2013 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate Information Full Name: John F. Duane District Information District #: 19 Are you an incumbent? No If yes, when were you first elected? Campaign Information From which parties are you seeking a nomination: Democrat and Working Families Party Full Name of Campaign Committee: Duane for New York

Additional Candidate Information Endorsements List here the union, organizations (community, civic, media, issue groups), and elected officials that have endorsed you. Former NY State Senator Tom Duane, NY State Senator Brad Hoylman, former Queens Community Board 11 Chair Steven Newman, Stagehands IATSE and Musicians Local 802. Candidate Experience - Please explain any activities and/or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to the LGBT movement. While serving in the New York State Assembly I voted for what was then called the Gay Rights bill. This was in 1983 and this was the first time that this already overdue civil and human rights bill reached the floor of the New York State Assembly. Although many of my colleagues in the Assembly, including some in leadership positions advised me to do otherwise because of the conservative constituency that made up my district. I politely thanked them for their advice but made it clear to them that I was going to vote yes. I did vote yes and this vote was absolutely one of the most important votes I cast. It may have cost me my re-election but I am very proud of my vote. I was a small business owner and the restaurant I formerly owned in Little Neck, Queens, hosted the first PFLAG dinner. I had two openly gay brothers, one of whom died at the age 35. My brother former NY State Senator Tom Duane was the sponsor of the Marriage Equality Bill. I have marched in countless PRIDE parades in and around

New York City. - What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the district office you seek? I represented my community in the New York State Assembly in the early 80s and I was the prime sponsor of 22 chapter laws. I have been a member of my local civic association for over 30 years. I coached little league baseball, basketball and soccer. Most importantly, I raised my three children in the district and cared for my elderly parents there. I know first-hand the struggles of my neighbors because they are my struggles to. - Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community, that are not addressed in the next section. I fully support GENDA, which will prohibit discrimination because of a persons gender identity or expression. Transgender people face serious discrimination at work as well as with respect to housing and financial transactions. It is simply wrong to permit discrimination against an individual simply because that person does not fit into the stereotype of what it means to be a man or a woman. In addition, I strongly support Council Member Dromms Resolution 758-2011 calling upon the NYC Board of Education to implement a curriculum that includes key moments in LGBT history. It is vitally important for students in NYC to understand the history of the LGBT movement, just as they should be made aware of the history of all movements to liberate people who have endured discrimination. 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. It is incredibly important to expand the social support network for those with HIV/AIDS. The city administration should provide this funding in its budget process and I will use discretionary funding to

augment these vital services. Also, I strongly support using discretionary funding to increase the capacity of existing services.

What actions do you think the City Council should be taking to provide emergency housing for homeless people living with AIDS? It is a moral imperative to provide emergency housing for people living with AIDS. In addition, the City must do more to make emergency housing more comfortable and accepting. I will do everything in my power to force the City and HASA to follow not just the letter but the spirit of the law so that people living with HIV/AIDS are provided with habitable, current housing and life saving services. I will also champion the end of the disgraceful 30% inhuman policy as hard and relentlessly as my brother Tom Duane did so courageously while he was in the New York State Senate.

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? I will forcefully advocate compiling yearly statistics of the geographic areas and the populations most affected so that funds can be allocated in the most rational and effective way possible. I will fight to ensure that yearly funding will be allocated in accordance with the results of the yearly statistics.

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 owned a bar and restaurant in Little Neck, Queens and I possessed a liquor license for a number of years. In balancing the need for night life, minority communities and respect for neighborhood concerns I will take into consideration the location of the suggested venue. My district is primarily residential, but it does have distinct commercial areas. I will be supportive of bars, clubs and the like in appropriate areas even in the face of community board opposition.

Please outline the criteria you would use in selecting Community Board members. In selecting Community Board members I will value the characteristics of rational consideration, thoughtfulness and dedication to the community. The diversity of my community must be reflected in its two Community Boards and this will be an important overall consideration for me.

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? Instead of supporting small businesses, New York City uses them as a piggy bank. When I owned my restaurant in the 90s I was constantly fighting unfair fines issued by the City. I know that New York City is even worse to small businesses now. Thus I am very sensitive to this issue in general. To make sure LGBT institutions are treated equally by law enforcement, I will advocate for the creation of a site to enable the harassed institutions to file complaints and to empower the soon to be institutionalized New York City Inspector General to investigate and prosecute harassment. In addition, I will use my district office as a mediator between LGBT institutions which are unfairly targeted and my local police precincts.

Do you support reforming Stop-and-Frisk? Please detail any specific changes to the program you believe are necessary. Stop-and-Frisk must be radically reformed immediately. In the future any police officer who stops a person must prepare a written report setting forth the reasonable basis for the stop.

Do you oppose the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution in criminal cases? Please explain your support or opposition. I strongly support A.1008/S.323, the legislation to prohibit the use of condoms as evidence. Presently, courts in New York admit evidence that a person is carrying condoms to prove that he or she is engaging in prostitution-related offenses. People who are profiled as involved in the sex trade are more likely to be arrested if they carry condoms. Sound public policy encourages condom use and it is imperative that we eliminate the fear that carrying a condom will be used against a person 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? Our LGBT homeless youth are perhaps the most vulnerable population amongst us and I unequivocally support an increase in both capital and expense funding for services available to runaway and homeless youth. The less time social service providers have to spend worrying and fighting for funding the more time they have to devout to serving this vulnerable constituency.

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. I will fight this institutional homophobia and will lead in the formation of a coalition with other members of the Council to obtain the needed funding for LGBT Arts.

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 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) Yes.

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 will not only be a vote for funding and LGBT community center in Queens but I will be an outspoken advocate on behalf of this so badly needed community center.

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. 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. Please see above.

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? Please see above.

Other: Please state concrete achievements for the LGBT community that you are responsible for in your current, or previous, elected office/s. Please see response to the first question.

Have you endorsed any LGBT candidates? Which ones? Yes. I have endorsed Christine Quinn for Mayor. I have also endorsed Jimmy Van Bremer and Danny Dromm for City Council.

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? I will proudly list my endorsement of the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC in my literature and on my website.

Will you hire openly LGBT staff and/or designate a liaison to our communities if elected? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes.