LGBTQ Advisory Board Minutes - 5-14-19
LGBTQ Advisory Committee
Committee Chair, Robin Schwartz
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Members in attendance – Aaron Bos-Lun, Alexander
Palenzuela, Craig Carmendia, Daniel Diaz, Gayle Durham,
George Neary, Herb Sosa, Jamie Guirola, Mark Wylie, Riki
Wilchins, Robin Schwartz
Others in attendance- Victoria Mallette
Called to order at 1:04 p.m.
Ongoing Business:
A. Approval of the April 9, 2019 minutes. Motion by: George Neary, second by: Riki
Wilchins, All in favor.
B. MBPD Updates – None
C. GMCVB / social media updates – George presented on behalf of Dan Rios. Update is
as follows: Bureau rolls out advertising plan with blasts and posts on all platforms.
Confirmed national influencer Andrew Keenan-Bolger. Preparing for Sizzle.
New Business:
A. Victoria Mallette from the Homeless Trust- The following was explained by Ms. Mallette
and discussed by the Committee: they are the lead agency in the country for all
homeless housing. Youth 18-24 are oftentimes LGBTQ. Working on capturing gender
identity for youth to demonstrate larger percentage of LGBTQ in community. They have
dedicated for money for beds, access points. There will be 100 day challenge to further
the system development. They provide shelter to youth within 24 hours of being
presented. Discussion about a dedicated facility to the LGBTQ community. Discussion
about the HUD definition of homelessness doesn’t include couch surfing, sex wokers,
sex traffickers, etc. All facilities underwent un-mandated LGBTQ training, reviews and
refreshers are not mandated. Discussion was held to consider mandating trainings or
create an LGBTQ Advisory Committee with the Homeless Trust. For a list of contracted
shelters: homelesstrust.org.
B. Discuss ideas to bring more LGBTQ folks to Miami Beach- The following was brought
up by different members of the Committee: Crime is an issue walking from Twist,
Score, or Waterloo on a nightly basis. Crimes go unreported, there are violent crimes,
people getting jumped, beaten up and robbed. Miami Beach pride and outshine a re
successful at bringing people to Miami Beach. More LGBTQ people are going to non-
Committee Members
Aaron Bos-Lun
Alexander Palenzuela
Cindy Brown
Craig Garmendia
Daniel Diaz
Elizabeth Schwartz
Gayle Durham
George Neary
Herb Sosa
Jamie Guirola
Mark Wylie
Paul Thomas
Riki Wilchins
Roger Thomson
exclusive LGBTQ establishments and some LGBTQ establishments are catering to
more (straight) tourists, it is discouraging for LGBTQ people to come here.
Subcommittees Reports and Next Actions:
1) HRC Rating (Cindy, Liz, Aaron, Herb)
2) LGBTQ Visibility/Marketing/ Tourism (Gayle, George, Mark, Jamie)
3) Health and Wellness (Ricki, Jamie, Craig, Danny)
4) Senior Housing (Cindy, Robin, George, Roger, Alex)
Meeting adjourned at 1:57 p.m.