Ray Abbas' responses to Equality Herald's questions for
candidates:
1. Do you support LGBT families having the same rights and
responsibilities as other families?
Yes, I do.
2. What state or local mechanisms (marriage, civil union, domestic
partnership, etc.) do you think should be available to support these
families?
As a candidate for City Council, I do not have the requisite knowledge
to form an opinion on this issue at this time. I have spent the past 2
years working with city residents on issues that I can directly impact as
a council member. I would be doing a disservice to both your readers and
myself to address issues that I am not equipped to answer.
3. How would you vote on a proposed Equality Resolution that includes
*specific* language protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
(LGBT) Knox County citizens in order to provide them with protection
against job discrimination in local government and contractual labor?
I would vote in favor of an Equality Resolution that included specific
language protecting the LGBT community against job discrimination in local
government and contractual labor.
4. How would you vote on domestic partner benefits for LGBT citizens of
Knox County for Knox County employees?
I feel as though this question pertains primarily to candidates for
County Commission. However, I am in favor of domestic partner benefits.
5. How do you feel about marriage equality? Civil unions/domestic
partnerships?
As a candidate for City Council, I do not have the requisite knowledge
to form an opinion on this issue at this time. I have spent the past 2
years working with city residents on issues that I can directly impact as
a council member. I would be doing a disservice to both your readers and
myself to address issues that I am not equipped to answer.
6. Would you support a local domestic partner registry?
Yes, I would.
7. How do you feel about two-parent adoptions when one of the parents is a
non-biological parent partnered with a same-sex spouse? How do you feel
about LGBT citizens adopting and serving as foster parents in general?
It is my opinion that adoptions and foster care placement should be
based on what is in the best interest of the child and nothing else.
8. Do you support a federal constitutional amendment that specifically
bars same-sex couples from having equal access to marriage?
As a candidate for City Council, I do not have the requisite knowledge
to form an opinion on this issue at this time. I have spent the past 2
years working with city residents on issues that I can directly impact as
a council member. I would be doing a disservice to both your readers and
myself to address issues that I am not equipped to answer.
9. In 1996, the State of Tennessee outlawed all forms of marriage with the
exception of the one man-one woman union. How do you feel about that?
As a candidate for City Council, I do not have the requisite knowledge
to form an opinion on this issue at this time. I have spent the past 2
years working with city residents on issues that I can directly impact as
a council member. I would be doing a disservice to both your readers and
myself to address issues that I am not equipped to answer.
10. In 1993, the Knox County Commission passed a resolution condemning
homosexuality. Were you aware that this resolution was passed and remains
valid? If we did not have a valid resolution of that nature, would you
vote for or against it if it were to be proposed to you?
I was not aware of such a resolution and I would vote against it if it
were proposed.
11. Do you support legislation to allow domestic partners to have the same
right as a legal spouse to control a deceased partner’s bodily remains?
Yes, I do.
12. Do you support legislation to allow domestic partners to make medical
decisions for partners who are unable to do so for themselves?
Yes, I do.
13. Do you support state human rights legislation to prohibit
discrimination based on gender identity and expression in the areas of
housing, public accommodations, credit, education and employment?
Yes, I do.
14. Would you support legislation that requires companies doing business
with the State of New York to extend to domestic partners of their
employees the same benefits that are extended to spouses, such as health
insurance and bereavement leave?
As a candidate for City Council, I do not have the requisite knowledge
to form an opinion
on this issue at this time. I have spent the past 2 years working with
city residents on
issues that I can directly impact as a council member. I would be doing a
disservice to
both your readers and myself to address issues that I am not equipped to
answer.
15. The mission of the Supplier Diversity Program is to increase the
opportunity for diversity in the companies doing business with Knox County
by encouraging participation through site visits, providing education and
support regarding policies and procedures, actively recruiting all
interested suppliers, and ensuring equal opportunity in all procurement
related activities. Do you support the inclusion of LGBT citizens of Knox
County in the effort to fulfill this mission?
Yes, I do.
16. Do you support an increase in funding for the treatment and prevention
of HIV and AIDS and the implementation of age-appropriate, medically
accurate HIV/AIDS and sex education curricula in schools?
As a candidate for City Council, I do not have the requisite knowledge
to form an opinion
on this issue at this time. I have spent the past 2 years working with
city residents on
issues that I can directly impact as a council member. I would be doing a
disservice to
both your readers and myself to address issues that I am not equipped to
answer.
17. Do you support a woman's unrestricted right to reproductive freedom,
including abortion? What restrictions, if any, would you place on this
right (parental consent requirements, a ban on so-called “partial birth
abortions,” etc.)?
As a candidate for City Council, I do not have the requisite knowledge
to form an opinion
on this issue at this time. I have spent the past 2 years working with
city residents on
issues that I can directly impact as a council member. I would be doing a
disservice to
both your readers and myself to address issues that I am not equipped to
answer.
18. What actions will you take to help achieve adoption of measures to
benefit New York’s LGBT community, including items described/discussed in
questions 1 through 15 above? (E.g., secure co-sponsors for legislation,
attend or organize rallies, forums or press conferences, etc.)
As a candidate for City Council, I do not have the requisite knowledge
to form an opinion
on this issue at this time. I have spent the past 2 years working with
city residents on
issues that I can directly impact as a council member. I would be doing a
disservice to
both your readers and myself to address issues that I am not equipped to
answer.
19. Will you have a liaison to the LGBTQ community when in
office?
