Responses of Daphne M. McBryde to GLAA 2000 Questionnaire
for DC Council Candidates
| Yes/No | Substance | Record | Championship | Total |
| 1 | .5 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 |
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?
Yes, the Citizen Complaint Review Board and the Office of Citizen Complaint Review must be properly funded. I will work with all of the members of the Council to make sure we pay attention to and fully fund these important offices.
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?
D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers should not have the use of their police powers while moonlighting at bars. The clientele or and sexual orientation of the bar should never be the issue. I police officers need to work hard while in their uniforms to prevent crime and mistreatment of our citizens. I will work with GLAA to make the law provide non-discriminatory treatment to all citizens and visitors.
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?
My first priority as a resident and At-Large Council member is to protect the most vulnerable people in our city. Yes, I support the registration of offenders who have committed sexual violations against our children and the mentally ill.
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 will work with the Mayor and the Council to make sure that our funding priorities match those of the community. We have to provide the necessary funds to live up to our shared goal of having a city that celebrates diversity and protects our citizens. A Gay and Lesbian Unit is critical to this effort.
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?
Ongoing sensitivity and diversity training is an absolute necessity for both our Metropolitan Police Department and Fire and EMS Department. While I understand your specific request targets the gay male, lesbians, bisexual and transgender community, it should also include racial and economic profiling. I fully support such a comprehensive program.
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?
Yes.
7. Will you oppose Bill 13-240 which would make possession and distribution of marijuana for medical purposes a felony?
I oppose Bill 13-420.
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. The Inspector General or the D.C. Auditor must examine the use of these funds.
10. Will you support earmarking funds to combat mental health problems and homelessness among sexual minority youth?
As a member to the Council I will support funding for programs to specifically address mental health 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?
I believe the Office of Human Rights is an essential function in our government. As a member of the Council, I will sponsor the necessary oversight and determine why that Office has this large backlog and what needs to be done to fix it. I believe the "fix" should include performance measures so we can be sure that when more money is added, the backlog actually goes down. We also will need to look at how that office obtain and uses federal funds. They can support staff to reduce the backlog.
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, we must have case management practices that assure that our citizens with life threatening illnesses and who may have shorter lengths of time on earth be given priority to resolve their human rights issues and cases.
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. As an At-Large member to the City Council, the prevention of HIV and its spreading will be a high priority, particularly among our youth.
DEFENDING OUR FAMILIES
14. Will you support legal recognition of marriages between partners of the same sex?
Yes.
15. Will you agree that the District should recognize the same-sex civil unions established in Vermont or other jurisdictions?
However, I believe unequivocally, those persons in legal unions whether heterosexual or homosexual should be provided equal rights due under the law (i.e., insurance, palimony, and inheritance).
16. Will you support legislation in the District similar to Vermont's civil unions law?
The Council should carefully consider Vermont's plan to make sure its will achieve beneficial results here as well.
17. Will you support the well-established decision by D.C. Courts, which recognize the right of unmarried couples to adopt children jointly?
Yes.
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?
Yes. Our children must be safe guarded from bigotry and discrimination.