GLBLTO Constituency Group Explores Federal Issues
December 20, 2010
by Mary Gordon This year’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Local Officials (GLBTLO) Business Meeting during the Congress of Cities & Exposition provided the opportunity for guest speakers to share information about special programs or current issues, especially in relation to federal government programs. GLBTLO President Greg Lemke, councilmember, Moorhead, Minn., presided at this year’s meeting.
“GLBTLO had a well-attended and productive meeting at the Congress of Cites in Denver. We had a few new faces attend the meeting and even get elected to the Board, That is great to see,” Lemke said. “I am looking forward to our meeting in Washington in March and would encourage GLBTLO members to attend, as well as those who are supportive of GLBTLO’s issues. We have a strong core of members, but if we want to be a constituency group that matters and can get things done we need to move our membership and participation to the next level.”
Guest speakers included Andy Schultheiss, district director for Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.); Anthony Love, deputy director, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness; Véronique Pluviose-Fenton, U.S. Census Bureau, Congressional Affairs Office; and Herb Schultz, regional director, Region IX, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Schultheiss offered remarks about the importance of student non-discrimination, equality issues for the LGBT community, upcoming votes in Congress on tax cuts and the status of the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” legislation.
Pluviose-Fenton shared information about the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), an ongoing survey that provides data every year — giving communities the current information they need to plan investments and services. Information from the survey helps determine how more than $400 billion in federal and state funds are distributed each year. To help communities, state governments and federal programs, the survey asks about age, sex, race, family and relationships, income and benefits, health insurance, education, veteran status, disabilities, where one works and how they commute to work, and where one lives and how much individuals pay for some of their essentials. The data is used to help decide everything from school lunch programs to new hospitals.
Schultz shared information about First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, which is encouraging families across the country to commit to living healthier lives. The Partnership for a Healthier America supports the First Lady’s cause by encouraging, tracking and communicating commitments to healthier lifestyles.
Neil Bomberg of NLC’s Center for Federal Relations provided a legislative update, which included an update on GLBTLO’s policy development activity for the past year. GLBTLO is urging Congress to support passage of the employment non-discrimination legislation, which would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. GLBTLO will be providing a letter of support for this legislation in 2011.
For the 2011 Congress of Cities in Phoenix, GLBTLO will be providing members with an opportunity to pay dues along with its regular activity fees for the conference. The Board will be voting on the dues and fees amounts early next year.
GLBTLO Immediate Past President Craig Lowe, mayor, Gainesville, Fla., presided over the election of the 2011 GLBTLO Board of Directors. GLBTLO’s officers are: Lemke, (president); Bob Gaiser, councilmember, Broomfield, Colo. (first vice president); Keith McGlashan, mayor, Shoreline, Wash. (second vice president;) and Lowe.
At-Large Members are: Joel Burns, councilmember, Fort Worth, Texas; Karen Kellen, councilmember, Lakewood, Colo.; Dominick Moreno, councilmember, Commerce City, Colo.; and Greg Pettis, councilmember, Cathedral City, Calif.
Details: For more information about GLBTLO and membership opportunities, contact NLC staff at (202) 626-3169.