2013 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate Information Full Name: Rory Lancman District Information District #: 24 Are you an incumbent? No If yes, when were you first elected? Campaign Information From which parties are you seeking a nomination: Democratic Party, Working Families Party Full Name of Campaign Committee: Lancman 2013

Additional Candidate Information Endorsements Local 32BJ SEIU, 1199 SEIU, National Organization for Women, the Working Families Party, IBEW Local 3, Hotel & Motel Trades Council, Teamsters Joint Concil 16, NYC Central Labor Council, Steamfitters Local 638, Plumbers Local 1, UFT, UFCW Local 1500, Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Workers Union. Candidate Experience - Please explain any activities and/or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to the LGBT movement. In my time as a public servant, I have always pushed for and backed measures for equal treatment of the LGBT community. - What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the district office you seek? Culminating with passing Marriage Equality in New York State as an Assemblyman, I have a record of delivering on the issues that matter most to the LGBT community, and I am committed to continuing to do so as a City Councilman. - Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community, that are not addressed in the next section.

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? (Y/N If no, please explain)
Yes

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

Adoption: Do you support full adoption rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples? (Y/N If no, please explain)
Yes

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? (Y/N If no, please explain)
Yes

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

Please explain your position on using discretionary funds to support agencies like HASA.

I support whatever means available to fund programs and agencies like HASA. Preferably, HASA will be fully funded under the new Mayor and City Council for 2014.

What actions do you think the City Council should be taking to provide emergency housing for homeless people living with AIDS?

Like they did in 2012, the City Council should ensure that both emergency housing and longer term housing programs are properly funded and are not watered down with unnecessary hurdles like drug testing applicants. It is incredibly dangerous for people living with AIDS to not have easy access to proper medical care and housing, and the City Council should be listening to advocates for people living with AIDS and homeless LGBT advocates in determining how best to spend funds and allocate resources for this important issue.

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, funding should be based on need. 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. Reasonable concerns of communities are always important in determining who receives liquor licenses, however catering to an LGBT community is not a reasonable concern, and should not determine who receives licenses. Please outline the criteria you would use in selecting Community Board members. As a community board member for 16 years, I intend to appoint qualified people. NYPD

The NYPD often targets bars, restaurants and clubs serving the LGBT community for increased scrutiny. They have used health code violations, allegations of drug use or sale, allegations of prostitution, allegations of serving minors, and a myriad of tools at their disposal. What changes would you implement to ensure LGBT institutions are treated equally by enforcement agencies? Do you support reforming Stop-and-Frisk? Please detail any specific changes to the program you believe are necessary. I am opposed to the stop and frisk program.

Do you oppose the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution in criminal cases? Please explain your support or opposition. Yes, condom possession should not be used against someone in a court of law.

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? I support well funded programs for at risk youth. LGBT Services and Funding: The LGBT community has no direct funding for the arts from the NEA or other funding sources because of institutional homophobia. Would your office help with funding for LGBT Arts? If yes, please explain how. Yes. As City Councilman, I would meet with advocates from the LGBT community on how we can best address this problem.

 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 with the funding of senior housing for the LGBT community in your district? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes 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? (Y/N If no, please explain) 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?

I would make sure that the Queens Pride House is properly funded. Other: Please state concrete achievements for the LGBT community that you are responsible for in your current, or previous, elected office/s. As Assemblyman, I co-sponsored the marriage equality bill that ultimately became law. Have you endorsed any LGBT candidates? Which ones? Ive endorsed Daniel Dromm. 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? Yes Will you hire openly LGBT staff and/or designate a liaison to our communities if elected? (Y/N If no, please explain)

Yes