Richmond's next mayor will support educating students about safe-sex practices, offering benefits to partners of gay city employees and legislation to ensure equal opportunities for everyone.

All five candidates for the city's top job spoke yesterday at a forum at the Gay Community Center of Richmond on Sherwood Avenue, near The Diamond. The forum was sponsored by the Gay Community Center, Equality Virginia, the Fan Free Clinic and ROSMY (Richmond Organization for Sexual Minority Youth).

Candidates told the audience of about 100 what they wanted to hear.

"One of the very first things I will do as mayor is sign an administrative order prohibiting sexual-preference discrimination in any form in city employment or city businesses as a matter of policy," said William J. Pantele, president of the Richmond City Council.

All stressed a commitment to tolerance and to supporting equal-opportunity legislation.

"Discrimination in any form is improper and must be fought against," said Del. Dwight Clinton Jones, D-Richmond.

"The mayor has to do what the mayor has to do to level the playing field," said Paul Goldman.

Each candidate was in favor of increased education about safe sex in the city's schools, though Goldman noted that the mayor has no control over the city's School Board and its decisions.

Jones said, "I would support the kind of education that would clarify and emphasize the importance of safe sexual practices for heterosexual as well as all genders, and all sexes and all preferences."

Architect Lawrence E. Williams Sr. advocates an expansion of social-services offerings in city middle schools.

Change starts with the community examining itself, candidates said.

"This is too important a subject to get it wrong in terms of dealing with stereotypes, understanding the nature of our communities," said attorney Robert J. Grey Jr. "We also ought to talk about the issue of how we see each other. Understanding and appreciating and respecting each other as individuals is as important as what we have to do on a health care basis."

"Culture and community can ultimately change laws," said Williams.

The payoff for acceptance of diversity would come in the form of a more open community with lower crime rates, the candidates agreed, noting that such a place would possibly attract new business to the area.

"Those communities that have communities that have tolerance, encourage diversity in lifestyles, in manner, in music and arts and all of the above tend to be where the creative talent is that is sought," said Pantele.
Contact Lisa Crutchfield at (804) 649-6362 or lcrutchfield@timesdispatch.com.