Philly Mayor Vows to Raise LGBT Issues With Pope

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, a strong LGBT ally, plans to raise some LGBT issues with Pope Francis if they have a chance to talk during the pope's visit.

"We encourage ending the systematic and institutionalized discrimination against LGBT people through the message of love, hope, and acceptance," reads a draft of the message the mayor seeks to deliver, provided by his spokesman to Philadelphia daily The Inquirer. "For the many LGBT individuals who seek the Lord and have good will, we ask that you end judgment of these individuals by those within the church through teaching and pastoral practice currently in place."

The statement comes after Jim Kenney, the Democratic candidate to succeed the term-limited Nutter as mayor, wrote an op-ed for the Philadelphia Gay News urging Nutter "to make a stand on behalf of the LGBT Philadelphians who elected him" when the pope is in the city for the World Meeting of Families this weekend.

"As the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, Philadelphia should send a signal that discrimination has no place in our borders," Kenney wrote. "Being a good host doesn't require being a doormat and, more importantly, being a good elected official means fighting for the rights of everyone you represent."

Trending stories

Discover the power of Wellness in your life

Season 4 of The Switch on resilience & radical self-love returns this spring

Robert Irwin is stripping down & rocking tiny briefs in new underwear campaign

Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report

French Polynesia doesn’t need Pride flags to earn its place on every LGBTQ+ bucket list

All 6 rogue Mississippi cops got long prison sentences in 'Goon Squad' torture of 2 Black men

How climate disasters hurt mental health in young people

'White Lotus' S3 finale recap: Here's how each character's story ended

Gerald Garth is keeping people of color happy and healthy through trying times

Out and About with Karan Soni

France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

Dylan Efron dishes on his sexy back arch & Speedo pics: 'That's what I'm good at!'

Who died on 'The White Lotus' season 3? The finale, explained.

Broadway bound: The best hotels in NYC’s Theater District for every type of traveler

Beyond Wonderland's accepting & unifying rave culture is needed more than ever

The Charles is Pacific Grove's new LGBTQ+ hotel

Joe Biden has tied the record for most LGBTQ+ judges confirmed in federal courts

Here's what the 'White Lotus' stars revealed about the season 3 finale

Trump's orders prompt CDC to erase HIV resources

Matt Bomer reveals his favorite 'Fellow Travelers' sex scene with Jonathan Bailey

Peaches Christ says she's been 'retraumatized' by police investigating drag icon Heklina's death

23 brutally funny 'Hands Off' protest signs that prove the resistance is alive & hilarious

J.K. Rowling's new target? The asexual community

Madonna and Elton John have 'buried the hatchet' — tease music collab

Broadway's best raise over $1 million for LGBTQ+ and HIV causes

• 0
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8

There have been some controversies in Philadelphia leading up to the pope's visit -- a Catholic parish withdrew permission for a coalition of LGBT Catholics and allies, Equally Blessed, to hold events on its property, with the events now relocated to a Methodist church. And just outside the city, in suburban Merion, a popular teacher was fired by a Catholic school because of her same-sex marriage, resulting in outrage among parents.

Nutter's statement promised LGBT Philadelphians that if he manages to have "a serious conversation with Pope Francis," he will "describe Philadelphia's staunch commitment to equality and inclusion of the LGBT community, our city's long history of support and love of diversity, and the important role that diverse peoples play in making this a great city."

"For 30 years I have stood as an advocate and ally with and for our LGBT communities, and if given the opportunity to advance these issues on an international stage, I will certainly seize the opportunity," he added.

Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry and an organizer of the Equally Blessed events, praised the mayor's stance and said Nutter's words might make an impression on the pope.

"Pope Francis is the pope of surprises," DeBernardo told The Inquirer. "And I think it's very possible that he will listen to the mayor and take his ideas into consideration."