The District of Columbia has a larger LGBTQIA+ population per capita than any other city in the country. And yet, we do not have direct representation on the DC Council, nor does the DC government do enough to support those who identify with these diverse communities. Nearly 10% of unhoused adults identify as LGBTQIA+, and nearly 30% of unhoused youth ages 18-24, identify as LGBTQIA+. Investments in HIV research have faltered during the COVID-19 pandemic. We must use the technology we have developed to confront our many long-standing epidemics.
As a proud gay Black Ward 5 councilmember, I will bring needed representation and serve as a champion to ensure communities gets the resources they desperately need and deserve
All neighbors should be able to live healthy, productive lives free from stigma, violence, and oppression. We will achieve this by challenging structural barriers to health and safety, and by connecting our programs and services to ensure that all our DC neighbors can thrive.
Workforce
Climate “green jobs” program
Increase investments in workforce development programs and organizations aimed at supporting LGBTQ individuals and families (e.g., Whitman-Walker Health System; Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc.; the Wanda Alston Foundation)
Increased investments in the transgender and gender-nonconforming (T/GNC) workforce program to close the wage gap of trans and gender-nonconforming neighbors (e.g., Empower the Transgender Community)
Tie strategic investments in LGBTQ-owned bars/restaurants to employment pipelines for community members who are people of color
Housing
Expand targeted housing, including LGBTQ+ affirming shelters and transitional housing spaces for youth and seniors (e.g., Casa Ruby)
Increase investment in affordable housing and permanent supportive housing vouchers for members of the LGBTQ+ community, namely for seniors and people battling with substance abuse
Invest in the Washington AIDS Partnership (WAP) to pilot a housing-first, public-private LGBTQ+ health initiative
Health Initiatives
Increase investments to the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration (HAHSTA) grant program, which supports community organizations that provide culturally competent, linguistically appropriate, and accessible prevention, testing, and support services
Promote harm reduction services to people and communities impacted by sex work and drug use (e.g., HIPS)
Establish mobile health units to expand mental and support services
Increase access to urgent care and innovative health models throughout Ward 5
Cultural Acceptance and Safety
Maintain staffing and push for greater efficiency within the Office of Human Rights to end to hate crime case backlog, reduce the number of cases per investigator, improve case closure rates, and engage in community outreach
Build support ecosystems - “villages” that connect LGBTQ+ youth with support systems
Incarceration
Provide better oversight, transparency, and accountability in the process of investigating and improving D.C. jails, including establishing an independent oversight body, addressing issues impacting transgender individuals, repairing jails, and changing staff culture
Implement the recommendations of the Police Reform Commission to decenter the role of policing in our approach to public safety, expand mental and behavioral health services, and prioritize de-escalation techniques in responding to domestic violence calls and crisis interventions