Responses of Tricia Kinch to GLAA 2002 Questionnaire
for DC Mayoral Candidates
| Yes/No | Substance | Record | Championship | Total |
| 2 | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 4.5 |
Public Safety
1. Will you direct the Chiefs of the Police and Fire/EMS Departments to include openly gay and transgender community representatives in mandatory sensitivity and diversity training programs for all members of their departments?
Yes. I believe it is imperative that both the Metropolitan Police Department and the Fire/EMS Department provide the level of training and supervision that will ensure equal treatment to all residents of Washington, D.C. The inclusion of openly gay and transgender community representatives such as Transgenders Against Discrimination and Defamation in designing and implementing training programs for all levels of public safety professionals will support this critical mandate.
2. Will you order the incoming Fire Chief to issue a new grooming policy which is in compliance with both the First Amendment and the DC Human Rights Act?
Yes. As the Chief Executive of D.C. Government, all departments will take their leadership and directives from a mayor who strongly believes in human rights and justice for our employees and the people we serve.
3. Will you order the Corporation Counsel to cease appealing the judgment against the city related to the Fire Department's grooming policy and settle the suits by rehiring firefighters and paying back wages?
Absolutely. I will also personally welcome back those fired and assure them that their rights will always be respected and protected under the Kinch administration.
4. A few years ago the District enacted a version of Megan's Law that refuses to allow sex offenders to keep themselves off the public registry of sex offenders by demonstrating that they are no longer a danger to the community. A federal judge struck down this provision of the D.C. law as unconstitutional last September. Similar provisions have been struck down by many other federal courts. Will you support a change in Megan's Law to ensure that the registry of sex offenders only includes those who are still dangerous?
Yes. I will support a change in DC's version of "Megan's Law" to allow sex offenders who can demonstrate they are no longer dangerous to be kept off the public registry of sex offenders. I also support awarding attorney fees for those who win suits against being included in the registry.
Public Health and AIDS
5. The Director of the HIV/AIDS Administration, Ron Lewis, is his own boss, also serving as a deputy Health Director. Will you hire a full-time Director of the HIV/AIDS Administration?
I will hire a full time Director of the HIV/AIDS Administration who has the capacity and the commitment to ensure the much needed services and accountability are provided. Many of our residents are suffering. The HIV/AIDS administration must provide the critical support services and outreach and information as well as working with residents on creative prevention and treatment programs.
6. The current HIV epidemiological surveillance system discourages people -- especially immigrants -- from getting tested by requiring both their partial social security number and their country of origin. This potentially threatens their ability to stay in this country. As Mayor, will you order the Department of Health to issue new regulations to eliminate the partial social security number for the unique identifier code?
Absolutely. I will direct the Department of Health to establish a unique identifier system to provide confidentiality and trust in the public healthcare system.
Human Rights
7. Will you further increase funding to the Office of Human Rights to increase the numbers of investigators and support staff and reduce the time required to process claims of discrimination?
Yes. I am committed to take steps to ensure that the Office of Human Rights has necessary resources to aggressively and swiftly provide services on behalf of DC residents. Those steps include but are not limited to: 1) appointing a competent committed director 2) hiring enough staff to end the backlog 3) commitment to the funding needed to better serve our residents.
8. The Council recently confirmed the reappointment of Pierpont Mobley to the D.C. Commission on Human Rights, despite Mr. Mobley's statements during his confirmation hearing indicating a lack of support or understanding of the Commission's ruling against the Boy Scouts' policy of excluding gay men from participating either as Scouts or as leaders. Will you refuse to nominate anyone to the Human Rights Commission who similarly lacks a commitment to enforcing the D.C. Human Rights Law of 1977?
Absolutely. Anyone nominated by the Kinch administration will have a proven record of competence and commitment that will reflect our commitment to human rights and justice for all DC residents.
9. Will you refrain from issuing proclamations saluting individuals or organizations that promote any sort of bigotry, including but not limited to the Nation of Islam and the Boy Scouts of America?
If there is a legal finding that an organization promotes bigotry, I will refrain from issuing proclamations to such groups.
Defending Our Families
10. Do you support legal recognition of marriages between partners of the same sex?
Yes. I support legal recognition of marriages between partners of the same sex.
11. Will you support legislation similar to Vermont's creating Civil Unions -- for same-sex and opposite-sex couples -- having all of the rights and responsibilities of Marriage that are offered by the District?
Yes. I support Civil Unions. I supported the Vermont legislation as well. I sing with the D.C Labor Chorus and we performed and participated in a fundraiser held in DC in support of the Vermont legislation.
12. Will you support amending the domestic partnership regulations to recognize the more than 100 couples who registered under Mayor Kelly's September 30, 1992 Directive?
I support amending the domestic partnership regulations to recognize those who registered under the Kelly administration directive.
13. Will you support amending the domestic partnership regulations to recognize domestic partnerships and civil unions established in other jurisdictions?
I will support amending the domestic partnership regulations to recognize domestic partnerships and civil unions established in other jurisdictions.
Other Issues
14. Will you support the "Elimination of Outdated Crimes Amendment Act of 2002," Bill 14-636, which eliminates archaic criminal laws including fornication, adultery, and others?
I will support the "Elimination of Outdated Crimes Amendment Act of 2002."
15. Will you veto legislation designed to end nude dancing at any establishment holding a D.C. liquor license or prohibiting such establishments from transferring their nude dancing licenses to different establishments or otherwise further limiting nude dancing in ABC-licensed establishments?
I will veto legislation designed to end nude dancing at any establishment holding a D.C. liquor license or prohibiting such establishments from transferring their licenses.
16. If it is passed by the Council, will you veto "The Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs Act of 2002," Bill 14-719, which would undermine citizen advocacy by creating official gay advocates under the direction of the Mayor?
Yes. I will veto "The Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs Act of 2002." I agree wholeheartedly with GLAA's position that it is unnecessary and subject to political conflicts.
Record
Your record is part of your rating. Please list any actions that you have taken that may help illustrate your record on behalf of lesbians and gay men.
My record on behalf of lesbians and gay men is included in over twenty years of service to the D.C. community as a political organizer and strategist; a housing and community development advocate, a youth development advocate and a peace and justice activist.
Since 1984, I have actively worked to elect national and local leaders whose platforms included a comprehensive understanding and support of legislation and policies advancing the rights of lesbians and gay men. (Rev. Jesse Jackson, Anthony Williams, Arturo Griffiths)
As a housing advocate, I have lobbied the mayor and the DC council and organized protests and demonstrations to obtain affordable housing legislation. The Housing Production Trust Fund will provide housing for much needed housing programs to serve very low, low and moderate income renters and home owners. Creative housing programs such as a limited equity cooperative that I founded with other DC activists can be funded to support the housing needs of HIV/AIDS populations and transgenders who are according to GLAA "disproportionately poor." Our limited equity cooperative also serves as a model for communities that advocate accepting diverse lifestyles and community building. supportive communities.
My leadership and advocacy include fiduciary responsibilities for two non-profit organizations that include in their service delivery lesbians and gay men. I am a board member of Washington Innercity Self Help. (WISH) We have worked with low and moderate-income residents in the DC Community for over twenty years. Our mission is to support the empowerment of low and moderate-income residents to address their housing issues.
I am also Interim Chair of the Board of Northeast Performing Arts Group. (NEPAG) We provide youth development and support for at-risk youth through the arts. Throughout its 23 years of service to youth, this organization has provided peer and mentor support for issues such as sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, substance abuse, and sexual abuse among others.
As a founding member and current Facilitator of the DC Community Coalition for Justice and Peace, we provide for communication and the exchange of information and ideas that encourage our community to seek peace and justice. The Community Coalition for Justice and Peace currently has 90 member organizations. The Coalition and WISH, both actively fight against discrimination.
For the past twenty years, I have shared housing, worked on community issues, and given and received the kind of support that friends share, to gay men and lesbians. I am committed to protecting and advancing the human rights of gay men and lesbians, not just because its politically correct and wise, but because I believe it in my heart and in my mind.