2000 Questionnaire for DC Council Candidates
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NOTEBefore you complete and return your questionnaire, you should call us to request a Briefing on the issues we have raised. These briefings typically last about an hour. Call us on 202-667-5139 to schedule your briefing. Also be sure to read through GLAA's Agenda 2000.
Public Safety
1. Will you vote for a budget for the new Citizen Complaint Review Board and the Office of Citizen Complaint Review large enough to prevent the development of a case backlog?
2. Will you support legislation that will reverse the Council's recent enactment of a ban on moonlighting by members of the Metropolitan Police Department at bars and sexually oriented establishments?
3. Will you support amending the recently-enacted Sexual Offenders Registration Act, "Megan's Law," so that those who can prove to the court that they no longer constitute a danger to the community will not be required to register as a sex offender?
4. Will you support the full funding and full staffing of the Metropolitan Police Department's newly created Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU) as currently proposed?
5. Will you demand mandatory gay male, lesbian, bisexual and transgender sensitivity and diversity training including gay and transgender community representatives as a continuing part of the training for all members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the Fire/EMS Department?
Public Health & HIV
6. Last year, a unique identifier system for tracking the spread of HIV was approved by the Council and Mayor, rather than a names reporting system that would deter some people from being tested in the first place. Will you insist that the unique identifier system be implemented without delay and fairly evaluated?
7. Will you oppose Bill 13-240, which would make the possession and distribution of marijuana for medical purposes a felony?
8. Will you support the use of District taxpayer funds to implement a needle exchange program?
9. The Administration for HIV/AIDS (AHA) is still unable to account for spending. Will you ask the Inspector General to audit AHA contracting?
10. Will you support earmarking funds to combat mental health problems and homelessness among sexual minority youth?
Human Rights
11. Will you support a temporary increase in the annual budget for the Office of Human Rights (OHR) over the next several years until its persistent 700-case backlog has been eliminated?
12. Will you support legislation that will codify OHR's former practice of giving top priority to discrimination complaints filed by people with AIDS or other major life-threatening diseases?
13. DC's rate of HIV infections among teenagers is significantly higher than the national average. Will you support legislation to increase HIV prevention efforts targeted towards sexual minority youth?
Defending Our Families
14. Will you support legal recognition of marriages between partners of the same sex?
15. Will you agree that the District should recognize the same-sex civil unions established in Vermont or other jurisdictions?
16. Will you support legislation in the District similar to Vermont's civil unions law?
17. Will you support the well-established decision by the D.C. courts, which recognize the right of unmarried couples to adopt children jointly?
Youth & Public Education
18. Will you support legislation prohibiting harassment of students in the District schools (both public and charter) on the basis of any of the protected categories enumerated in the D.C. Human Rights Law?
Your answers should be typed on separate paper rather than on this form. You must sign your name on your answer sheets to indicate your personal commitment to your answers. Please return this questionnaire by Tuesday, August 1 to GLAA, Attn: Bob Summersgill/President, P.O. Box 75265, Washington, D.C. 20013-5265. FAX submissions to 301-946-5189 are acceptable, but not recommended. In addition to your signed hard copy, please submit an electronic copy (emailed or on IBM-format diskette, in any major word processor or text format) for loading on GLAA's web site.