Mayor Walsh Announces Formation of City of Syracuse LGBTQ Advisory Board

Mayor calls for nominations from the community to serve on the new board

At a Pride Month celebration and flag raising outside Syracuse City Hall Saturday, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced his Administration will form an LGBTQ Advisory Board to the City of Syracuse. Walsh said he will charge the new board with ensuring the issues, concerns and opportunities facing LGBTQ+ people in Syracuse are kept visible and addressed by city government and the community.

“Our vision for Syracuse is to be a growing city that embraces diversity and creates opportunity for all.  Too often, though, the voices and interests of LGBTQ+ people have gone unheard in our community,” said Mayor Walsh. “I will look to the members of the LGBTQ Advisory Board for recommendations to ensure city policies and procedures are welcoming to all in our LGBTQ+ community. It will also serve as a listening post and a sounding board to me and my Administration and is another example of acting on the intent of our vision.”

Mayor Walsh issued a public call for nominations to serve on the LGBTQ Advisory Board by completing a form online at https://bit.ly/SyrLGBTQAdv. The Mayor said he is seeking city residents with knowledge and experience regarding LGBTQ+ issues in Syracuse and Central New York. The City will accept self-nominations and nominations made for others.  Submissions must include a description of the reason the for nomination and the individual’s qualifications to serve on the advisory board.

Walsh said the advisory board will be an initiative of the City’s Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) and administered by Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens.  It will be staffed by Emma Spector, constituent services coordinator in the Office of the Mayor.