State of Pennsylvania Archives: on Civil Rights
Arlen Specter:
Oppose gay marriage but support civil union
I oppose gay marriage but support civil union.
Source: 2004 PA Senate debate, in Philadelphia Inquirer
Oct 10, 2004
Barack Obama:
Apply affirmative action to poor white college applicants
Q: You said about affirmative action that affluent African Americans like your daughters should probably be treated as advantaged when they apply to college, and that poor white children should get special consideration.A: The basic principle that
should guide discussions not just on affirmative action but how we are admitting young people to college generally is, how do we make sure that we’re providing ladders of opportunity for people? Race is still a factor in our society. And I think that
for universities to say, “we’re going to take into account the hardships that somebody has experienced because they’re black or Latino or women...”
Q: Even if they’re wealthy?
A: I think that’s something that they can take into account, but it can
only be in the context of looking at the whole situation of the young person. So I still believe in affirmative action as a means of overcoming both historic and potentially current discrimination, but I think that it can’t be a quota system.
Source: 2008 Philadelphia primary debate, on eve of PA primary
Apr 16, 2008
Betsy Summers:
Support gay marriage
I support gay marriage.
Source: 2004 PA Senate debate, in Philadelphia Inquirer
Oct 10, 2004
Bob Casey:
Right ongoing wrongs in college admissions
On the Supreme Court review of race and college admissions, Casey said he hoped the court would not limit efforts to "right ongoing wrongs." Smith said people should be judged by character, not by skin color.Asked about wage disparities between men
and women, Casey noted his support for a bill that would require employers to prove that differences in pay are not gender-related. He also noted he voted for a 2009 law that expands the ability of a worker to sue over pay inequity.
Source: Cumberlink Sentinel on 2012 PA Senate debate
Oct 26, 2012
Craig Snyder:
Americans should be judged by character, not race/identity
We believe in tolerance and justice for all, not a "spoils" system of rewards and punishments for different groups in society. Our goal remains a society in which all Americans are judged only by the content of their
characters and rewarded only for the contributions they make to our national livelihood, not by their race, or any other immutable and irrelevant characteristic of their birth or "identity."
Source: 2021 PA Senate campaign website CraigSnyderForSenate.com
Sep 20, 2021
Doug Mastriano:
Bar trans women from playing women's sports
He has promised that as governor he would issue executive orders on his first day in office to ban "critical race theory" --
a concept often taught in law schools that has become a catchall term for curriculum on racism -- and to bar trans women from playing women's sports.
Source: Spotlight PA on 2022 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race
May 17, 2022
Ed Rendell:
Recognize civil unions
Q: Should Pennsylvania recognize civil unions between same-sex couples? A: Yes.
Source: 2006 PA Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 7, 2006
Ed Rendell:
Affirmative action in state contracts and colleges
Q: Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity, or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on: Q: College and university admissions
A: Yes.
Q: Public employment
A: Yes.
Q: State contracting
A: Yes.
Source: 2006 PA Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 7, 2006
Everett Stern:
Affirmative action is unconstitutional
Q: Do you support or oppose. `Legally require hiring more women/minorities`?
A: Oppose. I do not believe affirmative action is constitutional.
Source: E-mail interview on 2016 PA Senate race with OnTheIssues
Nov 2, 2015
Everett Stern:
Federal government out of gay rights issues
Q: Do you support or oppose. `Comfortable with same-sex marriage`?
A: Strongly Support. I do not believe the Federal government should interfere [in issues of] gay rights.
Source: E-mail interview on 2016 PA Senate race with OnTheIssues
Nov 2, 2015
Jim Clymer:
Oppose gay marriage and also oppose civil union
I oppose gay marriage and also oppose civil union.
Source: 2004 PA Senate debate, in Philadelphia Inquirer
Oct 10, 2004
Joseph Hoeffel:
Oppose gay marriage but support civil union
I oppose gay marriage but support civil union.
Source: 2004 PA Senate debate, in Philadelphia Inquirer
Oct 10, 2004
Josh Shapiro:
Helped the first LGBT couples in Pennsylvania to marry
Then, as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania's third-largest, Josh led a fiscal and ethical turnaround. Before he took office, Montgomery County had a $10 million budget deficit and an underfunded pension for county
employees. Josh put the county back on solid financial footing, took early steps to combat the heroin epidemic, helped the first LGBT couples in Pennsylvania marry, and fired Wall Street money managers to save taxpayers and retirees millions.
Source: 2021 PA Gubernatorial campaign website JoshShapiro.org
Oct 15, 2021
Katie McGinty:
Morally wrong to fire gays simply because of who they are
Katie McGinty has urged passage of an anti-discrimination bill to send a national message that Pennsylvania does not support discriminate based on sexual orientation. House and Senate Bill 300 would make it illegal for employers or landlords to
discriminate in employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations solely based on a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.Katie McGinty says: "Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast where gay and transgender citizens
can be fired, denied a mortgage, or refused a hotel room simply because of who they are. This is morally wrong. It also hurts Pennsylvania economically, as employers and businesses are less likely to relocate to a state where their employees can
be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. It's time to pass House and Senate Bill 300 to send a message that Pennsylvania will no longer tolerate discrimination against its fellow citizens."
Source: 2014 PA gubernatorial campaign website, KatieMcGinty.com
Nov 1, 2014
Katie McGinty:
Marriage equality so all can marry the person they love
Katie McGinty strongly supports legislation to allow marriage equality in Pennsylvania--so all Pennsylvanians are allowed to marry the person they love. Katie believes The Pennsylvania Marriage Equality Act is about equality and fairness.
Katie believes too many Pennsylvanians are disadvantaged within their home state. She believes same-sex couples in Pennsylvania should have the same opportunity to marry as other Pennsylvanians enjoy.
Katie called Governor
Corbett's comments comparing marriage between same-sex couples to incest as shockingly offensive. She called on Corbett to offer an apology to the people of Pennsylvania for his remarks.
In June 2013, Katie supported the Supreme Court rulings striking
down the Defense of Marriage Act and dismissing California's Proposition 8. Katie said, "Fairness and compassion won. Now is the time for the Commonwealth to follow suit and pass legislation affirming marriage equality for all Pennsylvanians.
Source: 2014 PA gubernatorial campaign website, KatieMcGinty.com
Nov 1, 2014
Tom Ridge:
Opposes Affirmative Action
Regarding affirmative action, should state government agencies take race and sex into account in the following sectors: - College and university admissions? "No."
- Public employment? "No."
- State contracting? "No."
Source: 1998 PA National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1998
Tom Ridge:
No special gay laws; no gay marriage
Q: Do you believe that the Pennsylvania government should include sexual orientation in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws? A: No.
Q: Do you believe that the Pennsylvania government should recognize same-sex marriages?
A: No.
Source: 1998 PA National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1998
Tom Smith:
Equal pay for equal work
On the U.S. Supreme Court review of race and college admissions, Casey said he hoped the court would not limit efforts to "right ongoing wrongs." Smith said people should be judged by character, not by skin color.Asked about wage disparities between
men and women, Smith said he believes in equal pay for equal work. Casey noted his support for a bill that Republicans are blocking that would require employers to prove that differences in pay are not gender-related.
Source: Cumberlink Sentinel on 2012 PA Senate debate
Oct 26, 2012
Josh Shapiro:
Once led the nation on LGBTQ rights now we're falling behind
We were leading the nation when it came to LGBTQ rights. Now we're falling behind. It's ridiculous that here in Pennsylvania two women can get married on a Sunday and fired from their job on a Monday, just because they're in love.
That their landlord can legally throw them out of their apartment just because he's bigoted. The House passed the Fairness Act to fix this. The Senate should honor our legacy of tolerance, pass that bill, and put it on my desk.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the PA legislature
Feb 6, 2024
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026