Responses of Jenefer Ellingston to GLAA 2002 Questionnaire
for DC Council Candidates
| Yes/No | Substance | Record | Championship | Total |
| 1 ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 2 |
Public Safety
1. Will you support funding for mandatory gay male, lesbian, bisexual and transgender sensitivity and diversity training including gay and transgender community representatives as a continuing part of the training for all members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the Fire/EMS Department?
Yes. I believe this training should be part of an inclusive training addressing all minorities that are discriminated against.
2. Metropolitan Police Officers are barred from moonlighting only at bars and sexually oriented establishments. Officers are not barred from working at any other establishments. Will you support legislation that will reverse the Council's ban on moonlighting at bars and sexually oriented establishments?
I am not familiar with this situation. If the GLAA wants this ruling reversed, then I would support its reversal.
3. A few years ago the District enacted a version of Megan's Law that refuses to allow sex offenders to keep themselves off the public registry of sex offenders by demonstrating that they are no longer a danger to the community. A federal judge struck down this provision of the D.C. law as unconstitutional last September. Similar provisions have been struck down by many other federal courts. Will you support a change in Megan's Law to ensure that the registry of sex offenders only includes those who are still dangerous?
Yes, I can support a change in Megan's Law that will end registry of previous sex offenders when I know how sex offenders demonstrate there are not dangerous to the society. For example, what is the time span between their offense and recognition that they are not dangerous.
Public Health & AIDS
4. The rate of HIV infections in DC is the highest in the United States, rivaling levels in sub-Saharan Africa. The last time that The DC Council held an oversight hearing on the HIV/AIDS Administration was June 18, 1998. If elected or re-elected to the Council, will you ensure that the Council holds an annual performance oversight hearing on the HIV/AIDS Administration?
Yes, I entirely favor an annual performance oversight hearing by City Council on HIV / AIDS administration.
5. The Director of the HIV/AIDS Administration, Ron Lewis, is his own boss, also serving as a deputy Health Director. Will you demand that the HIV/AIDS Administration have a full-time Director?
I don't know enough about the duties of the director to claim that his job should be solely to direct HIV / AIDS administration.
6. The current HIV epidemiological surveillance system discourages people-especially immigrants-from getting tested by requiring both their partial social security number and their country of origin. This potentially threatens their ability to stay in this country. The HIV Unique Identifier System Amendment Act of 2001, B14-0326, would eliminate the partial social security system. Will you vote for the bill and seek a speedy passage?
Yes, I would support B14-0326 that protects immigrants and citizens.
Human Rights
7. Recognizing the significant improvements made in the operations of the Office of Human Rights under then-Director Charles Holman, the Williams Administration granted OHR a significant addition to its FY 2003 budget to increase the number of investigators and other staff so that the case backlog will continue to drop. Will you support such increases in funding for future years as well until complaints are routinely processed within 120 days?
Yes, I think all complaints should be legally required to be resolved within 120 days.
8. Will you support legislation that will codify the Office of Human Rights' former practice of giving top priority to discrimination complaints filed by people with AIDS or other major life-threatening diseases?
I am not sure that I would put anyone form of complaint above other forms. I believe all complaints, from whatever source, must be resolved within 120 days - on a first come basis.
9. The Council recently confirmed the reappointment of Pierpont Mobley to the D.C. Commission on Human Rights, despite Mr. Mobley's statements during his confirmation hearing indicating a lack of support or understanding of the Commission's ruling against the Boy Scouts' policy of excluding gay men from participating either as Scouts or as leaders. Will you vote against the confirmation of any other nominee to the Human Rights Commission who displays a similar lack of commitment to enforcement of the D.C. Human Rights Law?
Yes, I think a nominee who condones discrimination in public organizations that receive-public recognition and support, is not suitable for the Commission on Human Rights.
10. Will you block ceremonial resolutions saluting individuals or organizations that promote any sort of bigotry, including but not limited to the Nation of Islam and the Boy Scouts of America?
I am personally disinclined to support the practice of ceremonial resolutions of all kinds.
Defending Our Families
11. Will you support legal recognition of marriages between partners of the same sex?
Yes. absolutely.
12. Will you support legislation in the District similar to Vermont's civil unions law?
Yes, absolutely.
13. Will you support amending the domestic partnership regulations to recognize the more than 100 couples who registered under Mayor Kelly's September 30, 1992 Directive?
Yes, absolutely.
14. Will you support amending the domestic partnership regulations to recognize domestic partnerships and civil unions established in other jurisdictions?
Yes, I support and will support amending domestic partnership regulations to recognize them and civil unions that exist in other jurisdictions.
Other Issues
15. Will you vote for the "Elimination of Outdated Crimes Amendment Act of 2002," Bill 14-636, which eliminates archaic criminal laws including fornication, adultery and others?
Yes, absolutely, (elimination of outdated crimes amendment).
16. Will you oppose legislation designed to end nude dancing at any establishment holding a D.C. liquor license or prohibiting such establishments from transferring their nude dancing licenses to different establishments or otherwise further limiting nude dancing in ABC-licensed establishments?
I am ignorant of the nude dancing rule and need more information before taking a position.
17. Will you vote against "The Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs Act of 2002," Bill 14-719, which would undermine citizen advocacy by creating official gay advocates under the direction of the Mayor?
Yes, I would vote against. I believe all citizen advocacy should have the same avenue of resort and redress for complaints about abuse or discrimination.
Record
Your record is part of your rating. Please list any actions that you have taken that may help illustrate your record on behalf of lesbians and gay men.
Remarks: I am the co-founder of the DC Greens in 1996 and oversaw our merger with the Statehood Party in 1999. I have been chair of our Platform Committee since our founding.
Please site the Statehood Green Platform, II END DISCRIMINATION - #4
We support full human rights for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender or sexuality. We support education on sexuality in the schools including education about homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism. Same-sex marriage must have the same legal standing as heterosexual marriage. Same-sex couples must have equal adoption rights as heterosexual couples.
