Casey and Fetterman have a high percentage of LGBTQ staffers. Here's why diversity matters...

[FakeNoose]

Philadelphia Inquirer link: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/us-senate-pennsylvania-democrats-highest-percentage-lgbtq-employees-20230719.html

Kennedy O’Dell has a picture with Sen. Bob Casey and a bunch of her coworkers at the Philadelphia Pride parade last year on her desk of her Capitol Hill office. It’s a reminder, as she juggles work on transportation projects, housing policy, and other daily happenings in a U.S. Senate office, of one of her favorite memories on the job.

“At any office, you always wonder what share of yourself you can bring and that moment was so important to me because I was able to bring my whole self,” O’Dell said. “The whole organization was invested in creating a place where I can talk about my girlfriend. I can be happy and settled where I work.”

Casey’s office continues to be the Senate office with the highest percentage of LGBTQ staffers, according to a diversity survey by the Senate Democrats released last week. According to the survey, 30% of Casey’s staff of about 60 people — based in D.C. and around the state — identify as LGBTQ. That’s down just slightly from when Casey topped the list at 32% last year.

Pennsylvania’s junior senator, Sen. John Fetterman, ranked third with 28% of his staff of about 50 people identifying as LGBTQ. Sen. Patty Murray (D., Washington) was second with 29%. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia had the lowest LGBTQ representation at 0%. Senate Republicans did not conduct a diversity survey.

- more at link -

Diversity in the workplace goes hand-in-hand with being comfortable with diverse citizens and voters. In other words the constituency of every Senator and Representative is also diverse. How will the elected leaders be able to interact with diverse constituents, if they can't hire them on their own staffs and workgroups?

Thank you Senators Casey and Letterman!

[blue neen]

1. So proud to have these two as our PA Senators!