Legislation to create a state commission to work with state agencies to develop and implement policies to address the unique needs of the LGBTQ community passed off the Senate floor today on a 34-14 vote.
Sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, Senate Bill 5356 would direct the governor to appoint commissioners who present a balanced and diverse representation of race and ethnicity, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, and occupation.
“This will help members of our community whose identify puts them at extreme and disproportionate risk of violence, discrimination and other challenges,” Wilson said. “This commission can address the unique obstacles LGBTQ people encounter in everything from public school settings, to employment, to everyday interactions in our communities.”
Among other things, the commission would be directed to identify concerns specific to LGBTQ sub groups, such as LGBTQ people of color, individuals in the DD community, veterans, seniors, and many others.
You can hear Wilson’s thoughts on the need for this legislation by clicking on this short video.
