{"id":65258,"date":"2024-06-11T12:45:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T19:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=65258"},"modified":"2024-06-11T12:45:40","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T19:45:40","slug":"los-angeles-county-board-of-supervisors-make-history-officially-convene-countys-first-ever-lgbtq-commission-capping-a-year-long-journey-for-equality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=65258","title":{"rendered":"Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Make History, Officially Convene County\u2019s First-Ever LGBTQ+ Commission, Capping a Year-Long Journey for Equality"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"CToWUd a6T aligncenter\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYHRVlYTjYThItdQGkXO8Y-U4ZMjxxDLw5b5_-C5iyHH3rKHdFef2R06Lc5_rQwGsGdIycQsLYRy48o-0QGIodha20CDGBFh5KyOWuDfexKqq_ox2A7KRwH-QfTzIRW1Wy7RzJNaf0Cg0Pgr62XVSsqU-867ljuOaVEdqHeGn0iSoNiXChEiu8=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/fancy_images\/CALACOUNTY\/2024\/06\/9639819\/group-photo-lgbtq_original.jpg\" alt=\"Group Photo\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-bit=\"iit\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Los Angeles, Calif. JUNE 11, 2024 \u2013 <\/strong>The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors made history today by officially gaveling into session the County\u2019s first-ever LGBTQ+ Commission.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">The Board introduced the County\u2019s new LGBTQ+ Commission Executive Director, Sunitha Menon, and presented fellow LGBTQ+ Commission members with a ceremonial gavel before their inaugural meeting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">\u201cToday, Los Angeles County is making history \u2013 again \u2013 and hopefully setting an example for the rest of the nation to follow,\u201d said Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, who represents the First District. \u201cLast month the Board of Supervisors made history when we appointed Sunitha Menon to lead the County\u2019s first-ever LGBTQ+ Commission. Today, we are\u00a0officially convening the County\u2019s first-ever LGBTQ+ Commission. We\u2019ve arrived at this moment\u00a0because the Board of Supervisors stood in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ family. I applaud my fellow Board of Supervisor members for their courage and integrity and compassion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">This historic journey began in June 2023 when Supervisor Solis and Supervisor Hahn co-authored a motion to create the LGBTQ+ Commission, which\u00a0will make recommendations on policies that impact LGBTQ+ communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">\u201cThe inaugural meeting of LA County&#8217;s LGBTQ+ Commission marks a significant milestone in the County&#8217;s commitment to uplift and deliver for our\u00a0LGBTQ+ communities,&#8221;\u00a0said LA County Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. &#8220;This Commission will be instrumental in our ongoing journey towards equality by empowering our LGBTQ+ siblings\u00a0and ensuring their voices are heard and valued. I look forward to partnering with our Commissioners and Executive Director\u00a0to inform policymaking and service provision\u00a0as we work to further LGBTQ+ rights in Los Angeles.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">\u201cThere are too many states and local governments across the country who are moving backwards when it comes to LGBTQ rights,\u201d said Supervisor Hahn. \u201cI am proud that, with this commission at the helm, LA County is on the right side of history and lifting up LGBTQ voices when we need to hear them most.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"CToWUd a6T aligncenter\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZtx4OCmyyPvk8vMr1R40f4tDNRmSf1IYw5xWGYJUEeOaFAt5zifNfxME4IaCTdZVoI0uSDUGKvJzVdunvbz03qnDD3rzmwNQThAgjO0TtrO3bSvHNhrN2D3AXrMNdpqPzTNgqUV-5aJ2_7x1wJ4Yld5qUgQdLiZzUDwLcJpxR_p93zrQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/fancy_images\/CALACOUNTY\/2024\/06\/9639844\/lgbtq-photo-2_original.jpg\" alt=\"Image 2 LGBTQ\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-bit=\"iit\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">Menon\u2019s selection is the culmination of a year-long effort led by Supervisor Solis and Supervisor Hahn, who and co-authored a resolution with Board Chair Horvath to fly the Progress Pride Flag at all County facilities in time for Pride Month.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">\u201cIt is an honor to be the first Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Commission, and I am grateful for Supervisor Solis and Supervisor Hahn for authoring the original motion to form this Commission,\u201d Menon said. \u201cThe unanimous support from the Board of Supervisors reflects a shared reality that all LGBTQ+ people in Los Angeles County need dedicated support to ensure our safety and survival. I look forward to working alongside the Commissioners to ensure we are uplifting the needs of the over 500,000 members of our community, particularly for our black and brown trans community members, and those who live in areas with less access to life-saving resources and support.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">Menon previously served as Managing Director of Operations at Equality California, the nation\u2019s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, where she led strategic planning and developed and executed a comprehensive culture change plan focused on expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the organization.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">\u201cThe LGBTQ+ Commission is a promise from Los Angeles County to ensure that every member of the LGBTQ+ community is seen, heard and valued,\u201d said Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang. \u201cThe imprimatur of the County means that this is not just a symbolic gathering \u2013 it is an official act of government at its very best. This is long overdue, and I am grateful to the Board of Supervisors for their vision and leadership.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">The Commission\u2019s 15 members will advise the Board of Supervisors to ensure its policies and practices are supportive of our LGBTQ+ community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Los Angeles, Calif. JUNE 11, 2024&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ca-local"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=65258"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65259,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65258\/revisions\/65259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=65258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=65258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=65258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}