3 volunteers sworn in to serve on new Baltimore LGBTQ commission
SWORN IN TODAY, THE CITY WILL CALL ON THE COMMISSION TO HELP WITH AN ARRAY OF ISSUES AND POLICY DECISIONS. I, JANE MILLER, DO SWEAR, DO SWEAR. FORMER WBAL TV INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER AND WBAL RADIO HOST JANE MILLER, ALONG WITH MELISSA DEVEREAUX AND KAYLA MORGAN, TOOK THEIR OATHS IN THE CEREMONIAL ROOM. JANE SAYS SHE’S HONORED TO SERVE BALTIMORE CITY. FIRST OF ALL, HAS HAD LONG HAD PROTECTIONS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE UP TO DATE. OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, THERE’S A LOT OF PRESSURE ON RIGHTS FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE. BALTIMORE CITY IS SOMEWHAT OF A HAVEN, A SAFE HAVEN, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS THAT WAY. HAPPY PRIDE Y’ALL. THE BALTIMORE LGBTQ COMMISSION WILL ADVISE THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND CITY AGENCIES ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND BRING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITIES AND THE LARGER BALTIMORE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH LONG RANGE PROJECTS. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY ARE FOR BALTIMORE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS A CITY THAT WE ARE CONSISTENTLY HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUES, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS WORKING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. SO ALWAYS RAISING UP EVERYTHING FROM POLICIES, CHANGE, OBVIOUSLY, TO EVENTS, ISSUES THAT THE COMMUNITY ARE FACING. WE’RE GOING TO BE RELYING ON THE COMMISSION TO HELP GUIDE US THROUGH THAT WORK. ALL RIGHT. THE COMMISSION IS ALSO CHARGED WITH ENSURING THAT CITY AGENCIES FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY ADDRESS ISSUES AFFECTING BALTIMORE’S LGBTQ COMMUNITY. THEY WILL ALSO MAKE SURE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO AND INCLUSION IN CITY SERVICES. WE’RE FINDING OUT WHAT THE PRIORITIES OF THE COMMUNITY ARE AND HOW TO ALIGN THEM WITH THE MAYOR’S PRIORITIES. SO IN CREATING LAWS AND FIGHTING FOR CHANGES FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, LIKE WITH NEW POLICIES THAT COULD BE POSSIBLY COMING UP WITH ADMINISTRATION CHANGES. SO THIS IS WHAT THEY HELP US WITH. OUR JOB IN THE STRAIGHT AHEAD TV. FIRST, THESE ARE VOLUNTEER
3 volunteers sworn in to serve on new Baltimore LGBTQ commission
A familiar face to 11 News viewers was among three people sworn in to a new role serving the city.Three volunteers were sworn in Wednesday to serve on the Baltimore LGBTQ Commission to advise the mayor, City Council and city agencies about an array of issues and policy decisions that affect the city’s LGBTQ+ communities.Melissa Devereaux and Kayla Morgan joined former 11 News investigative reporter and current WBAL NewsRadio 1090 AM and 101.5 FM host Jayne Miller in taking their oaths in the ceremonial room at City Hall. Miller said she is honored to serve.”Baltimore City has long had protections for the LGBTQ community, and we want to make sure those are up to date,” Miller told 11 News. “If you look around the country, there’s a lot of pressure on rights for LGBTQ people. Baltimore is somewhat of a safe haven, and we want to make sure it stays that way.”The commission will work to bring the city’s LGBTQ+ communities and the larger Baltimore community together through long-range projects.”We know how important the members of the LGBTQ community are to Baltimore, but we want to make sure that, as a city, we are consistently highlighting issues and make sure the city government is working in the best interest of the members of the community. We are going to rely on the commission to help guide us through that work,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said.The commission is also charged with ensuring city agencies fairly and equitably address issues affecting Baltimore’s LGBTQ+ community and ensure LGBTQ+ individuals have access to, and inclusion in, city services.”We’re finding out what the priorities of the community are and how to align them with the mayor’s priorities in creating laws and fighting for changes in the LGBTQ community, like policy changes that could be coming up with administration changes. So, this is what they help,” said Alexis Blackmon, the interim director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.
A familiar face to 11 News viewers was among three people sworn in to a new role serving the city.
Three volunteers were sworn in Wednesday to serve on the Baltimore LGBTQ Commission to advise the mayor, City Council and city agencies about an array of issues and policy decisions that affect the city’s LGBTQ+ communities.
Melissa Devereaux and Kayla Morgan joined former 11 News investigative reporter and current WBAL NewsRadio 1090 AM and 101.5 FM host Jayne Miller in taking their oaths in the ceremonial room at City Hall. Miller said she is honored to serve.
“Baltimore City has long had protections for the LGBTQ community, and we want to make sure those are up to date,” Miller told 11 News. “If you look around the country, there’s a lot of pressure on rights for LGBTQ people. Baltimore is somewhat of a safe haven, and we want to make sure it stays that way.”
The commission will work to bring the city’s LGBTQ+ communities and the larger Baltimore community together through long-range projects.
“We know how important the members of the LGBTQ community are to Baltimore, but we want to make sure that, as a city, we are consistently highlighting issues and make sure the city government is working in the best interest of the members of the community. We are going to rely on the commission to help guide us through that work,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said.
The commission is also charged with ensuring city agencies fairly and equitably address issues affecting Baltimore’s LGBTQ+ community and ensure LGBTQ+ individuals have access to, and inclusion in, city services.
“We’re finding out what the priorities of the community are and how to align them with the mayor’s priorities in creating laws and fighting for changes in the LGBTQ community, like policy changes that could be coming up with administration changes. So, this is what they help,” said Alexis Blackmon, the interim director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.
