Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City Borough President Candidate Questionnaire Candidate Information Full Name: Julie

Menin Address: P.O. Box 1261, New York, NY 10013

Borough Information Please indicate the borough in which you are seeking to be elected Borough President: Manhattan Are you an incumbent? No Campaign Information From which parties are you seeking a nomination: Democratic, Working Families Full Name of Campaign Committee: Julie Menin 2013

Additional Candidate Information Endorsements List here the union, organizations (community, civic, media, issue groups), and elected officials that have endorsed you. Congresswoman Nydia M. Velzquez State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Late Mayor Ed Koch State Senator Adriano Espaillat State Assemblymember Deborah Glick State Assemblymember Robert Rodriguez State Assemblymember Gabriela Rosa City Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito City Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez Former New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum Former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green Former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) Communications Workers of America 1101 (CWA 1101) Correction Officers' Benevolent Association (COBA) Arturo Schomburg Democratic Club The full list of over 250 community endorsers can be found at http://juliemenin.com/supporters/

Candidate Experience - Please explain any activities and/or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to the LGBT movement. - What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the office you seek? My strong track record as Chair of Community Board 1 and my demonstrated commitment to civil rights exemplifies why I am the best candidate for borough president. I was an early supporter of marriage equality, and worked to pass a community board resolution back in 2010 urging the State to take action. I also hosted a critically-acclaimed news segment supporting marriage equality during my time as a TV show host on NBCs 24-hour cable news network. I am a strong supporter of GENDA, and have publically called on the State Senate to pass the bill into law. I have also been working on the issue of homeless LGBT youth. After speaking with experts and touring facilities such as the Ali Forney Center, I have publically stated my desire for the Administration and City Council to immediately provide additional shelter beds, as the city currently only provides 250 beds for 1600 homeless LGBT youth. Additionally, I have been an outspoken advocate for the legalization of surrogacy in New York. I believe it should be a lot easier and less expensive for both LGBT and straight couples to use a surrogate to carry a baby. Policy Positions Please answer the following questions in full, using your policy proposals and including specific examples of your previous actions on any given topic when possible. Marriage Do you support full marriage equality for same-sex couples? Yes. Governmental discrimination on the basis of sexuality must not be tolerated. Will you work with New Yorks congressional delegation to support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes. We must not deprive same-sex couples of over a thousand federal benefits. Adoption: Do you support full adoption rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples? Yes. Full adoption rights- including second-parent adoption- is essential to fostering strong families.

Human Rights Do you support equal rights and treatment for people of transgender experience in the New York Shelter System, both adult shelters and youth shelters? Will you work with the New York State Legislature to support the passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes. We must work together towards the immediate passage of GENDA and the elimination of all discrimination towards members of the transgender community HIV/AIDS In 2011, Mayor Bloomberg proposed cutting 248 case managers and millions in rental assistance from the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA). Individual legislators ended up using discretionary funds to fill the gap. Do you support increased funding for the HASA? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes. We must ensure that the necessary funding is present to provide case management and housing services to the members of our community living with HIV/AIDS Please explain your position on using discretionary funds to support agencies like HASA. I believe that HASAs budget should be permanently base-lined at an amount necessary to provide essential services but until these benchmarks are achieved support the use of any funds necessary to keep the members of our community living with HIV/AIDS in their homes. AIDS funding no longer corresponds to the demographics of which communities represent the greatest number of HIV cases in NYC. Would you support yearly statistics of both the geographic areas where HIV is most prevalent and as well as which populations in those neighborhoods are most effected, and then allocate yearly funding to services and communities based on these results? Yes. We cannot afford to fight HIV/AIDS based on outdated assumptions and it is critical that as with all such grave matters we maintain our commitment to operating using the most recent metrics.

Community Boards: Many Community Boards routinely oppose applications for liquor licenses in their areas, particularly if the proposed venue is tailored to appeal to the LGBT community. Please explain your position on the appropriate balance between support for nightlife, minority communities and respect for neighborhood concerns. I think that any discrimination in the awarding of liquor licenses or other permits on the basis of the ownership or clientele being members of a minority community must not be

tolerated but that irrespective the nature of a business we must work collaboratively to develop compromises that allow small business to thrive without disturbing the neighborhood. Please outline the criteria you would use in selecting Community Board members. The member selection process for community boards has also been greatly improved. By connecting with Manhattan communities, actively recruiting community board members, making community board applications more accessible, and publicizing meetings, Scott Stringer has breathed new life into the institution. These improvements will be enthusiastically continued. We must look to create a board that represents a diversity of experiences and expertise drawing from various walks of life and communities of interest. NYPD Do you support reforming Stop-and-Frisk? Please detail any specific changes to the program you believe are necessary. The NYPDs stop and frisk policies need to be reformed to ensure that stops are being made only on the basis of suspected criminal activity, and not on the basis of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. According to the NYPDs own reports, nearly 9 of every 10 stop-and-frisked New Yorkers have been completely innocent. There must be a more rigorous set of guidelines and better training of officers to prevent racial profiling and unwarranted stops. Do you oppose the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution in criminal cases? Please explain your support or opposition. Yes. I am supportive of the state legislation that would eliminate condoms from admissible evidence as proof of prostitution. Condoms are evidence of good behavior not bad and the use of condoms as evidence of criminal prostitution is a perverse disincentive towards safe practices for members of high-risk groups.

Runaway and Homeless Youth Will you support increasing the funding for both emergency shelter beds and transitional beds for homeless youth, a huge percentage of whom are from the LGBT community and will you pledge to support capital and expense funding for programs serving this population? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes. What will you do to expand access to services for runaway and homeless youth?

The youth shelter bed count must be raised to more accurately serve the census of youth presently on the streets. DHS must be provided targeted funding to ensure that LGBT homeless are not left behind. LGBT Services and Funding: The LGBT community is in great need of senior housing for many of our aging population. Many seniors experience homophobia in senior facilities making them feel they must be closeted. Would you help with the funding of senior housing for the LGBT community? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes. Any and all institutional homophobia must be combated, particularly that targeted to further vulnerable populations, but recognizing that some may feel most comfortable in housing directed towards their community, I would support securing funds for senior housing for the LGBT community. I will fight to establish more facilities and services for our aging community like the SAGE Center for LGBT elders, the first center of its kind in the country. If you are currently in office, have you made member item grants or supported LGBT funding requests? If seeking office for the first time, would you give strong consideration to LGBT social service organizations seeking funding from your office if elected? Please explain your position. I would absolutely support funding for LGBT social service organizations within the framework of continuing Borough President Stringer's policies regarding the distribution of MBPO Community Grants through independent panels made up of community residents, City Council representatives, and independent experts. This process of awarding grants prevents conflicts of interest, and increases transparency. What actions will you take to help support the LGBT community center in your borough? If there is not an LGBT community center in your borough, what actions will you take to help develop one? The LGBT Community Center NYC provides essential services to LGBT individuals from all over the greater New York City area and I will work with the Center to ensure that the city is adequately supporting the needs of the LGBT community and look to collaborate on programs that serve the community. Other: Please state concrete achievements for the LGBT community that you are responsible for in your current, or previous, elected office/s. I do not currently hold elected office, but during my time as Chair of Manhattan Community Board 1, I fought for our board to become early supporters marriage equality. I also used my position as Chair of the Board to advocate for a wide array of LGBT issues, including transgender rights, homeless youth, and the legalization of surrogacy in New York.

 Have you endorsed any LGBT candidates? Which ones? Yes, I have endorsed both Brad Hoylman for State Senate and Deborah Glick for State Assembly. If endorsed will you display the endorsement of the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC in your literature whenever you list other endorsements and will you display the endorsement on your website? It will be a distinct honor to display the Stonewall Democratic Club endorsement. Will you hire openly LGBT staff and/or designate a liaison to our communities if elected? Absolutely