Report on Inaugural Meeting of PA Commission on LGBTQ Affairs

The inaugural meeting of the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs was held on November 2, 2018 at Harrisburg University, There are about 40 commissioners from across the Commonwealth from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Executive Director Todd Snovel reported on the actions taken thus far, which included a listening tour of the commonwealth, as well as individual correspondence. Snovel also spoke in a panel for the LGBTQ Aging Summit in October, which included several discussions of a Bill of Rights for long term care for elders. About 300 people attended that inaugural event championed by the Elder Initiative and the Department of Aging. Snovel has also been working with state departments and agencies on both inward and outward facing engagement and policy work.

Vice Chair Shaashawn Dial presented a fascinating discussion on considering our language and commissioner Adrian Shanker shared the results of the PA 2018 LGBTQ+ Health Needs Assessment from this past spring. Future plans include task based work groups, working with individual community and local ordinances, and a series of town hall meetings.The commission will meet quarterly, rotating through the commonwealth. February's meeting will be in Washington, PA. May will be in Philadelphia, and August will be in Erie.The commission will also be launching several social media platforms.

About the Author

Michael Mahler

Michael Kenton Mahler (He/Him) has been the editor of Erie Gay News since it was founded in December 1992. He is also a founding member of NWPA Pride Alliance. He serves on the Governor's Commission for LGBTQ Affairs and is active with Aging with Pride and the Erie County HIV Task Force. He became the first LGBTQ person to be fully out in May 1992 when appearing on local TV coverage. Michael currently works as a software developer for Erie Custom Computer Applications.