The Miami-Dade County LGBTQIA+ Advisory Board is comprised of individuals who are working directly to improve the lives of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The purpose of the Board is to advise the Board of County Commissioners with respect to laws and policies that support Miami-Dade County’s LGBTQIA+ residents, visitors, and businesses, to ensure a strong voice for the LGBTQIA+ community in local government and public policy and to encourage and support the development of the LGBTQIA+ community.
This diverse group of leaders plays a critical role in prioritizing the LGBTQIA+ community in all legislative and budget efforts. The board partners with local government entities and promotes and advances LGBTQIA+ initiatives. To accomplish its objectives, the Board builds working relationships with county leaders and their representatives.
In 2017, a Gallup poll concluded that 4.5 percent of adult Americans identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, interesex and asexual ("LGTBQIA+"), 5.1 percent of them women and 3.9 percent men. A different survey in 2016, from the Williams Institute, estimated that 0.6 percent of adults in the United States identified themselves as transgender.
Through activism and the arts, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, interesex and asexual ("LGBTQIA+") community in Miami-Dade County maintains a long track record of leading restoration in revitalization efforts in several of Miami's historic communities.
Because of this diversity and inclusiveness, #OurCounty continues to attract more than one million LGBTQIA+ visitors each year as well as individuals, businesses and professionals seeking to relocate to the area.
The board will continue to promoting Miami-Dade County as a community where LGBTQIA+ friendly businesses and professionals and LGBTQIA+ residents and visitors are welcomed to work, live and play.
Below is a list of the board members and their respective appointment by the Board of County Commissioners:
It is my honor and privilege to serve our community as the Chairwoman of the Miami-Dade County LGBTQIA+ Advisory Board (LGBTQIA+ Board) for 2022-2023. I thank our LGBTQIA+ Board members for their dedicated support in contributing to this board’s primary goal of promoting Miami-Dade County as an LGTBQIA+-inclusive and friendly community to our residents and our visitors.
The LGBTQIA+ Board serves as an Advisory Board to the Board of County Commissioners with respect to laws and policies that support Miami-Dade County’s LGBTQIA+ residents, visitors and businesses, to ensure a strong voice for the Miami-Dade LGBTQIA+ community in local government and politics, and to encourage and support the development of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our members are appointed by the County Commissioners from all districts and we are a diverse group of individuals representing the many cultures and ethnic backgrounds that make up Miami-Dade County.
The LGBTQIA+ community is vast. Across Miami-Dade County and the world, members of the LGBTQIA+ community have notably distinguished themselves in business, academia, public and private sectors, science and the arts. Our community has helped advance many causes, innovations, peace and prosperity but there is still much work to be done specifically in our fight for equality.
It is the intention of the LGBTQIA+ Board to identify issues our community faces in Miami-Dade County and recommend viable solutions while making sure that services provided by Miami Dade County are delivered to our community in a meaningful way. As part of the Office of Community Advocacy, our board meets the first Wednesday of each month with the exception of our August recess. Our meetings are open to the public and all community input and participation is welcome and encouraged.
Individuals or organizations interested in attending meetings or bringing forth information and input should contact our Program Director Mr. Gabriel Paez at 305-375-4935 or emailing [email protected].
I look forward to leading this Board with integrity in furtherance of our commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community of Miami-Dade County.
If you are a victim or witness of a hate crime, call the Hate Crimes Hotline at 786-687-2566 and a Victim’s Counselor will take your call, 24 hours, 7 days a week. (This service is provided through the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office).
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