BY HANNAH BROL, CASSANDRA JENKINS, ANNA LOTZ & JESSICA SHORTEN
LGBTQIA+ commission presents rst report Members of Harris County’s rst LGBTQIA+ commission presented the organization’s inaugural report during the Nov. 12 Harris County Commis- sioners Court meeting. The backstory Spearheaded by Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, the court voted in June 2023 to create the county’s rst LGBTQIA+ commission, which is made up of 10 volunteer members appointed by the court. The commission serves in an advisory function to the court providing recommendations regarding improvements for the LGBTQIA+ community. Major takeaways The commission hosted a series of listening ses- sions, during which LGBTQIA+ residents and allies voiced concerns on issues such as safety, access to mental health resources, representation and support
Sports Authority names new CEO, chair In November, Ryan Walsh and Juan C. Gar- cia were named the new CEO and board chair, respectively, of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. What you need to know E ective immediately, Walsh—the former CEO and executive director of the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation— will be taking the place of former CEO Janis Burke, following her departure in October. Meanwhile, Garcia will be taking the place of former Chair J. Kent Friedman following his departure in October. Garcia’s term is e ective immediately and expires Aug. 31, 2025. The HCHSA was created in 1997 to nance, maintain and build sports venues in Houston, and has since expanded to also promote the region for sports-related events.
“This commission is history-making and gives our community a voice we have never had before.” BRAD PRITCHETT, HARRIS
COUNTY LGBTQIA+ COMMISSION CHAIR
for LGBTQIA+ youth encountering hostility. The report included the following recommendations: • Enhancing local data collection through a quality-of-life survey • Becoming the named LGBTQIA+ liaison and advisory council for the Harris County Sheri ’s O ce, and other county departments • Introducing consistent LGBTQIA+ awareness and cultural competency training for Harris County law enforcement agencies • Developing a pipeline of quali ed LGBTQIA+ residents for county boards and commissions • Investing in LGBTQIA+ educational resources
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
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