The goal of the commission, led by Commissioner Lesley Briones, is to work with the community to promote and protect LGBTQIA+ voices and equality.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Harris County will soon get the first update on the LGBTQIA+ commission’s progress since launching June 2023.
Since the beginning, members have been gathering feedback on protecting LGBTQIA+ rights in the county.
(blake ellis// chief talent officer for harris county precinct four county commissioner)
“The past year has been one of foundational work setting the commission up. Our office here at Harris County Precinct Four has supported a lot of that work,” said chief talent officer for Harris County Precinct Four County Commissioner, Blake Ellis.
The LGBTQIA+ commission is led by Precinct Four County Commissioner Lesley Briones and her office. Ellis said the goal is to work with the community to promote and protect LGBTQIA+ voices and equality
“Folks had been asking for years how they could formally advise the court,” Ellis said.
For three months, they gathered feedback through listening sessions on how to do just that.
In a presentation provided to KHOU 11 News, five policy recommendations included enhancing local data collection, making the commission the LGBTQIA+ liaison for the Harris County Sheriff’s office, introducing training for Harris County law enforcement agencies, having an LGBTQIA+ pipeline for county boards and investing in lgbtqia+ resources in the county.
“Mental health was something that came up over and over with people saying LGBTQIA+ Houstonians and Harris County residents need access to mental health services,” Ellis said.
In last year’s state legislative session, several laws were passed directly impacting the LGBTQIA+ community, including a limit on what college sports teams transgender athletes can join.
Jonathan Saenz with Texas Values gives an outlook on what next year’s legislative session might look like.
“I think you’re gonna see a lot more questions asked about the government using money for activist type of activities,” Saenz said.
“We can’t always control those decisions but we can make sure Harris County is a beacon of equality and justice for those communities,” Ellis said.
On Tuesday, county commissioners will also hear how the LGBTQIA+ commission looks to continue its work into 2025.