Babette Josephs
Encyclopedia
Babette Josephs is a Democratic
member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
. Rep. Josephs was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1984 and represents the 182nd Legislative District, which encompasses Center City and South Philadelphia. As the senior woman legislator in the General Assembly, she has served as the Democratic chairwoman of the House State Government Committee since 2001; this committee oversees elections and campaign laws, the PA Human Relations Commission, and procurement of supplies and services by state government. She is the convener of the Women’s Caucus of the General Assembly.
. She is also the co-founder of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League's Pennsylvania chapter.
struck-down the law on constitutional grounds.
a tape of Josephs that was made by a Kravitz supporter who attended a Josephs fundraiser. In the tape, Josephs accused Kravitz of lying about his sexual orientation
in order to pander to LGBT
voters, a reportedly powerful bloc in the district. "I outed him as a straight person," Josephs said during a fund-raiser at the Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant, as some in the audience gasped or laughed, "and now he goes around telling people, quote, 'I swing both ways.' That's quite a respectful way to talk about sexuality. This guy's a gem." Kravitz denied stating that he is gay and asserted that he identifies as bisexual. However, he said he did not recall telling people that he "swings both ways" and that his sexuality was not a qualification for office, "I bring it up only in the context that it's important for the LGBT community to have a seat at the legislative table." He also added that it would be good for socially conservative lawmakers in the capital to work with an openly bisexual colleague. Josephs also called Kravitz a "trust-fund baby" with no discernible job history who was running for the House because he was bored, a charge also denied by Kravitz, who cited his work with a local congressional candidate.
Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News
and a supporter of Josephs, said, "We've [the LGBT community] hit a new high point when candidates are accused of pretending to be gay to win a seat. I've been doing this for 40 years, and I never have heard of this kind of charge in any race in the nation. I take that as flattery. It shows how far we've come."
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
. Rep. Josephs was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1984 and represents the 182nd Legislative District, which encompasses Center City and South Philadelphia. As the senior woman legislator in the General Assembly, she has served as the Democratic chairwoman of the House State Government Committee since 2001; this committee oversees elections and campaign laws, the PA Human Relations Commission, and procurement of supplies and services by state government. She is the convener of the Women’s Caucus of the General Assembly.
Legislative career
Throughout her career Representative Josephs has chaired or been a member of a number of legislative committees.- State Government Committee, Democratic Chair (2001–Present)
- Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Member (2003–Present)
- Philadelphia Delegation, Co-Vice Chair
- Democratic Policy Committee, Member
- Women of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Convener
- Select Committee on Information Technology Member (2008–present)
- Advisory Board on Statewide Uniform Registry of Elections (SURE), Member (2001–2002)
- Joint Select Committee to Examine Election Issues, Member (2001–2002)
- House Appropriations Committee, Member (1993–2002)
- Health & Welfare Committee, Subcommittee Chair
- House Judiciary Committee, Secretary (1989–1990), Member (1987–1994 & 1997–2002)
- House Health and Human Services Committee, (1985–1992 & 1995–2002)
- Children and Youth Committee, Member (2001–2002)
- Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, Member (1999–2000)
- House Urban Affairs Committee, Member (1997–1998)
- Game and Fisheries Committee, Member (1989–1990)
- House Insurance Committee, Member (1985–1996)
- Professional Licensure Committee, Member (1985–1986)
Civic Involvement
Josephs is involved with a number of civic organizations, including the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
. She is also the co-founder of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League's Pennsylvania chapter.
Previous occupations
Prior to her election to the legislature Josephs was active in law and political organizing.- Executive Director of Citizens Coalition for Energy Efficiency 1980–1981
- Co-founder and Executive Director National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League PA and its foundation, the Clara Bell Duvall Education Fund 1978–1980
- Private law practice 1977–1979
- English Teacher in the Philadelphia Public High Schools 1963–1964
Pledge of allegiance
In October 2001, Josephs was the only House member to vote against a rule requiring students to recite the pleade of allegiance in public schools. The constitutionality of the law was later challenged, and in 2003, the U.S. District CourtUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
struck-down the law on constitutional grounds.
2010 primary campaign
In April 2010, the political campaign of her Democratic primary opponent Gregg Kravitz gave to The Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
a tape of Josephs that was made by a Kravitz supporter who attended a Josephs fundraiser. In the tape, Josephs accused Kravitz of lying about his sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
in order to pander to LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
voters, a reportedly powerful bloc in the district. "I outed him as a straight person," Josephs said during a fund-raiser at the Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant, as some in the audience gasped or laughed, "and now he goes around telling people, quote, 'I swing both ways.' That's quite a respectful way to talk about sexuality. This guy's a gem." Kravitz denied stating that he is gay and asserted that he identifies as bisexual. However, he said he did not recall telling people that he "swings both ways" and that his sexuality was not a qualification for office, "I bring it up only in the context that it's important for the LGBT community to have a seat at the legislative table." He also added that it would be good for socially conservative lawmakers in the capital to work with an openly bisexual colleague. Josephs also called Kravitz a "trust-fund baby" with no discernible job history who was running for the House because he was bored, a charge also denied by Kravitz, who cited his work with a local congressional candidate.
Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News
Philadelphia Gay News
Philadelphia Gay News is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender newspaper in the Philadelphia area. The publication was founded in 1976 by Mark Segal, who was inspired by activist Frank Kameny when they met in 1970...
and a supporter of Josephs, said, "We've [the LGBT community] hit a new high point when candidates are accused of pretending to be gay to win a seat. I've been doing this for 40 years, and I never have heard of this kind of charge in any race in the nation. I take that as flattery. It shows how far we've come."
External links
- Representative Babette Josephs official district website
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Babette Josephs (Democrat) official PA House website
- Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Babette Josephs official Party website