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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO INCLUDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR A STUDY OR SURVEY ASSESSING SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER (�LGBTQ�) COMMUNITY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IN THE COUNTY MAYOR�S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 COUNTY BUDGET, TO CONDUCT SUCH A STUDY OR SURVEY IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LGBTQ ADVISORY BOARD, AND TO PROVIDE A REPORT

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WHEREAS, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (�LGBTQ�) community in Miami-Dade County has contributed invaluably to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County is a place that welcomes and supports people from all walks of life, and has thrived as a place where LGBTQ persons can feel safe and valued; and
WHEREAS, through the years, this Board has established policies and taken positions designed to promote inclusiveness and diversity in the County; and
WHEREAS, specifically, this Board has enacted legislation and adopted policies that support Miami-Dade County�s LGBTQ community, such as by creating the Miami-Dade County LGBTQ Advisory Board (�LGBTQ Advisory Board�) and adopting the County�s Human Rights Ordinance, which protects against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, among other protected classifications; and
WHEREAS, because of its policies towards diversity and inclusiveness, Miami-Dade County continues to attract more than one million LGBTQ visitors each year, as well as individuals, businesses, and professionals seeking to relocate to the area; and
WHEREAS, this Board wishes to continue to make Miami-Dade County an attractive and safe place for LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly residents, tourists, and businesses; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County takes seriously its obligation to provide comprehensive and effective services to its residents, including members of the LGBTQ community who may have particularized needs or issues of concern that can and should be addressed by local government; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County also strives for diversity in the types of businesses that it contracts with, and wishes to ensure that businesses owned by or focused upon the LGBTQ community have opportunities to contract with the County; and
WHEREAS, recently, the LGBTQ Advisory Board recommended that the County include funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget to conduct an LGBTQ services assessment study or survey, with the results informing future policy decisions designed to address any gaps in such services to the LGBTQ community and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the LGBTQ Advisory Board�s recommendation is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and
WHEREAS, to ensure that Miami-Dade County appropriately understands and responds to the service needs of its LGBTQ residents, visitors, and businesses, this Board agrees that an LGBTQ services assessment study or survey should be funded and carried out in the coming year; and
WHEREAS, accordingly, this Board wishes to direct the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to undertake the necessary steps to fund and conduct such a study or survey,


NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to include adequate funding for a study or survey assessing services provided to the LGBTQ community in Miami-Dade County in the County Mayor�s proposed Fiscal Year 2022-23 County Budget, and to conduct such study or survey in consultation with the Miami-Dade County LGBTQ Advisory Board if the funding is approved. Upon the completion of such study or survey, the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee shall provide a report detailing the findings and making any necessary policy recommendations. The County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee shall provide the report to this Board within 90 days of the competition of the study or survey and place the completed report on an agenda of the full Board without committee review, pursuant to Ordinance No. 14-65.