Candidatename: PhilipKingston Councildistrict:14Pleasecompletequestionnairebelow.YoumustsendacompletedelectroniccopytoPolitical@StonewallDemocratsOfDallas.orgormailacompletedcopytoP.O.Box192305Dallas,TX75219byMonday,March2nd.

1. YourbackgroundandtheLGBTcommunityPleaseshareanyexperiencethatillustratesyourunderstandingandinterestoftheneedsofLGBTDallasresidents.

AsthedistrictrepresentativeforthelargestnumberofLGBTcitizensinDallas,IhaveexpendedsignificanttimeandenergytolearnaboutLGBTneedsandtoadvocateeffectivelytomeetthem.Onceelectedtocouncil,IworkedwiththeLGBTTaskForcetoadvancetheLGBTresolutiontoultimateadoptionbycouncil.Iactuallydraftedkeypartsoftheresolutionincludingtheprovisionthatrequiresthecitytoplaceequalityissuesinitslegislativelobbyingagenda.Ialsoactivelycampaignedfortheinclusionofequalitylanguageinourcitycharterandwasextremelyencouragedbythehugemarginofapproval.MyworkoncouncilearnedmetheTaskForces1stAllyAward.Ourcouncilresolutionalsodirectedourboardmembersonthecitystwopensionsystemstoadvocateforequalbenefits.IsitontheDallasPoliceandFirePensionboardandhavesupportedsendingaplanamendmenttothemembershipforavote.IhavealsoworkedwithLambdaLegalandJohnRogerstoadvocateforequalbenefitsattheEmployeeRetirementFundincludingmultiplepagesoflegalanalysistotheboardofthatfund.IhavetakenonmultipleadvocacytasksinpartnershipwiththeResourceCenterwithafocusonaddinggenderidentityandexpressionlanguagetolocalnondiscriminationpoliciesliketheoneattheDallasbranchoftheFederalReserve(workinprogress).Iwasa2014FiveFactorhonoree.Onanationallevel,IserveasaboardmemberforNationalLeagueofCitiesGLBTLocalOfficialsadvocatingforinclusionofequalityissuesinNLCsfederallegislativeadvocacy.

StonewallDemocratsofDallasseektoinformmembersoftheLGBTandDemocraticPartycommunityofcandidate'spoliticalbackground.OurorganizationsbylawsrequireusonlytoconsidercandidateswithDemocraticPrimaryvoterhistoryororaffirmstheirpartyaffiliationviaanoathofallegiancetotheDemocraticParty.DoyouqualifyorwouldyoubepreparedtosignanoathofallegianceformfromtheDallasCountyDemocraticParty? Yesandyes

2. Creatinganinclusivecommunity

Citiescompeteforresidents,taxpayers,conventionsandnewbusinesses/economicdevelopment.AsamemberoftheDallasCityCouncil,howwouldyouinsurethatDallascancompeteeffectivelywithothercitiesintheareaofLGBTinclusion?

Ataminimum,Dallasmustenacttotallegalequalityincludingequalemploymentopportunityandbenefits

equality.Ourenforcementofthesestandardsmustberobustandtransparent.Butwecandomuchmore.IsupportandpromotetheworkoftheLGBTChamber.Thecityshouldalsoactivelyencourageitsvendorstomatchcitypoliciesinequalemploymentandbenefits.WealsoshoulduseourwelcomingnaturetorecruitLGBTworkersandLGBTownedcompaniestoDallas.

WouldyourecruitandconsiderqualifiedLGBTconstituentsforyourcommissionandboardappointments?

Alreadydid.MyLGBTappointeesarethebestmembersoftheirboardsandcommissions.

WillyousupporttheDallasCityCouncil'sresolutionformarriageequalityandalsoastatewidebanonLGBTemploymentdiscrimination? Ifsomeonecanfindawayformetosupportitmoreeffectively,Imopentosuggestion.

MayorRawlingshasrefusedtojointhenationwideeffortofmayorsof300citiesand32statestobecomeamemberofMayorsfortheFreedomtoMarry.ThiseffortischairedbyMayorsofBoston,NewYorkCity,HoustonandLosAngeles.WouldyouactivelylobbyandtakeactiontoencourageMayorRawlingstojointhiseffort?(Pleaseseehttp://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/mayorsforthefreedomtomarry) Ihaveandwillcontinuetodoso,butIquestionhiscommitmenttoequality.

3. TheCityofDallasasaLGBTinclusiveemployer

TheprivatesectorhasseenalargeincreaseinpoliciesandbenefitsforLGBTemployees,howshouldtheCityofDallasremaincompetitivetoattractandretaintopLGBTtalent?

Seeabove.Benefitsequalityandvendorstandardsaretwooftheeasiestthingswecoulddo.Weshouldalsoseektoreformourcityworkforcesothatthejobsweofferaremoreattractivetotoptalentregardlessofsexualorientationorgenderidentityandexpression

DoyousupportcomprehensivetransgenderinclusivehealthbenefitsandasacouncilmemberworkwiththeCityManagertoimplementsuchbenefits?

Iamproudtohaveadvocatedfortherecentexpansionoftranshealthbenefitsandwillkeepworkingforinclusionofsurgicalbenefits.

4. CurrentEvents TheGovernorandseveralstatelegislatorsintendtopushlegislationthroughtocurtailthecurrentscopeofgovernanceofhomerulecitieslikeDallas.Thiscouldremovelocalcontrolovermatterssuchasdrillingwithincitylimits,LGBTprotections,etc.Doyoufavororopposethis,andwhatdoyouplantodoinresponse? Itsapotentialcatastrophe.Asamemberofcouncilslegislativeadhoccommittee,IhaveshapedouroppositiontothesebillsandwillpersonallylobbyinAustinfortheirdefeat.WhatareyourthoughtsonthecurrentcampaignfinancerulesforDallaselectionswhichsetdonationamountlimitsonpeoplenewlyseekingofficebutessentiallyplacenodonationamountlimitsonincumbentsviaunrestrictedofficeholderaccountswhichmaybeusedforcampaignpurposes? Thatsadraftingerrorthatdoesnotreflecttheoriginalintentofthelimits.Iwillworktoclosetheloopholesothattheplayingfieldislevelforeveryone.ThecurrentloopholemakesDallassethicsruleunconstitutionalunderbothstateandfederallaw.TheproposedTrinityParkwaytollroadcontinuestomakeheadlines.DoyouseetheTrinityParkwayasanessentialroadwayprojecttoalleviateprojectedroadcongestionaroundourdowntowncore,orarethereothersolutionsthatDallasshouldbefocusedon? ThetollroadisthemostrelevantcurrentexampleofanentrenchedpowerelitesabilitytomanipulateDallascitygovernmenttothwartthewillofthePeople.Itservesnocongestionmitigationpurposeoranyotherlegitimatepublicpurpose.Ifbuilt,itwilldestroyasensitivenaturalresourceandundermineapotentiallytransformativepark.Iwillworktoendtheproject.GiventhattaxrevenuefortheCityofDallasshouldrisethisyearwithoutataxrateincrease,whatarethetopprioritiestowhichtheseadditionalfundsshouldbedirectedcitywideandwithinyourdistrict? Qualityoflifespendingisthetoppriority.Streets,parks,libraries,animalservices,povertyinitiatives,infrastructuremaintentance.

I,PhilipKingston,amseekinganendorsementfromtheStonewallDemocratsofDallasforthe2013DallasCityCouncilelections.Signed/s/PhilipKingston,Date02/20/15