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Communities thrive, and people are healthier when we make room for all of us to fully belong. When we feel seen and heard for who we are, we have a stable foundation on which to build good health. Discriminatory policies have the opposite effect in our community, but a new group is working to change that: Ohio’s first LGBTQIA+ Commission at the City of Cincinnati. The Interact for Health team sat down with the commission's Chair, Storm Boyd, and fellow Commission Member, Nicha Zingarelli, to discuss the commission’s goals and why a dedicated commission is necessary.
The volunteer board of 12 commissioners is working to build a comprehensive understanding of protections for LGBTQIA+ residents in Cincinnati and identify gaps. Its structure is modeled after similar bodies in Kansas City and Baltimore, which have helped get the Cincinnati group up and running. Members of the commission come from different sectors, including legal, social services, and organizations serving the LGBTQIA+ community.
Previous mayoral administrations have used Mayoral Advisory Boards to gain insight into the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community; however, Boyd recognized that the current landscape is different for the community, as the number of discriminatory policies targeting the LGBTQ+ community are growing. He approached Vice Mayor Jan Michelle Lemon-Kearney with the idea of a permanent commission, protected by its inclusion in the City Charter.
Zingarelli commented on the contrast of increased attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community on a national level with the local level, indicating the city is sending a message that “you belong here, we want you here…the timing in that perspective is very powerful.”
One of the Commission's main goals is to provide a unified voice and centralized resources. Boyd remarked, “All these great organizations exist, but they're operating in silos. There's not a cohesive communication line, let alone having that same cohesiveness in government. So, this bridges multiple gaps.”
The Commission’s first task is to identify existing protections and provide a “roadmap” for residents to use if they are discriminated against. Beyond that, the Commission is looking for ways to uplift and bolster queer-owned small businesses and improve the overall perception of inclusion within the city. Both Boyd and Zingarelli expressed a desire for Cincinnati to become a top choice in the Midwest for LGBTQIA+ people to live, work, start families, and open businesses.
Throughout our conversation, we continued to return to the idea of “voice” or having a say in the decisions that shape the world around us. Our communities are strongest when people participate, have a say, and work together to improve the conditions that make their neighborhoods healthier. As Zingarelli said, “We [the Commission] have been given a very powerful responsibility…We have to ensure that we continue to listen.”
A recording of the first LGBTQIA+ Commission meeting is available on CitiCable. The next Commission Meeting is Monday, June 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Corryville Public Library. Public attendance is welcome and encouraged. Questions or concerns for the commission may be sent to the Office of Anna Albi, who oversees the Commission as the Chair of the Human Services Committee.
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