Versión en español a continuación. LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Meeting June 14, 2021 LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission to be held June 14, 2021, with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (June 13, 2021 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the June 14, 2021, LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Meeting, members of the public must: •Call or email the board liaison at (512) 974-2154 or neal.falgoust@austintexas.gov no later than noon June 13, 2021. The following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). •Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to neal.falgoust@austintexas.gov by noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If the meeting is broadcast live, it may be viewed here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission la June 14, 2021 La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social. Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (June 13, 2021, antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de junta en (512) 974-2154, neal.falgoust@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). Se requiere la siguiente información: nombre del orador, número (s) de artículo sobre el que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutral, dirección de correo electrónico (opcional) y un número de teléfono (debe ser el número que se utilizará para …
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20210614-2F: Support for the Asian American Quality of Life Commission’s Budget Recommendation Concerning the Translation of Emergency Communications Recommendation City Council should fully fund the Asian American Quality of Life Commission’s budget recommendation concerning the translation of emergency communications. 1. Add $100,000 to the City’s Public Information Office so departments have a central pool of funding to facilitate translation and interpretation services. The existence of this pool must be communicated widely to departments. Include the Equity Office, Resiliency Officer, and other appropriate community representatives in Emergency Planning, Response, and After‐Action reports in order to assure that an Equity Perspective is fully integrated into these activities. 2. 3. Establish stand‐by contracts with key community organizations who are already connected with Asian communities. In an emergency, these organizations can (1) be activated to review translated communications and (2) quickly disseminate those communications to the community. 4. Add $100,000 to the Emergency Operations Center budget for translations, interpretations, and emergency communications to non‐English speaking communities. 5. Provide all City-contracted non‐profit agencies access to the City’s pre‐screened vendors for translation services and any interpretation services that become available. This would assist contracted non‐profits in serving the entire community. Rationale Members of the Asian American Community with limited English proficiency have difficulty accessing COVID‐19 pandemic information and vaccinations. This communication difficulty was exacerbated during the City’s emergency response to Winter Storm Uri. The Asian American Community had to quickly identify and activate volunteers to assist the during the winter storm emergency (see Austin American Statesman article March 12, 2021). Time-sensitive messaging from the City is often only provided in English or English and Spanish. Asian Americans are the fastest growing demographic in Austin/Travis County and the City must provide timely information in major Asian languages. The City has responded to previously identified needs by establishing approved vendors for translation in multiple languages, but many Departments are unaware or don’t see Asian language translations as a priority. Most City offices have been closed during the pandemic and many City staff were also impacted by the weather and water emergencies. Emergency communications are primarily generated by the City Public Information Office, Austin Public Health, and the Emergency Operations Center. Communities of Color and Page 1 of 2 other marginalized communities are most impacted by emergencies, but equity is seldom considered in the initial response. With no system in place, Austin’s …
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION PROCLAMATION 20210614-2H: Celebrating Pride Month Proclamation The LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recognizes June 2021 as Pride Month globally and looks forward to celebrating Pride in Austin this August. We reaffirm our charge, as set out by Austin City Council, to ensure the highest and best quality of life for Austinites of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We carry on our work in honor and memory of those who came before us, especially Marsha P. Johnson and Syliva Rivera, who would settle for nothing less than full equality for LGBTQIA+ people. Page 1 of 2 Vote Date of Approval: June 14, 2021 Motioned By: Chair Gonzales Seconded By: Commissioner Kirby For: 1. Baeza 2. Chavez 3. Curette 4. Curry 5. Dowling 6. Gonzales 7. Kirby 8. Martinez 9. Taylor 10. Wollerson Against: None Abstain: None Absent: 1. Gonzalez 2. Gorczynski 3. Hines Attest: _____________________________________________ Kathryn Gonzales, Chair Kathryn Gonzales Page 2 of 2
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20210614-2G: Appointment of Grant E. Loveless as an At-Large Commissioner Recommendation The LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that Austin City Council appoint Grant E. Loveless to At-Large seat previously held by Tarik Daniels. Rationale Grant E. Loveless (they/he) is a lifelong Austinite and a Gen Z non-binary Afroqueer advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. Grant serves on the boards of Texas Health Action and Austin Black Pride where they use a collaborative and community-driven approach to advocate for youth voices in our city and region. With their vast experience in digital marketing and focus on data and equity, Grant is the ideal candidate to join the LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission as we embark on the next phase of our work advocating for the implementation of the recommendations proposed in our Quality of Life Study. Page 1 of 2 Vote Date of Approval: June 14, 2021 Motioned By: Commissioner Martinez Seconded By: Chair Gonzales For: 1. Chavez 2. Curette 3. Curry 4. Dowling 5. Gonzales 6. Kirby 7. Martinez 8. Taylor Against: 1. Baeza 2. Wollerson Abstain: None Absent: 1. Gonzalez 2. Gorczynski 3. Hines Attest: _____________________________________________ Kathryn Gonzales, Chair Kathryn Gonzales Page 2 of 2
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, June 14, 2021, via videoconference. Chair Kathryn Gonzales called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Members in Attendance: Gonzales, Baeza, Chavez, Curry, Curette, Dowling, Kirby, Martinez, Taylor, Wollerson. Staff in Attendance: Staff Liaison Neal Falgoust PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The minutes of April 12 were approved without objection. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Charles Robbins of Health Management Associates provided an update concerning the LGBTQIA+ study. The study has moved into the drafting phase. HMA hopes to have a draft available for the commission to review in August. b. Chair Gonzales expressed thanks to Transgender Education Network of Texas and Equality Texas for the work done during the legislative session to defeat bills harmful to the community. They will be invited back to address the commission if the governor calls a special session of the Legislature on these topics. c. Vice Chair Taylor discussed the reorganization of the commission’s working groups to better address topics of interest to the community. d. Chair Gonzales asked for volunteers to review the effects of Proposition B on the community. e. Chair Gonzales provided an update on the Winter Storm Uri Review Task Force. The task force has conducted several listening sessions. ERCOT has issued conservation notices this Spring. Members of the community can submit written, video, and audio testimony on SpeakUp Austin. f. Chair Gonzales moved approval of a recommendation supporting a budget recommendation by the Asian American Quality of Life Commission concerning the translation of emergency communications. Commissioner Curry provided a second. The recommendation passed unanimously. g. Commissioner Wollerson discussed efforts by an ad hoc committee to fill the vacant at- large position. Two candidates were presented by the committee for consideration: Coyote Shook and G.E. Loveless. Commissioner Martinez moved to recommend G.E. Loveless; Chair Gonzales provided a second. Commissioners approved the motion 8-2, with Commissioners Baeza and Wollerson voting against. h. Chair Gonzales moved adoption of a proclamation in celebration of Pride Month; Commissioner Kirby seconded. The proclamation passed unanimously. i. Commissioner Curry moved adoption of a recommendation to include additional data related to quality of life metrics in the commission’s annual report; Commissioner Chavez seconded. The recommendation passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT – Chair Gonzales adjourned the meeting at 8:33 p.m. without objection.
