There is an election on November 6th. No, this election probably won't change the course of life for Michael Nutter or really any of the Democratic candidates for Council. However, there are some very important suburban races and some very important statewide races for Supreme and Superior Court judgeships that are still truly undecided. Democrats are in a position to win these races, which is amazing, especially in the Montgomery County Commissioner's race and in the judicial races.

Liberty City Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club, which has been endorsing candidates based on the grassroots recommendations of its members longer than any progressive group in Philly expect maybe NOW and ADA, is particularly focused on judicial races. LGBT Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians are going to be working hard to get out the vote for Democratic judges for the State Supreme Court and Superior Court and local courts. Many of the rights we have secured so far, like second-parent adoption and the Philadelphia Domestic Partnership law, were determined by Supreme Court judges. These judges may one day very soon have to make rulings on a lot of issues of importance to our community including the right to marry.

One of the most pressing issues for LGBT communities in Pennsylvania is the effort in the state legislature to pass a bill to prevent employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. In other words, no one should be fired for being queer. If that law is passed--providing a very small, and very incremental improvement for the rights of queers--it could easily be challenged and taken to the courts as well.

On October 9th, Lib City is holding an LGBT Town Hall to talk more about our effort to elect judges who will help to protect the rights of LGBT Pennsylvanians. We will talk about an effort to eliminate the unfair local transfer tax same-sex couples pay on real estate (this is inspired by a bill to be introduced by Frank DiCicco to Council). A representative from Equality Advocates PA will be on hand to update us on the fight in Harrisburg to end employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. We'll also be talking about our Election Day plans. And, as always, paid members will vote on candidates seeking our endorsement for the General Election.

Please RSVP to attend the LGBT Town Hall meeting here.

This will be my first Lib City meeting as the group's new male Co-Chair.

Liberty City's Board elects two chairs, one male, one female. Due to the resignation over the summer of Micah Mahjoubian, our former male co-chair, I have been selected to take his place alongside Rue Landau.

Before YPP, or Philly for Change, I was involved with Liberty City. It provided me with a perspective on non-traditional entry to the Democratic party before anything else, and I have really enjoyed getting to know so many different kinds of people, so many of whom have been involved in making political change. Not to mention a real membership, a group of people who comes back year after year based on the real and pressing needs of a community.

So, forgive me for gushing, but I am really excited to become a co-chair of LIb City and join the club of people like Mike Marsico, Renee Gillinger, Kelly Groves, Casey Cook, Micah and Rue who have all taught me a lot so far through their leadership of the group.