLean lays on the asphalt in fetal position in the rain. The officer tells him to put his hands behind his back. McLean says, āI donāt know why youāre doing this,ā then frantically attempts to reassure Morrison by telling her, āItās OK. Itās OK.ā
Morrison repeatedly states to the officer, āI work for the mayor!ā McLean appears to attempt to shield his face with one arm in fear as the officer cuffs his other hand. The officer hits McLeanās hand with a closed fist before pointing to Morrison. The officer yells, āStay the fuck back!ā while moving McLeanās hands to his back to finish cuffing.
McLean pleads for the officer to stop then says, āItās because Iām Black.ā The officer appears to respond, saying, āItās not because youāre Black. Itās because you rolled up on me.ā
The officer then lets go of McLean and approaches Morrison, saying, āTurn around,ā before lunging toward Morrison with a grabbing motion. The camera is jostled at this time and points at the sky for the remainder of the footage. The officer yells, āGive me your hands or youāre getting tased!ā while Morrison and McLean can be heard calling out in distress.
The officer says, āStay right there!ā to which McLean replies, āI am! I canāt go anywhere!ā before trying to reassure Morrison again by saying, āCelena, itās OK baby.ā Morrison says she doesnāt know why this is happening and repeatedly states that theyāve done nothing wrong.
She then says, āHe just punched me. He just punched me.ā The officer appears to stand over McLean and Morrison as Morrison asks whatās going on and McLean cries out for help. The officer calls to dispatch that he has two people detained.
McLean says to the officer calmly, āIām just getting my glasses.ā The officer screams in reply, āLeave that right there!ā
McLean says more frantically, āI just need my glasses,ā and the officer shouts, āDonāt reach for anything!ā Morrison reassures McLean, āJust be still.ā
The officer says, āStay right there! You move, youāre getting taken down.ā
McLean is prompted to stand but says he canāt. Morrison says sheāll call the mayorās office once this is over. When she stands, she asks the officer to pick up her phone. The officer says loudly, āThis was a simple traffic stop because you didnāt have your lights on ā you didnāt have your lights on and you were tailgating.ā
McLean attempts to defend himself, āI wasnāt tailgating!ā and the officer repeats, āSimple traffic stop,ā to Morrison. The officer appears to tell McLean, āAnd I donāt know who you are, so I donāt need you rolling up on me.ā
āYou were about to tase me. You pulled your gun on me,ā Morrison says. āBecause you were fighting with me,ā says the officer, which Morrison is heard denying. The officer says that both McLean and Morrison are āunder arrest for resisting.ā
A response from Philadelphia and national leaders
Mayor Cherelle Parker released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that reads:
āāāEarlier today, a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper executed a car stop on the Vine Street Expressway in Philadelphia, reportedly for a Motor Vehicle Code violation. Celena Morrison, the Cityās executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, was in the vehicle that was stopped.
A video circulating on social media that depicts a portion of the incident is very concerning to me, and I will have no further comment until the investigation has been completed.ā
State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta addressed the incident in his speech at the Human Rights Campaign Greater Philadelphia dinner on Saturday evening. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation.
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign ā a national organization that advocates on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community ā also underlined the need for a thorough investigation, underlining to PGN that important details often get missed in these kinds of situations. She retweeted the mayor, calling the incident ādisturbing.ā
In her speech, she said, āWhen Philadelphiaās very own executive director of the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Celena Morrison, cannot even ride around the streets of Philadelphia without being harassed by law enforcement, we are in a state of emergency.ā
Tyrell Brown, executive director of galaei, accepted an award on behalf of the organization they lead and informed the crowd during their speech that Morrison and McLean had just been released from police custody.
Brown told PGN that leaders from across the LGBTQ+ community and allies were working to āensure that there is transparency and safety for these two very valued community members.ā
They said that this situation demonstrates that an official title will not protect people from mistreatment ā but that all people within the queer community need and deserve access to safety and support mechanisms without any barriers.
āThe seconds that we miss could be the determination between life and death,ā they said, highlighting the importance of working together to ensure that all members of the queer community can access resources that help promote safety and equity ā āthe same kind of decency and the same kind of reverence and respect that any other community deserves and has afforded to them.ā
The Pennsylvania State Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Philadelphia Police Department directed PGN to their public affairs office, which did not appear to be open on March 2. An officer told PGN, āI have no comment at this time.ā
This is a developing story.
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