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Activist, Former Actor to Run for State House
L OCA L
JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF
JONATHAN D. LOVITZ,
a Democrat and a political
activist for LGBTQ causes,
announced his candidacy for
the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives on April 19.

Lovitz seeks to represent the
182nd PA House district, an
area that encompasses a sizable
chunk of Center City. He said
that the “constant state of
growth” in the area could “teach
a lot of lessons” to lawmakers
and business communities
across Pennsylvania.

“This is personal to me. I’ve
got skin in this game because
I live here,” Lovitz said. “I pay
taxes here, and I want to see
this part of the city succeed,
because this is such a beacon
and role model to the rest of
the commonwealth about how
communities and business can
coexist side by side and grow
together.” Democrat Brian Sims has
represented the 182nd district
since 2013, but he announced
in February that he would leave
the office to run for lieutenant
governor. Sims was the first
openly gay legislator at the
state level in the history of
Pennsylvania. The race to replace him offers
a “historic opportunity,” Lovitz
told the Washington Blade.

Lovitz, 36, grew up in the
Atlantic City area, and spent
his childhood between the
Jersey shore and South Florida.

Lovitz graduated from the
University of Florida in 2006
with a bachelor’s in fine arts in
performance, and spent most
of the next 10 years in New
York City, acting, performing
and hosting. He was part of
national touring productions
of “Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat”
and “Jesus Christ Superstar,”
performed in several MTV
productions and did work for
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM General Josh Shapiro and
lived for the last five years.

“I love the intersection of Gov. Tom Wolf as models for
diversity and scrappiness that him politically and tempera-
is part of every office here,” mentally, citing their skills as
coalition builders as being of
Lovitz said.

special interest to him.

So what does he stand for?
Lovitz said he is committed
With the National Gay &
Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, to the preservation of racially
Lovitz worked to expand inclusive, strong, democratic
protections from discrimina- institutions; prior to last
tion and economic opportunity fall’s elections, he founded
for LGBTQ people across the PhillyVoting.org, a voter regis-
country, and his vision for the tration and information initiative
future of Center City takes that that registered new voters during
sensibility — “pro-economy, that cycle. Bringing more people
pro-equity, pro-solutions,” his into the democratic process,
campaign announcement read especially younger people, will be
— and aims to move the ball a key initiative.

“They’re about people and
forward. Lovitz promises to promote service and engagement,”
Jonathan D. Lovitz
Photo by Joe Mac Creative funding for the arts in Lovitz said of his past projects.

Harrisburg, and to continue to “I love that.” l
various media and communi- and his husband, Steve Sosna, support gun violence preven-
cations companies.

a meteorologist for NBC10, to tion through legislation. He jbernstein@jewishexponent.com;
Though it was not yet the Philadelphia, where they’ve cites Ed Rendell, Attorney 215-832-0740
basis of his career, political
advocacy was already a part of
Lovitz’s life.

At Florida, he started
organizing on behalf of the
John Kerry campaign, and
learned more about forming
political relationships through
his campus Hillel.

In 2010, Lovitz began to work
as a vocal, visible advocate on
behalf of the LGBTQ commu-
nity. He addressed crowds
and led workshops related to
LGBTQ community issues for
major national organizations
like The Trevor Project and
GLAAD and, within a few years,
Lovitz was leading StartOut,
a nonprofit that sought to
provide opportunity to LGBT
entrepreneurs. Lovitz’s skills
as a communicator did not go
unnoticed, and he was soon on
board with both the National
Gay & Lesbian Chamber of
Come for a Visit!
Commerce New York and
the National Gay & Lesbian
Call 1-877-205-9428 or visit
Chamber of Commerce.

www.TheHearthAtDrexel.org/Care to schedule
“I learned what I stand for
a virtual tour or to obtain additional information.

early, and I love that this journey
I’m on keeps adding more color
238 Belmont Ave. | Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
www.TheHearthAtDrexel.org to that experience,” Lovitz said.

That journey brought Lovitz
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APRIL 29, 2021
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