LGBTQ Advisory Board Minutes - 10-8-19
LGBTQ Advisory Committee
Committee Chair, Robin Schwartz
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Members in attendance – Aaron Bos-Lun, Cindy Brown,
Craig Garmendia (phone), George Neary, Alexander
Palenzuela (phone), Elizabeth Schwartz, Robin Schwartz,
Paul Thomas, Roger Thomson, Riki Wilchins, Mark Wylie,
Daniel Diaz
Others in attendance: Dan Rios (GMCVB) (phone)
Called to order at 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing Business:
A. Approval of the September 10, 2019 minutes- motion: George second: Paul
B. MBPD Updates – None
C. GMCVB / Marketing updates – Dan Rios provided some updates: the GMCVB
completed RFP process to select their LGBTQ advertising partners and they selected
Pride Media and Edge Media. Pride Media offers 3 great platforms that will facilitate a
more diverse reach within the LGBTQ communities, including Autostraddle, the largest
platform for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. The GMCVB’s first exclusive LGBTQ
photoshoot will begin in November, launch meeting wit producer and photographer is
taking place tomorrow. MBWM customer service training launched its first LGBTQ
Diversity & Inclusion on October 26th at Town of Surfside. The training works toward
empowering Miami’s tourism industry with personalized way to engage with LGBTQ
customers. The next training is scheduled for October 30th at the Confidante Miami
Beach. Training will be provided to Hyatt Managers in Miami-Dade who will then
discuss how to roll it out to their individual properties. The Fall issue of the Pink Palm,
the LGBTQ travel insider for Greater Miami and the Beaches, is printed and has been
distributed to the LGBT Visitor Center, the Art Deco W elcome Center, and select
boutique hotels. The Fall issue, along with the 3 previous, are available for viewing and
download at VisitLGBTQ.com.
New Business:
• Robin brought up asking for funding. Everyone agreed.
• Roger mentioned the Miami Gayla was taking place on October 19th at the
Fontainebleau Hotel.
Subcommittees Reports and Next Actions:
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
1) HRC Rating (Cindy, Liz, Aaron, Herb)- Will table until February 2020
2) LGBTQ Visibility/Marketing/ Tourism (Gayle, George, Mark, Jamie, Paul, Danny)- none
3) Health and Wellness (Ricki, Jamie, Craig, Paul)- subcommittee will take place on
November 12th at 12 p.m. Craig and Paul spoke about the LTC that they were
proposing the Committee to vote on. Paul made a motion to adopt the recommendation
as stated in the draft LTC and Riki seconded.
4) Senior Housing (Cindy, Robin, George, Roger, Alex)- subcommittee will take place on
November 12th at 2 p.m.
5) LGBTQ Municipal Funding (Gayle, Paul, Aaron, Robin)- will schedule meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 1:23 p.m.