Today we pay homage to the departure of 30 members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Here the KSV profiles the contributions and opposition these members presented to LGBTQ equality during their tenure. Their records are now complete and provide insight on the progress of equality advocacy within the Pennsylvania legislature spanning over three decades.

Votes are the most accurate way to track legislative support or conflict. While co-sponsoring LGBTQ inclusive legislation is important, and we do look at members’ support of HB 300, it can be a variable indicator of support. Sometimes a member could be counted to vote on the legislation, although may have missed the opportunity to put their name on the bill.

Pennsylvania loves our incumbents. Only one member, Rep. Quigley, lost a bid in the general election in November 2012. The average start term for the members closing out their tenure in 2012, was 1998, or a service of seven terms.

Rep. John Bear
House District 97
Serving: Lititz – Central Lancaster County
Party: Republican
Served Since: 2007
Departure: Retiring

Record: No voting record on LGBTQ equality.

Rep. Scott Boyd
House District 43
Serving: Lampeter – Central Lancaster County
Party: Republican
Served Since: 2003
Departure: Retiring

Record: Rep. Boyd was the lead sponsor who introduced HB 2381 in 2006 – a bill to ban marriage equality in the Pennsylvania Constitution. He voted against an amendment to the bill to allow for civil unions in the future, and also against tabling the bill at the last moment before it passed.

Rep. Joseph Brennan
House District 133
Serving: Lehigh and Northampton Counties
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 2007
Departure: Retiring

Record: No voting record on LGBTQ equality.

A member of the Pennsylvania LGBT Equality Caucus. Rep. Brennan has spoken at Lehigh Valley Pride in Allentown.

Rep. Ronald Buxton
House District 103
Serving: Harrisburg and Steelton
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 1993
Departure: Retiring

Record: Rep. Buxton was a co-sponsor of HB 300 to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations in his last session. Rep. Buxton voted to allow a legal window for same sex civil unions other than marriage while HB 2381 was in the House in 2006. He also voted to table the bill in a final attempt to stop it, and ultimately voted against the bill before it passed. In 2002, he was a co-sponsor, and voted for, the LGBTQ inclusive hate crimes bill which was passed in the House.

Rep. Buxton was the 2010 Grand Marshall for Central PA Pride in Harrisburg.

A member of the Pennsylvania LGBT Equality Caucus.

Rep. Thomas Creighton
House District 37
Serving: Manheim – Central Lancaster County
Party: Republican
Served Since: 2001
Departure: Retiring

Record: Not such a great record. He is a cosponsor of the bill to ban marriage equality in the Pennsylvania Constitution (HB 1434). In 2010 while on the State Government Committee, he voted against HB 300, although it was ultimately voted out of committee. In 2006 he was a cosponsor, and voted for, the constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality. During the bill discussion on the House Floor he voted against the Nailor Amendment to allow state recognition of same sex couples other than marriage, as well as against a motion to table the vote. In 2002, he voted against the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state ethnic intimidation law.

Rep. Lawrence Curry
House District 154
Serving: Jenkintown – Montgomery County
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 1993
Departure: Retiring

Record: A long-time ally to LGBTQ issues, Rep. Curry is a co-sponsor of HB 300 – and was a leader in voting to get the bill out of the State Government Committee in 2010. He voted against the constitutional ban on marriage equality in 2006 – while voting for the Nailor amendment and for the bill to be recommitted to committee before it passed. He was a cosponsor and voted for the inclusive hate crimes bill in 2002.

A member of the Pennsylvania LGBT Equality Caucus.

Rep. Eugene DePasquale
House District 95
Serving: York – Southern York County
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 2007
Departure: Elected Pennsylvania Auditor General

Record: From his time in the General Assembly for three sessions – we can expect strong support for LGBTQ equality from Auditor General DePasquale. He ran for the row office position under a campaign of full LGBTQ equality. As a State Representative, he cosponsored HB 300.

A member of the Pennsylvania LGBT Equality Caucus.

Rep. William DeWeese
House District 50
Serving: Fayette, Green, and Washington Counties
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 1976
Departure: Convicted of Criminal Charges

Record: Although a convicted criminal related to corruption, Rep. DeWeese has been a formidable leader in the General Assembly – and a mixed bag with LGBTQ issues. From rural Western PA, Rep. DeWeese served as Speaker of the House from 1993-1994. Even though he was in a trial, he was re-elected by a wide margin in November 2012. Upon his sentencing later that month, he resigned from his House seat. Rep. DeWeese was a co-sponsor of HB 300 this session. He voted for the constitutional ban on marriage equality, against the Nailor amendment to allow for other state recognitions for same sex couples, and against tabling the bill. He did vote for the inclusive hate crimes bill in 2002.

Rep. John Evans
House District 5
Serving: Edinboro – Central Erie County
Party: Republican
Served Since: 2001
Departure: Retiring

Record: Rep. Evans is also a mixed bag on LGBTQ issues. He voted for the ban on marriage equality in the state constitution in 2006 – while voting against the Nailor amendment and the motion to table the bill. He is not a co-sponsor of the current bill this session. Rep. Evans did vote for the inclusive hate crimes bill in 2002.

Rep. Richard Geist
House District 79
Serving: Altoona – Blair County
Party: Republican
Served Since: 1979
Departure: Lost Primary Election

Record: Rep. Geist had an abysmal record on LGBTQ issues. He was a cosponsor of the bill to ban marriage equality in the Pennsylvania constitution, and voted for it. During the bill’s discussion he voted against the Nailor amendment and against tabling the bill. In 2002, he voted against the inclusive hate crimes bill.

Rep. Camille “Bud” George
House District 74
Serving: Clearfield County
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 1975
Departure: Retiring

Record: Rep. George is completing a long and respected tenure as a state legislator. On LGBTQ issues, he was a mixed bag. Never a co-sponsor of HB 300, he voted for the bill to ban marriage equality in the state constitution – as well as against the Nailor amendment and against tabling the bill. However, he did vote for the inclusive hate crimes bill in 2002.

Rep. Michael Gerber
House District 148
Serving: Conshohocken, Lower Merion – Montgomery County
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 2005
Departure: Retiring

Record: Rep. Gerber is completing four terms supporting LGBTQ issues. An original co-sponsor of HB 300 this session, he voted against the ban on marriage equality in the state constitution. He additionally voted against the Nailor amendment and to recommit the bill to committee.

Rep. John Hornaman
House District 3
Serving: Erie
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 2007
Departure: Retiring

Record: No voting record on LGBTQ equality.

Rep. Scott Hutchinson
House District 64
Serving: Oil City – Butler and Venango Counties
Party: Republican
Served Since: 1993
Departure: Elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate

Record: As a State Representative, Rep. Hutchinson has not been too kind to LGBTQ equality issues. Rep. Hutchinson was a cosponsor and voted for HB 2381 – to ban marriage equality in the state constitution. He voted against the Nailor amendment and against tabling the legislation for further review. In 2002, he voted against the inclusive hate crimes bill. We hope that with changing public attitudes – the state legislator representing the communities featured in “Out in the Silence” will become more understanding and compassionate toward his constituents who are LGBTQ.

“So what I am asking is that we in Pennsylvania must prevent our State courts from thwarting the will of the people. The only way that we can protect our time-honored view of marriage is to embody it in the Pennsylvania State Constitution, and we must get that constitutional process under way quickly in order to protect this essential building block for a strong society in the future. We must empower the voters and not the courts to determine the definition of marriage now and in the future. I ask all of you to join me in supporting the marriage protection amendment.” –Rep. Hutchinson, 2006

“I guess to sum things up, I believe that sexual orientation does not deserve special legal recognition.” –Rep. Hutchinson, 2002

Rep. Kenyatta Johnson
House District 186
Serving: Philadelphia
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 2009
Departure: Elected to Philadelphia City Council (January 2012)

Record: In his tenure as a state legislator of two sessions, Rep. Johnson was a cosponsor of HB 300.

Rep. Babette Josephs
House District 182
Serving: Philadelphia
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 1984
Departure: Lost Primary Election

Record: Rep. Josephs is the longest serving LGBTQ ally in the history of the state legislature. She introduced the fourth ever equality legislation – regarding hate crimes in 1989 – and has allied herself closely on civil rights since. She introduced the last two major pieces of legislation for relationship recognition in the Pennsylvania – including the first marriage equality legislation in the Pennsylvania House.

As the Chairperson of the State Government Committee in 2010, she was a lead sponsor and the lead decision maker to get the bill out of committee. She is one of the first House committee chairs to move a piece of LGBTQ equality legislation. She voted against the ban on marriage equality in the state constitution in 2006 – and against the Nailor amendment and for the motion to table the vote. In 2002, she was an original cosponsor and voted for the inclusive hate crimes bill.

She has the longest span of introducing and supporting LGBTQ equality legislation of any member in the General Assembly’s history.

She is a founding Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania LGBT Equality Caucus.

“Ms. JOSEPHS. I am a short politician. I will attempt to give a short speech.

I think this is a very sad day for this great institution for which I have great respect and for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which historically led the way to greater liberties, greater civil rights, and greater freedoms with responsibility in this country.

I think it is not only sad from moral and ethical and personal reasons but from economic reasons as well. Several of the speakers who oppose this amendment have talked about the pall that it will place on our State. We will have a name across the country and across the world as being inhospitable, as being unconcerned about civil rights, as rushing forward to make judgment without the proper debate.

I do not know how we can bring business – excuse me, Mr. Speaker. I really would like some attention. I have not spoken—

The SPEAKER. The lady is entitled to be heard. Please keep the noise levels down.

Ms. JOSEPHS. I have not spoken very much on this bill, and I—

The SPEAKER. The gentlelady is correct. Please keep the noise down. Ms. Josephs.

Ms. JOSEPHS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I do not know how we can be expected to compete in a global economy, to bring businesses here, to bring the best kind of employees here and employers. We have this kind of amendment and this kind of image in front of the world.

I am also extremely distraught and distressed that our Constitution, which led the way for freedom and liberty – we were never like the United States Constitution and enshrined slavery and enshrined the disenfranchising of women; we never did those kinds of things – and now we are taking a step into a very murky, a very bad – I hope we are not taking this step – but even this debate I think is deleterious, is adverse, has a very negative impact not only on our image to the world but also in our own civic pride and our own pride and our history as being such a forefront of liberty and freedom.

I really do not understand except for the political reasons, which is to bring out the conservative vote when some people want the conservative vote out, why there is this rush to do this damage, this damage to families who are committed and loving, this damage to children, and this damage to our State and to our economic development in this Commonwealth.

I am not going to vote for this amendment, that is not a big surprise. I hope that a majority of my colleagues here, not a Republican issue, not a Democratic issue, will follow my lead.

I think our constituents admire us when they admire us for courage and for sticking to our principles, and for those of us who have principles, I recommend a “no” vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.” Rep. Babette Josephs, 2006

Rep. Jennifer Mann
House District 132
Serving: Allentown
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 1999
Departure: Retiring

Record: Rep. Mann has been an LGBTQ ally in the House for over a decade. As the Democratic Caucus Secretary – she is only the third woman in Pennsylvania history to serve in a democratic leadership position. A cosponsor of HB 300, she voted against the constitutional ban on marriage equality in 2006. She voted against the Nailor amendment and to recommit the bill to committee. She was a lead sponsor and voted for the inclusive hate crimes bill in 2002.

Rep. Kevin Murphy
House District 113
Serving: Scranton, Moosic, and Throop
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 2009
Departure: Lost Primary Election

Record: No voting record on LGBTQ equality.

He was not a cosponsor of HB 300, when it would be expected he would as representing a municipality with a non-discrimination ordinance.

Rep. John Myers
House District 201
Serving: Philadelphia
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 1995
Departure: Retiring

Record: A cosponsor of HB 300, he voted against the constitutional ban on marriage equality in 2006. He voted against the Nailor amendment and to recommit the bill to committee. He was a lead sponsor and voted for the inclusive hate crimes bill in 2002.

Rep. Tony Payton
House District 179
Serving: Philadelphia
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 2007
Departure: Retiring

Record: Rep. Payton is a cosponsor of HB 300. A member of the Pennsylvania LGBT Equality Caucus.

Rep. Scott Perry
House District 92
Serving: Dillsburg – Cumberland and York Counties
Party: Republican
Served Since: 2007
Departure: Elected to the United State House of Representatives

Record: No voting record on LGBTQ equality.

On the campaign trail to replace outgoing US Rep. Todd Platts (R), Rep. Perry made clear that unlike his pro-LGBTQ equality predecessor, he would have voted against repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and is against full marriage equality. However, he stated during a debate in October 2012 that he wants equal treatment for gay and lesbian people and would consider civil unions or other forms of relationship recognition that is not called “marriage.”

Rep. Joseph Preston
House District 24
Serving: Pittsburgh
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 1983
Departure: Retiring

Record: A cosponsor of HB 300, he voted against the constitutional ban on marriage equality in 2006. He voted against the Nailor amendment and to recommit the bill to committee. He was a lead sponsor and voted for the inclusive hate crimes bill in 2002.

Rep. Preston introduced the sixth-ever equality legislation in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1993 with HB 2312, a hate crimes bill inclusive of sexual orientation.

Rep. Thomas Quigley
House District 146
Serving: Pottstown – Montgomery County
Party: Republican
Served Since: 2005
Departure: Lost General Election

Record: In his first term as a Pennsylvania legislator, Rep. Quigley became a cosponsor and voted for the bill to ban on marriage equality in the state constitution. He voted against the Nailor amendment and to recommit the bill to committee.

Rep. Dante Santoni
House District 126
Serving: Reading – Berks County
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 1993
Departure: Retiring

Record: A cosponsor of HB 300, he voted against the constitutional ban on marriage equality in 2006. He voted against the Nailor amendment and to recommit the bill to committee. He was a lead sponsor and voted for the inclusive hate crimes bill in 2002.

Rep. Curt Schroeder
House District 155
Serving: Exton – Chester County
Party: Republican
Served Since: 1995
Departure: Retiring

Record: Rep. Schroeder finishes a 17 year tenure in the state legislature having been against every measure for LGBTQ equality to come up to a vote. A current cosponsor of HB 1434 to ban marriage equality in the Pennsylvania constitution, Rep. Schroeder was a lead cosponsor and voted for the ban that was passed by the house in 2006. He voted against the Nailor amendment and against the motion to recommit the bill to committee. In 2002, he voted against the inclusive hate crimes bill.

Rep. Ken Smith
House District 112
Serving: Dunmore – Lackawanna County
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 2007
Departure: Lost Primary Election

Record: In his three terms, Rep. Smith became a cosponsor of HB 300.

Rep. Edward Staback
House District 115
Serving: Lackawanna and Wayne Counties
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 1985
Departure: Retiring

Record: Rep. Staback was a cosponsor and voted for the House bill to ban marriage equality in the Pennsylvania constitution. He voted for the Nailor amendment and against recommitting the bill to committee. In 2002, he voted for the inclusive hate crimes legislation.

Rep. Randy Vulakovich
House District 30
Serving: Northern Pittsburgh Suburbs – Allegheny County
Party: Republican
Served Since: 2007
Departure: Elected to Pennsylvania State Senate (Spring 2012)

Record: As a State Representative, Rep. Vulakovich became a co-sponsor of HB 1434 which would ban marriage equality in the Pennsylvania constitution.

Rep. Chelsa Wagner
House District 22
Serving: Pittsburgh
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 2007
Departure: Elected Allegheny County Controller

Record: In her tenure as a State Representative, Rep. Wagner became a co-sponsor of HB 300. In 2010, a bill she authored on sexual education, the Healthy Youth Act (HB 1162), was voted out of the House Education Committee by 14-11.

Rep. Jewell Williams
House District 197
Serving: Philadelphia
Party: Democrat
Served Since: 2001
Departure: Elected Philadelphia County Sheriff

Record: Rep. Williams has been a strong supporter of LGBTQ equality. He was a co-sponsor of HB 300 – as well as a cosponsor of the inclusive hate crimes bill in 2002 (which he voted for). Rep. Williams voted against the bill to ban marriage equality in the Pennsylvania constitution – and against the Nailor amendment and in support of recommitting the bill to committee.