Mayor Vincent C. Gray Celebrates LGBT Pride Month with Reception, Conversation, and Appointment of GLBT Advisory Committee

District’s oldest publication serving the GLBT community, and a question-and-answer session with members of the District’s LGBT community.

“I am proud that the District of Columbia is not only one of the most LGBT-friendly jurisdictions in the country, but also that we are home to one of the nation’s most diverse LGBT communities,” Mayor Gray said. “I remain committed to ensuring that all residents of our great city have the opportunity to live their lives in a safe and affirming community, and tonight’s reception and conversation represent my administration’s ongoing commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue on key issues affecting the District’s LGBT community.”

The talk was open to the public and broadcast on the Office of Cable Televisions’ Channel 16.  The interview covered such topics as hate crimes and public safety, the District’s response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and preparations for the International AIDS Conference, the national fight for marriage equality and much more.

As part of the Mayor’s Pride Season celebrations, Mayor Gray announced the appointment of 20 members to his GLBT Advisory Committee. The Mayor’s GLBT Advisory Committee was established through DC Council legislation in 2006 to advise the Mayor and the Director of the Office of GLBT Affairs on issues affecting the District’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The committee’s functions include making recommendations on the direction, focus and mission of the Office of GLBT Affairs.

The Mayor’s appointments mark the first time in over four years that the Mayor’s GLBT Advisory Committee has had a near-full roster of active members.

“We are very excited to have such a diverse and talented group of citizens who have volunteered to serve in this capacity,” said Jeffrey Richardson, Director of the Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs. “Having an active and functioning GLBT Advisory Committee is critical to the mission of the Office of GLBT Affairs. The committee will play a major role in agenda-setting and advising the office on community priorities, as well as serve as an extension of our community-engagement team.”

Appointees to the Mayor’s GLBT Advisory Committee are:

·        Andrew Barnett 
         Executive Director Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League

·        Gregory A. Cendana
          Executive Director of Asian American Labor Alliance

·        Wesley D. Thomas
          Dentist, US Department of Defense & board member, Whitman-Walker Health

·        Brittany E. Walsh
         Program Manager, LIFT-DC

·        Ryan C. Wilson
         Trial Attorney, US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

·        Lester Johnson
          President, Team DC Executive Council

·        Kareem Murphy
         Partner, Ferguson Group & Member, Metropolitan Community Church Public
          Policy Team

·        Megan Wallace
         Principal, Wallace Law, LLC,

·        Matthew Leblanc
         Program Coordinator, LGBTQ Resource Center, Georgetown University

·        Savanna Wanzer
         Founder of Capital Trans Pride 2007 & Board member Whitman Walker Health

·        Iden McCollum
         Founder and Executive Director of the Ida Mae Campbell Foundation

·        Ronald L. Swanda
         Aging Advocate

·        Dr. Imani Woody
         Chair, SAGE Metro DC

·        Khadijah Tribble
         Director of Operations for the Not-for-Profit Hospital Corporation’s 
         Infectious Diseases Care Center & Principal, of Trifecta Consulting Group

·        Julius Agers
         Two-Spirited American Indian and Transgender Advocate

·        Courtney Snowden
         Principal, Raben Group

·        David Perez
          President, Board of the Latino GLBT History Project & Director of Development
         for the League of United Latin American Citizens

·        June Crenshaw 
         Chair of the Board of Rainbow Response Coalition (RRC)

·        Barbara Ann Helmick
         Deputy Chief of Staff for Citizen Outreach for The Public Interest Network
         (appointed as Vice Chair of Mayor’s GLBT Advisory Committee)

·        Earl Fowlkes
         President/CEO of the International Federation of Black Prides (IFBP) 
         Appointed as Chair of Mayor’s GLBT Advisory Committee