LGBTQ Advisory Board Minutes - 6-9-20
LGBTQ Advisory Committee
Committee Chair, Robin Schwartz
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Members in attendance – Cindy Brown, Craig Garmendia,
Danny Diaz, Elizabeth Schwartz, Edward Pascoe, Gayle
Durham, Herb Sosa, Jamie Guirola, Mark Wylie, Michael
Bath, Paul Thomas, Riki Wilchins, Robin Schwartz, Sunny
Weber
Others in attendance- Dan Rios, GMCVB
Called to order at 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing Business:
A. Approval of the May 12, 2020 minutes- motion: Herb second: Michael
B. MBPD Updates – None
C. GMCVB / Marketing updates – Dan Rios provided some updates. There is a rollout of
a recovery campaign, they have 2 messages for locals to list offers.
New Business:
A. Discussion with Executive Director of Pride- discussion was held. It was noted Pride is
working on restructuring internal systems, sponsorship, year-round program, and
expand footprint at Pride with arts and cultural programming. Robin mentioned: online
pride, there is 26 hours of programming with various organizations raised about
$18,000. They are looking to do food and toiletries drive.
B. Discussion regarding LGBTQ community using a June Pride month event to show
support for Black Lives Matter- discussion was held. Cindy suggested issuing a
statement as a committee, Liz suggested to sign on to a statement made by other
organizations, Jamie suggested a black stripe on the rainbow flag during pride month,
Herb suggesting giving some direction on the flag and how the City can address the
needs of the black LGBTQ community. Motion made by Herb: adopt national letter
(http://lgbtqblacklivesmatter.org/) of support for BLM and sign on as the LGBTQ
Advisory Committee and respectfully advise Mayor and Commission to sign on to that
list, Liz seconded it. All in favor. Motion 2 made by Herb: advise the Mayor and
Commission to take June Pride Month and use the opportunity to create a city-wide ad
hoc committee to list and take advice from black, POC, trans, non-binary communities
to ask how the City can do better by them. All in favor. Amendment by Herb of 2nd
motion: asking City permission for the LGBTQ Advisory Committee to host a citywide
virtual townhall meeting to discuss race and inequality with the goal of compiling
directives for the Commission to consider. Liz seconded. Amendment by Herb of 1st
motion: LTC advising City Commission to adopt national letter
(http://lgbtqblacklivesmatter.org/) in support for BLM.
C. Winter Party and COVID-19 were brought up- Riki mentioned Winter Party and how it
Committee Members
Cindy Brown
Craig Garmendia
Daniel Diaz
Edward Pascoe
Elizabeth Schwartz
Gayle Durham
Herb Sosa
Jamie Guirola
Mark Wylie
Michael Bath
Paul Thomas
Riki Wilchins
Sunny Weber
took place during COVID-19. Herb mentioned that Miami Beach was open for events at
that time and it is unfortunate that many people got sick there. Craig mentioned they
did follow the CDC guidelines. Michael said they did as much as they could with the
info that had at the time. They received a lot of backlash.
D. Discussion regarding Unity Coalition suggestions:
• City of Miami Beach publicly engage communities, specifically people of
color and the trans communities, and listen to THEM as to what they
need.
• Police, Fire, Housing and other key city departments specifically have
these community, dialogues and adopt positive and concrete suggestions
as a result.
• MBTV, website, social media, electronic road signs at city entrances,
utility bills and all other available means of communication be used
immediately to engage as much of the community as possible, in a timely
manner.
• City of Miami Beach develop a clear Action Plan and timeline to
implement whatever findings are adopted - and make them public.
• That other community entities, like the Pride Collective also be
encouraged to have these discussions.
Subcommittees Reports and Next Actions: Discussion at next meeting
1) HRC Rating (Cindy, Liz, Herb, Sunny)
2) LGBTQ Visibility/Marketing/ Tourism (Gayle, Mark, Paul, Sunny)
3) Health and Wellness (Ricki, Jamie, Craig, Paul)
4) Senior Housing (Cindy, Robin, Ed)
Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.