Stonewall DFL Screening Questionare

2001 City Board Candidates

Respondent: Rochelle Berry Graves – Park Board

YES/NO QUESTIONS:

1. If endorsed, would you list the Caucus' endorsement along with your other endorsements?

Yes, absolutely. Each time I have enjoyed you're endorsement you have been listed, along with every other organization on my literature.

2. Are you willing to make a commitment not to run against a DFL endorsed candidate?

Yes.

3. Are you in favor of a women's right to control her own repoductive system, including the right to have an abortion?

Yes, Absolutely.

4. Do you support extending health insurance pension benefits, sick and bereavement pay to unmarried partners of city employees as currently afforded married heterosexuals?

Yes.

5. Do you support City funding for the Minnesota AIDS Project and the Aliveness Project?

Yes, absolutely!

6. Are you opposed to measures like the Minnesota Defense of Marriage Act?

Yes.

QUESTIONS REQUIRING LONGER ANSWERS:

7. What is your definition of family?

For me, a family is a group, human or otherwise, who coexists for the nurturing and support of one another.

8. How do you define homophobia?

Homophobia is the lack of knowledge expressed through cultural teachings, fearful dangerous behaviors and/or language be persons unfamiliar with those who share love and/ or companionship with persons of the same sex.

9. If elected, how would you use your position on the Board to promote the interest of the GLBT community.

Annually, the MPRB has the Gay Pride parade at Loring Park. I feel we have been quite helpful in maintaining the local caucus's regional pride, and some believe national pride, with this event. As a policy maker, I always focus on issued of fairness for all residents of our City. The earlier questions regarding benefits for partners and the AIDS and Aliveness Projects are projects I wholeheartedly support. Anything that would be suggested to get the message out on issues important to the caucus, and the public generally, would be welcomed and embraced.

10. What experience have you had with Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender (GLBT) issues and why are they important to you?

As a probation officer in Hennepin County, I frequently have clients assigned to me who have recently accepted who they are, but at high cost. Sometimes they may not yet be ready, or perhaps based on our new relationship, afraid to share this part of themselves with me. Often I have recommended service agencies for them as they move toward their own self-acknowledgement. I also have family members who are part of the GLBT community of this City and others. As a child, we talking the '50's, it was always known that one of my aunts was a lesbian. The adults never spoke about her sexual preference in front of us, the children, in a negative or a positive way. She often brought her partner to family events without shame or disgust from the adults.
As you know, children pick up acceptable and unacceptable opinions and feelings from the adults in their lives. My aunt and her partner were part of the adult bantering and laughter. We were raised knowing that no one was better or less than anyone else. I feel all of us, my brothers, cousins, and my son, to this day live our lives sharing that belief. So why are the GLBT issues important to me, because they impact my family directly and other people I love and care about.

Thank you for the opportunity to screen. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours in Service,

Rochelle Berry Graves

Commissioner At Large,

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

1621 Thomas place North

Minneapolis, MN. 55411-3949 612-374-5601 (H) 612-348-6114 (wrk)