 Board of Commissioners announced its creation of the Montgomery County Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs.){kind=link}
On June 27, the Montgomery County (Pa.) Board of Commissioners announced its creation of the Montgomery County Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs. It’s the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania, other than in Philadelphia.
Montgomery County is located in southeastern Pennsylvania next to Philadelphia and has about 857,000 residents living in 62 municipalities. It’s governed by a three-member board of commissioners that’s controlled by Democrats.
Seven to 15 commissioners will serve on the new advisory body. They will serve two-year terms on a voluntary basis. The group is expected to be up and running in the fall.
Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila H. Winder spearheaded the new commission on the county level.
“We are committed to ensuring that our LGBTQIA+ residents, businesses and allies have their voices heard at the county level,” Winder said in a statement.
Commissioner Tom DiBello echoed her comments.
“This new commission adds another opportunity for residents to serve and advise the community on issues that affect them,” DiBello said.
Another Montgomery County commissioner, Neil Makhija, expressed hope the new commission will be “robust” and elevate the status of LGBTQIA individuals
Ricky Buttacavoli, 63, a Lansdale resident, advocated for such a commission when Val Arkoosh and Ken Lawrence served on the Board of Commissioners several years ago.
Buttacavoli said the commission should represent the areas of commerce; health; human services; youth and education; policing; corrections and the prison systems; website and digital resources; faith-based communities; minority community outreach; substance abuse and addiction support; crisis intervention; arts and culture; inner-government affairs; elder services; and sports and recreation.
Additionally, Buttacavoli wants committees formed for each of those areas, with members of the public serving on each committee.
“I’m hoping each one of these areas of interest will become a committee,” Buttacavoli said. “That’s my vision. Together, we can make significant strides towards equality, and form a more cohesive community here in Montco.”
The county has 62 municipalities, at least 27 of which have their own LGBTQ+ protections, covering about 63% of the county’s population, using 2020 census numbers.
A county spokesperson was asked about the county’s antibias policy.
“Montgomery County adheres to all federal employment laws and regulations and is an equal opportunity employer,” the spokesperson said in an email. “It is the policy of the County to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to current employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disability or relationship with a disabled person, genetic information, military service, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy including childbirth and related medical conditions, political affiliations, General Educational Development (GED) certification rather than High School diploma, as well as use of a service animal.
“The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners also recently issued a proclamation that no resident or visitor of Montgomery County should be subjected to bigotry, discrimination, or oppression due to their race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, family status, veteran status, disability, marital status, or income status.
“In Montgomery County, as a Class 2A county, we are not able to issue ordinances on topics that are not specifically designated to us by the Commonwealth. This proclamation is a way that we outline our values as Commissioners and work to create a Montgomery County that’s a welcoming home for all.”
Jason Landau Goodman, a longtime LGBTQ+ advocate in Montgomery County, was excited about the new commission.
“As one of the largest counties in Pennsylvania, [Montgomery] must continue to lead on LGBTQ inclusion,” Goodman said. “It’s important for our county government to consider and implement recommendations from LGBTQ residents. The new commission should focus on issues impacting the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our communities.”
Applications will be accepted online through Aug. 3, with appointments scheduled to be made by the fall. Applicants are expected to have demonstrated previous involvement in promoting the interests of the LGBTQIA+ communities of Montgomery County.
For more details on applying to the Montgomery County Commission for LGBTQIA+ Affairs, visit montgomerycountypa.gov/4581/LGBTQ-Commission.