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."

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."