Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto plans to create LGBTQ commission

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Thursday announced plans for an 11-member commission to help resolve problems faced by the city’s LGBTQIA+ residents and visitors.

The commission would hold monthly public meetings and advise officials on ways to make Pittsburgh a welcoming place for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Among other things, members would conduct studies, seek out best practices and develop advocacy programs to help make Pittsburgh more inclusive and equitable. They would also serve as liaison between the city and residents, create cultural competency training for city employees and produce annual reports for City Council.

“Placing this commission into City Code will reemphasize our commitment to fighting for the human rights deserved by all,” Peduto said in a statement.

Peduto is seeking representatives to serve on the commission. The proposed ordinance requires one member each from the Mayor’s Office, City Council and the Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission and eight residents.

Members would serve terms ranging from two to three years.

Peduto in 2016 created a LGBTQIA+ advisory council to help improve inclusivity. Last year the council received high marks from the Human Rights Campaign, an organization that rates cities on their inclusivity of LGBTQIA+ communities.