Responses of Robert B. Hunter to GLAA 2000 Questionnaire
for DC Council Candidates
| Yes/No | Substance | Record | Championship | Total |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
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?
I would vote for a budget for the new Citizen Complaint Review Board/Office of Citizen Complaint Review. On the other hand I would have to study the presented budget, the stated objectives as to the quantity of the size of the budget.
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?
I am not in favor of official or unofficial overtime work by police officers or fireman. The regular hours of work are pressured with great mental and physical stress. Stressed personnel are not effective in crisis situations.
3. Will you support amending 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?
Unknown at this time.
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?
I do support the full funding/full staffing of the created Gay and Lesbian Liason Unit as currently proposed.
5. Will you demand mandatory gay male, lesbian, bisexual and transgender sensitivity and diversity training including gay and transgender community representative as a continuing part of the training for all members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the Fire/EMS Department?
Professional representatives of the gay and transgender community should be involved along with straight professionals as a continuing part of needed sensitivity training. Moreso, before employment, each Police or Fireman Candidate should undergo a psychological approval examination. This exam should be conducted jointly by two psychologist/psychiatrists, each representing the gay, the straight community. Said examination would deal with racial, religious, gender, sexual orientation issues.
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 unique identifier system be implemented without delay and fairly evaluated?
I do support testing "the unique identifier system for tracking the spread of HIV. I would need to study why it has not been implemented, since it has the approval of the Council and the Mayor.
7. Will you oppose Bill 13-240 which would make possession and distribution of marijuana for medical purposes a felony?
I do oppose Bill 13-240, making a felony the possession and distribution of marijuana for medical purposes. I would give strong support for possession and distribution at the hands of physicians.
8. Will you support the use of District taxpayer funds to implement a needle exchange program?
Yes.
9. The Administration for HIV/AIDS (AHA) is still unable to account for its spending. Will you ask the Inspector General to audit AHA contracting.
Yes.
10. Will you support earmarking funds to combat mental health problems and homelessness among sexual minority youth?
Yes.
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?
Yes.
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?
Yes.
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?
Yes.
DEFENDING OUR FAMILIES
14. Will you support legal recognition of marriages between partners of the same sex?
I support the legal recognition of civil unions between partners of the same or opposite gender.
15. Will you agree that the District should recognize the same-sex civil unions established in Vermont or other jurisdictions?
Yes.
16. Will you support legislation in the District similar to Vermont's civil unions law?
I would support such legislation as a Civil Right. Since the Government of the District of Columbia continues to be subject to approval and review of all legislation by the powers of the Federal Government, said legislation would have to be approved in a majority of the United States.
17. Will you support the well-established decision by D.C. Courts, which recognize the right of unmarried couples to adopt children jointly?
Yes, until such decision by the D.C.courts are over ruled by the Federal authorities.
YOUTH AND 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?
Certainly.
Robert B. Hunter
1236 - 44th Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20019