Andrew DeFratis had a choice for this year’s Pride in the CLE march. The out LGBTQ+ candidate for Cleveland City Council could stand behind the banner of an LGBTQ-affirming political group like the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats. Or he could set out on his own.
Ultimately, DeFratis chose the latter: an even more visible approach leading his own delegation down Superior Avenue.
“It is the visibility of normalcy: that it is a very visible, normal thing for LGBTQ individuals to run and be competitive in these races and win,” DeFratis said.
We spoke with DeFratis, the senior director of public affairs for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, about his candidacy to represent Ward 12 on Cleveland’s west side and what he is hoping to bring to council.
To listen, click play directly below or read our (edited) conversation beneath the audio link.
Why the Cleveland City Council and why now?
[Departing City Councilperson] Jenny Spencer has been an absolutely awesome city councilwoman for my neighborhood. She announced she is not running for reelection after the 2024 presidential election. I think that election left a lot of us asking, “What is the direction of democracy? How is this going to play out?”
Opponents to the LGBTQ community—opponents to democracy—are not waiting for the perfect alignment of things to take their chance to make their mark. And they’re doing real damage. So I did not want to wait for the perfect alignment of anything.
I have volunteered hard in my community. I have studied hard in education and my MPA program. I have advocated [for others]. I think I could do this and I’d like to throw my hat in the ring. I think more candidates and more democracy is what people need to see for democracy to function right now.
You come and knock on my door to get my vote and you have those couple of seconds to make your case. What is it you say about your candidacy?
Well, I live in the neighborhood, so I usually can point in the direction of my house because I probably walked to your front door.
I want to bring quality constituent services alongside 21st century policy solutions. I work at Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, and I’ve advocated for survivors of sexual violence with the city and the state and the federal governments. And I think advocating for residents is very similar.
Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati all received a perfect score from the human rights campaign for LGBTQ+ equality and protections. But Columbus and Cincinnati have taken this to a bit of a different level. Both of them have established commissions for LGBTQ+ equality. Cincinnati earmarked $500,000 for LGBTQ plus youth mental health support. What more can Cleveland be doing for our LGBTQ+ residents?
I know the current council just started this LGBTQ outreach position in the last budget cycle. So I would like to flesh out the infrastructure beyond that because this one sole person should not have the entire weight of the LGBTQ advocacy platform on their shoulders.
When I think of the number one threat to the LGBTQ community of Cleveland right now, it’s threats from the state and federal government. We’re doing a great job with paid lobbying bringing in funds for [things like] the lakefront development and all of this other construction. I would want fighting back these LGBTQ threats from the state and federal government to be on our paid lobbying priority list. There’s always new state legislation making Ohio harder to live in for LGBTQ individuals. And I think there are ways to go down [to Columbus] and represent Clevelanders in testimony opportunities, even if there’s a conservative majority in those committee hearings.
I recently attended the ACT UP meeting that The Buckeye Flame has been [covering] and I did hear from the advocates about the need to have a plan should federal cuts come for individuals living with HIV. So I think we have to prioritize getting that done so that we have a plan for the first year for those individuals.
Other than that, I’m already working with some community advocates on what trans sanctuary language could look like. Not one that is just language like an awareness month, but something that actually honors the fact that we’re also one of the higher risk areas for Black trans women. So something that actually has some policy impact attached to it.
But I know that in my role in government affairs at Cleveland Rape Crisis Center and in my past nonprofit work, sometimes navigating policy work isn’t a next-day solution. It’s bringing in community partners and making sure community advocacy is involved and represented. We don’t want go too far off from what the authentic LGBTQ constituents of Ward 12 or the city are actually asking for. Prioritizing community voice is very important to me.
What significance does it have for you to be an out LGBTQ+ candidate?
I got to march in Pride in the CLE and as I was filling out the form, I was thinking, “Well, should I just march with like the Stonewall Democrats or some other organization?”
I am fortunate to have grown up in a slightly different era. Cleveland City Council already does have two out LGBTQ council members: Councilman Kerry McCormick is not seeking reelection and Councilperson Rebecca Maurer is in a competitive race.
So for me it is the visibility of normalcy: that it is a very visible, normal thing for LGBTQ individuals to run and be competitive in these races and win. And that even when we’re not shouting from the rooftops that, “I am the gay candidate!”, that [people know] I am also a highly qualified candidate in this race.
I want to be visible for even the LGBTQ youth who are not considering running for office. I want them to know that there are people in this space running for office, trying to affect that change and advocate for them. 🔥
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