Empire State Pride Agenda
2014 Candidate Questionnaire
Thank you for seeking the endorsement of the Empire State Pride Agenda, New York’s state-wide LGBT civil rights and advocacy group.
Background Information
Name of candidate: Howie Hawkins
Office you are seeking: Governor
Current occupation/profession: Teamster truck unloader at UPS
Campaign website: www.howiehawkins.org
What party lines are you seeking or running on? Green
Legislation
GENDA (S195 Squadron / A4226 Gottfried)
Do you support or oppose GENDA, the NYS Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression in areas of housing, public accommodations, credit, education, and employment, and would include offenses involving gender identity and expression under the hate crimes statute? If oppose, please explain. Support
Child-Parent Security Act (S4617 Hoylman / A6701 Paulin)
Currently in New York State, an individual or couple seeking to build a family with the assistance of a contractual gestational carrier must travel outside of New York State to do so legally. NYS law currently prohibits the practice of reproduction with the assistance of a contractual gestational carrier, and children conceived through third party reproduction have an uncertain legal relationship with their intended parents. Do you support or oppose the Child-Parent Security Act, which would create a legal framework by which LGBT and non-LGBT couples alike could take advantage of the latest reproductive technologies, including the use of gestational carrier agreements, to assist in the creation of our families? If oppose, please explain. Support
Protecting LGBT Youth from Conversion Efforts (S4917 Hoylman / A6983 Glick)
Some licensed mental health professionals in New York currently promote the concept that an individual can change his or her sexual orientation or gender identity through so-called "reparative" or "conversion" therapy. Nearly every major medical and mental health organization in the United States has condemned the use of such efforts because they can be psychologically harmful, especially when administered to minors. Do you support or oppose legislation that would prohibit licensed mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation or gender identity conversion efforts with patients under 18 years old? If oppose, please explain. Support
Transgender Equality and Justice
Do you support or oppose updating New York City Department of Health policy on changing gender markers on birth certificates and other forms of city-issued identification to require only appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition, while removing requirements for specific hormonal and surgical procedures? If oppose, please explain. Support
Do you support or oppose insurance coverage for the medically necessary health care needs of transgender New Yorkers including for services related to gender confirmation surgery, hormone therapy or mental health services for public employees through the Affordable Care Act’s health exchange and Medicaid? If oppose, please explain. Support
Will you advocate for increasing the number of health insurance providers that offer coverage for medically necessary transition related care? If not, please explain. Yes
Homeless Youth
Currently, there are thousands of homeless youth in New York - nearly 40% of whom identify as LGBT. The scarcity of youth shelter beds forces many LGBT kids, already scarred by family rejection or bullying, to resort to dangerous or illegal activities that greatly increase their risk of suicide, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and criminal justice involvement. Will you make it a priority in the budget to increase funding for shelters for runaway and homeless youth beyond historically inadequate levels to address this growing crisis? If not, please explain. Yes
Health & Human Services
Would you make it a priority in the budget to address the specific health and human service needs of LGBT people? If not, please explain. Yes
Would you support an increase in funding for the treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS? If not, please explain. Yes
Would you support the implementation of age-appropriate, medically accurate HIV/AIDS and sex education curricula in schools? If not, please explain. Yes
Would you support legislation (federal, state or city) to expand HIV prevention efforts targeted at hard- hit communities, particularly among men who have sex with men in communities of color? If oppose, please explain. Yes
Would you support additional funding for LGBT-oriented Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC’s) that provide a vital safety net for LGBT elders? If not, please explain. Yes
Would you support or oppose a bill or other initiative that would allow same-sex couples to adopt a child as a couple? If oppose, please explain. Support
Do you support or oppose the practice of arresting and prosecuting for prostitution individuals carrying multiple condoms absent other evidence? If support, please explain. Oppose
Do you agree or disagree with New York State’s 2011 legislation that permitted same-sex couples to legally marry? If you were in the NYS legislature in 2011, did you vote for the bill? If oppose, please explain. Agree. Was not in NYS Legislature in 2011.
Would you support or oppose an initiative that would require public schools to develop and implement a curriculum on LGBT history? If oppose, please explain. Support
Do you support or oppose a woman's unrestricted right to reproductive freedom, including abortion? If oppose, please explain. Support
What restrictions, if any, would you place on this right? Roe v. Wade framework is proper. It should be codified into New York State law.
Engagement with LGBT New Yorkers
Have you ever supported an openly LGBT candidate for public office? Yes
If yes, which candidate(s)/race(s)? Many Green Party candidates, including Johann Moore, Green for NY Attorney General in 1998, Alison Duncan, Green for NY Lieutenant Governor in 2006, and Jennifer Dotson for election and re-election to Ithaca Common Council in 2007, 2009, and 2011.
In what ways – personally or professionally - have you been supportive of the LGBT community’s struggle for equality and justice? Campaigned for marriage equality statewide for U.S. Senator in 2006 and NYS Governor in 2010. Campaigned for city council in 2011 in favor of including transgender people in Syracuse's non-discrimination laws.
What are your top priorities for improving the lives of LGBT people living in your district? GENDA, Child-Parent Security Act, Outlaw Sexual Orientation Conversion Practices, Up Funding for LGBT Homeless Youth Shelters, Up AIDS Institute Funding.
How will you stay apprised of the concerns of the LGBT community (e.g., hold an annual town meeting with the LGBT community, create an LGBT advisory workgroup, hire an LGBT liaison, etc.)? All of the above, plus appoint LGBT members to my cabinet and senior staff positions.
Tell Us More About You
List your professional affiliations:Teamsters Local 317, Teamsters for a Democratic Union, Labor Campaign for Single Payer Health Care, Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Education: Dartmouth College
Community groups with which you have worked or been substantively involved: Board member of South Side Community Coalition and Eat To Live Food Cooperative in Syracuse.
Why are you seeking the endorsement of the Empire State Pride Agenda? I want to work with you to advance the priorities for improving the lives of LGBT people that I listed above.