- The Miami-Dade County LGBTQ Advisory Board is comprised of individuals who are working directly to improve the lives of the LGBTQ 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 LGBTQ residents, visitors, and businesses, to ensure a strong voice for the LGBTQ community in local government and public policy and to encourage and support the development of the LGBTQ community.
This diverse group of leaders plays a critical role in prioritizing the LGBTQ community in all legislative and budget efforts. The board partners with local government entities and promotes and advances LGBTQ 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 or transgender ("LGTBQ"), 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, and queer ("LGBTQ") 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 LGBTQ 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 LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly businesses and professionals and LGBTQ 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:
- Patricia Hernandez, Chairwoman District 1
- Orlando Gonzales, Vice-Chairman Mayoral Appointee #2
- Pauline Green, District 2
- Kevin Seger, District 3
- Liebe Gadinsky, District 4
- Open seat, District 5
- Open seat, District 6
- Damian Pardo, District 7
- Open seat, District 8
- Darrell Burks, District 9
- Open seat, District 10
- Open seat, District 11
- Orlando Lopez, District 12
- Open seat, District 13
- Grace C. Lopez, Office of the Mayor
- Orlando W. Gonzalez, Office of the Mayor
- The founding ordinance for the LGBTQ Advisory Board can be found below. There will be a selection of bylaws committees in the near future.
It is my honor and privilege to serve our community as the Chairwoman of the Miami-Dade County LGBTQ Advisory Board (LGBTQ Board) for 2022-2023. I thank our LGBTQ Board members for their dedicated support in contributing to this board’s primary goal of promoting Miami-Dade County as an LGTBQ-inclusive and friendly community to our residents and our visitors.
The LGBTQ Board serves as an Advisory Board to the Board of County Commissioners with respect to laws and policies that support Miami-Dade County’s LGBTQ residents, visitors and businesses, to ensure a strong voice for the Miami-Dade LGBTQ community in local government and politics, and to encourage and support the development of the LGBTQ 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 LGBTQ community is vast. Across Miami-Dade County and the world, members of the LGBTQ 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 LGBTQ 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 LGBTQ community of Miami-Dade County.
Respectfully,
Patricia Hernandez, Esq.
LGBTQ Advisory Board ChairwomanIf 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).
Board Agendas and Minutes
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Queer Advisory Board
Gabriel J. Paez
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW 1st Street,
Suite 1034
Miami, FL 33128
305-375-4935 | [email protected]
