In the midst of unprecedented attacks on transgender people, leaders in Miami are looking for ways to mitigate the damage.
The City of Miami’s LGBTQIA Advisory Board is hosting a focus group designed to develop strategies to make Miami more welcoming for trans people. The focus group is part of Miami’s Accelerate Change Together LGBTQ+ Initiative, a plan put in place to address health inequities in the LGBTQIA community.
Michael Roman, Miami’s liaison to the LGBTQIA community, said the advisory board was created two years ago and has been steadily making progress. Miami raised its score from 75 to 89 in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual municipal equality index.
“We’re super excited about the board and what we’ve been able to accomplish,” said Roman.
The seven-member board currently has three vacancies.
The Accelerate Change Together focus group will meet on April 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Due to safety concerns, the venue is not disclosed to the public, said Roman.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who sponsored the ordinance that created the board, has come under attack for the city’s involvement.
“Dear @FrancisSuarez [Gillum Republican rumored to be wanting to run for president] what change do you want to accelerate?” tweeted Evan Power, Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.
Roman declined to comment on Power’s tweet. He said the initiative’s purpose is to improve health outcomes for LGBT people living in Miami and is made possible through a grant from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.
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