111417LGBTQAdvisoryCommitteeMinutes
LGBTQ Advisory Committee
Committee Chair, Robin Schwartz
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Members in attendance were; Craig Garmendia, Dale Stine,
David Lancz, David Leeds, Elizabeth Schwartz, Gayle Durham,
Jorge Richa, Mark Wylie, Robin Schwartz, Stephen Fox Jr.,
George Neary, Heriberto Sosa. From Administration: Morgan
Goldberg (LGBT Advisory Committee City liaison). Other:
Detective Juan Sanchez, Alex Guerra & Stephan Ginez (Hotel
Gaythering), Scott Bader, Nicole Alvarez, Maika Moulite and
Josie Llado (GMCVB), John Byrne (Prevention Access
Campaign).
Meeting started at 1:05pm
Old Business
- Unanimous approval of 10/10/17 minutes (motion moved by George, 2nd by Dale).
Police Update
- Herb brought up that the rainbow “Safe Space” stickers have been fading due to sun exposure
(Police are aware and working on it. Posters are holding up much better).
GMCVB Update
- GMCVB did a presentation on advertising campaigns (“Found in Miami”), shared learnings,
shared findings, & shared social media outreach (including LGBT influencers) & results.
- Stephan Ginez expressed his discontent with the GMCVB that local Miami Beach hotels (who
have plenty of LGBT representation and who have a better pulse on the industry) are not being
tapped in for input in the development of these ideas. There are a lot of learnings that could
have been shared by the hotels prior to the campaigns and initiatives being developed.
o Robin suggested that given the goals of the GMCVB is to positively impact “heads and
beds” it would be beneficial for the GMCVB to have a dialogue with Miami Beach hotels
(LGBT employees) to share their perspective of what works and doesn’t work.
o George agreed to provide an update by the next meeting on efforts to meet with
Gaythering and other Miami Beach hotels for such dialogue.
Discrimination Bill (SB66 by Senator Clemens 31-00100-18)
- We made a motion to support the Discrimination Bill (Liz 1st, George 2nd) with the
encouragement that an amendment to include all modes of transportation be added.
Committee Members
Craig Garmendia
Dale Stine
David Lancz
David Leeds
Edison Farrow
Elizabeth Schwartz
Gayle Durham
Jorge Richa
Mark Wylie
Michael Bath
Robin Schwartz
Stephen Fox, Jr.
George Neary
Heriberto Sosa
New Mayor & Commission
- Invite new Mayor and all Commissioners to attend the LGBT Advisory Committee meetings.
- Committee agreed that before they attend our meetings we should have the list of projects /
initiatives that we will be work on for 2018.
Subcommittees Reports
a. LGBT Homelessness (Robin, David Lancz, Laura, Stephen)
For the December meeting this subcommittee will decide if there is a need to
remain intact, change subject or redistribute the members to other committees.
b. Attract LGBT Tourism (Jorge, Michael, Elizabeth, Dale)
The subcommittee came out with the following ideas / initiatives for 2018 (the
top three will be selected by next meeting).
- Educate the Commission and Mayor on LGBT issues pertaining tourism (& others) and request
that the LGBT Advisory Committee becomes a sounding board on how to make use of any
LGBT specific funds.
o Join efforts with each subcommittee to bring the top 3 initiatives we want their support
on. This will allow for Commission and Mayor to endorse things (early on) which they
are passionate for.
- Identify LGBTQ conventions, groups, sports events and request Commission to waive or
reduce certain fees (associated with the venue? security? city services?) or grant incentives for
them to hold their events in Miami Beach.
- Have Commission support the hiring of an LGBT person (representative of the Miami Beach
demographic who lives and breathes the local scene) to be the voice of the Miami Beach
community and promote the destination. Instead of being an employee of the City this hire
would be like an independent contractor who would respond better to the need of the LGBT
tourist and report to the LGBTQ Advisory Committee or to a new independent entity.
- Through the Miami Beach Communications department, engage the LGBT employees of the
City of Miami Beach & local residents involved in a viral campaign to show why they love living
in Miami Beach.
- Conduct an RFP (Request for Proposal) to identify Social Media Influencers or / and
Independent LGBT Ambassadors in different countries who can “talk up Miami Beach” to their
local followers.
- Request that the income currently given by the City of Miami Beach to the GMCVB for LGBT
outreach in Miami Beach, is used to award (in the form of grants) to independent suppliers
(overseen by the City of Miami Beach Government). An independent structure (can create an
independent website, app, presence in all social media) would allow for messaging that maybe
government would not feel comfortable running, yet have been implemented and been
successful in other very gay friendly cities (http://www.gaysitgesguide.com/,
https://www.gaydesertguide.com/
- Look for ways to increase the “gay” fun options available in the City for hotels to recommend
guests to do thus ensuring a better experience for them to want to return to Miami Beach.
o Conduct a survey with hospitality industry LGBT employees to get feedback on what
they are needing or obstacles they might be encountering when having to make
recommendations to guests on what to do while in town.
c. HCR Rating (Dale, David Leeds)
Miami Beach scored a perfect 100 (with the use of bonus points) on HRC’s 2017
Municipal Equality Index
We missed getting 4 points due to the City not having a policy in place that
requires City Contractors to have non-discrimination policies in place.
Concern that we might lose some points as well moving forward due to Care
Resource moving to another location (which would not allow us to say anymore
that the City is providing these services – as a result of their help to Care
Resource with their lease)
d. LGBT Visibility & Marketing (Gayle, Edison, Mark, Craig)
Monument (honoring Diversity)– Commissioner Steinberg is supporting the idea
and will appear at Arts & Public Spaces meeting on 11/21 at 9:30am to
recommend its placement and funding for this project. That recommendation
will then be sent to Commission for approval.
At the next meeting they will come up with ideas for future projects
Other
- John Byrne thank the committee for the support (which the Commission endorsed and
approved budget for) on the project of a location in Miami Beach (at Hotel Gaythering in
partnership with UM) to provide health services to the LGBT community. Project is set to begin
in January 2018.
- Social Media – Craig & Stephen met and recommend that if the Homeless Subcommittee is
eliminated then that group can take on “Social Media” (placed under “LGBT Visibility &
Marketing”) to keep abreast of social media postings and report to the committee anything of
concern that needs attention.
- Scott Bader informed that the rainbow branded volleyball courts polls have been approved by
the City (as presented; any desired changes should be addressed directly with the City). City
has agreed to cover the cost / expense.
- Robin asked for feedback on how to make this Committee better / meetings more productive
o Her leadership and time keeping on meetings have been great
o Invite Commission to attend the meetings so that they support initiatives from inceptions
o Identify projects that Commission can make a difference
o Continue with bi-annual report to showcase all we have accomplished
Meeting adjourned at 2:00pm