Responses of Baruti Jahi to GLAA 2008 Questionnaire
for DC Council Candidates
| Yes/No | Substance | Record | Championship | Total |
| 2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 |
PUBLIC SAFETY
1. Will you support funding for mandatory gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) sensitivity and diversity training for all members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department?
Yes, I support funding for mandatory sensitivity and diversity training of all police officers and fire and emergency medical services personnel. Any form of discrimination based on sexual preference should not be tolerated.
2. Will you support a budget for the Office of Police Complaints large enough to continue to avoid developing a backlog of cases?
Yes, I support a budget for the Office of Police Complaints that is large enough to continue avoiding a backlog of cases; the size of which needs to be determined. The objective is to maximize the efficiency of the Office of Police Complaints.
3. Given MPD's controversial Neighborhood Safety Zone initiative (which set up checkpoints and barricades in the Trinidad neighborhood) and Safe Homes initiative (to knock on doors and ask to conduct warrantless gun searches), will you support efforts to rein in police officials who respond to legitimate crime concerns with short-term fixes and public relations gestures that infringe upon Fourth Amendment and other constitutionally protected civil liberties?
No, this form of policing does not work, and it only provides a temporary solution to the problem. District government should focus on long term and proactive solutions that highlight recreational centers or facilities designed to provide job training; educational counseling and/or mentorship help to District residents. [Ed. note: Mr. Jahi subsequently clarified that he meant "yes" on this question.]
4. Given that the Department of Corrections continues to violate the D.C. Human Rights Act by using genitalia as a basis for gender identification rather than an individual’s gender identity or expression, will you support the Council directly adopting a rulemaking to make it unmistakably clear that DOC must stop discriminating against transgender inmates and detainees?
Yes, I will support the Council adopting a rulemaking to make it clear that DOC must stop discriminating against transgender inmates and detainees. The DOC should not tolerate any form of discrimination.
AIDS AND PUBLIC HEALTH
5. Do you agree that the drive to make HIV testing routine among District residents should include funding for counseling and referrals to treatment facilities for those testing positive?
Yes, I agree that the drive to make HIV testing routine among District residents should include funding for counseling and referrals to treatment facilities for those testing positive. It is critical to provide residents diagnosed with HIV the support needed to deal with the physical and psychological effects of HIV illness.
6. Are you committed to continuing and expanding the District’s condom distribution program to include water-based lubricant and improved tracking of their distribution to specified locations?
Yes, because the safety of our residents is important, and this program can help residents make the safest choice.
7. The District has been forced by the federal government to switch from a unique identifier system to a names reporting system for people testing positive for HIV. Will you support legislation to strengthen our medical privacy laws, such as by creating a private right of action for those whose confidentiality is violated by District government employees or contractors?
Yes, because legislation to strengthen our medical privacy laws are necessary to protect the confidentiality of District government employees and contractors.
HUMAN RIGHTS
8. Will you support a budget for the Office of Human Rights large enough to allow it to keep the discrimination complaint backlog at or below 70 cases and keep at or below 210 days the average time it takes after the filing of a complaint to issue a finding of probable cause?
Yes, because discrimination complaints should be investigated and addressed as quickly as possible. District government should facilitate a work environment that encourages fairness to all employees.
9. Will you block ceremonial resolutions and otherwise decline to honor individuals or organizations that promote any sort of bigotry?
Yes, because bigotry of any kind should not be tolerated.
10. Are you committed to publicizing and enforcing the provisions of the D.C. Human Rights Act forbidding discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression?
Yes, because any form of discrimination should be publicized to educate the public about the unfair treatment of individuals because of their gender identity or expression.
11. Do you agree that the Director of the Office of Human Rights should be required to have professional training and experience in civil rights law enforcement?
Yes, because the Director of the Office of Human Rights will have to develop policy and standards that reflect the sensitive and diverse issues related to civil rights law enforcement.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
12. Do you support legal recognition of marriages between partners of the same sex?
Yes, I support the legal recognition of marriage between partners of the same sex, because every individual should have the opportunity to enjoy all of the benefits of marriage.
13. Will you support the legislative and/or regulatory changes necessary to ensure that the District recognizes marriages legally established in other jurisdictions?
Yes, because ensuring that the District recognizes marriages legally established in other jurisdictions is a question of fairness and equality.
14. Do you agree that private contractors doing business with the District should be required to provide domestic partner benefits including health insurance?
Yes, because domestic partner benefits can help the District maintain a healthier and safe city.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND YOUTH
15. Do you oppose both federal and local voucher programs that fund students in religious schools that are beyond the protections of the D.C. Human Rights Act?
Yes, I oppose federal and local voucher programs that fund institutions that discriminate. I also oppose Federal and voucher programs in general because they divert funds away from the public schools system. When funds are taken away from public schools, it drains the resources of the system, and every child deserves a quality public education.
16. Will you oppose the use of either federal or District taxpayer funds to promote “abstinence only until marriage” sex education that undermines safer-sex programs by discouraging the use of condoms and that effectively tells gay and lesbian students that they must remain celibate forever because they may not legally marry?
Yes, because it undermines programs designed to give District residents healthier and safe options. Additionally, since gay and lesbian students are not granted the legal=2 0right to marry in the District, it is not fair and effective public policy.
CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES
17. Do you support the right of adults in the District to choose adult-oriented entertainment for themselves, and the right of appropriately licensed and zoned businesses to provide it?
Yes, I support the right of adults to choose legal adult oriented entertainment for themselves, and the right of appropriately licensed and zoned businesses to provide it.
18. Will you support legislation to curb abuses by NIMBYs who are now allowed to file an endless series of baseless complaints to harass or extort bars and restaurants?
The process for challenging the establishment of restaurants and bars in neighborhoods should be reasonable. Yes, I will support legislation to curb abuses to this process. I believe the community has the right to influence decisions that affect their neighborhood. I will support the right of an ANC or community organization to file a challenge to a new business or establishment, but the challenge should not be based on any form of discrimination.
19. What are your thoughts regarding GLAA’s proposal, as explained in Agenda: 2008, to mitigate the problems associated with prostitution by legalizing, regulating, zoning and taxing it?
I will not support legalizing, regulating, zoning and/or taxing prostitution. With the increase in the rate of sexually transmitted diseases, the act of prostituting one’s body would lead to unhealthy and unsafe circumstances for District residents.
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