Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association Congratulates Bar Member Rue Landau on her Primary Election Victory to be Philadelphia’s First Openly LGBTQ+ City Councilperson
Philadelphia, PA – May 17, 2023: As the 2023 municipal primary elections come to a close in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association congratulates its members who appeared on the Pennsylvania municipal ballot this election season.
Civil Rights attorney Rue Landau appears to have run a successful campaign on the Democratic ballot for a position on Philadelphia City Council at-Large. Landau, most recently Director of Law and Policy at the Philadelphia Bar Association and longtime Executive Director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and Fair Housing Commission, has been a strenuous advocate for LGBTQ+ rights both within Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 2014, she received the first marriage license for a same sex couple in Pennsylvania with her wife, Kerry, standing at the forefront of a fundamental civil rights issue across the nation. And in 2019, Landau received the Cheryl Ingram Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association, recognizing her dedication to the serving the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia.
Landau’s contributions to the LGBTQ+ legal community, and the City of Philadelphia more generally, are widespread, and her work has inspired our members. “It is crucial for LGBTQ+ women to be at the table where decisions are being made. This primary win sends a message to law students, young female LGBTQ+ attorneys, and employers in the city, that LGBTQ+ women are making the moves to be in positions with power and influence,” said Susie Cirilli, shareholder at Flaster/Greenberg P.C. and member of the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association. Stephen Kulp, immediate past Chair of the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association, said: “From years representing low-income tenants at Community Legal Services to overseeing the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and Fair Housing Commission, Rue has focused her career on supporting the people of Philadelphia where that advocacy matters most. She also supported small businesses, helped to resolve community conflicts, and worked to strengthen our neighborhoods.”
“Rue’s work is motivational. She bridged gaps and proved once again that ‘LGBTQ’ issues are everyday issues that affect all of us, including housing, job security, public safety, and equitable access to education,” said Kevin Levy and Andrew Slom, Chair and Vice Chair of the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association. “Rue’s steadfastness and passion stirs optimism for so many of us. Her success is a monumental triumph for LGBTQ+ people, and Philadelphia is long overdue for LGBTQ+ representation on City Council. Rue dedicated her entire career advocating for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable communities, and we know she will continue that work in City Hall.”
If elected in the fall general election, Rue Landau would be the first openly LGBTQ+ person to be elected to Philadelphia City Council. She now heads to the November general election to face voters once more. The general election will occur on November 7, 2023.
The Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and does not and did not endorse candidates for public office. This release should not be construed as an endorsement of any candidate’s campaign for public office.
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About the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association
The Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to the advancement of the welfare and full equality of the LGBTQ+ community, the promotion of the expertise and advancement of LGBTQ+ legal professionals in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area, and the education of the larger community on LGBTQ+ legal issues. The Association’s mission also includes promoting the welfare of society by advocating for the civil and human rights of all persons, regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or national origin.
