County LGBTQ Commission to Meet for First Time

San Mateo County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Commission is hosting its first meeting this afternoon after being created in June as the first commission of its kind on the city or county level in California.

The LGBTQ Commission will meet from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors chambers at 400 County Center in Redwood City. The commission was created via a resolution sponsored by Supervisor David Pine after members of the LGBTQ community requested a formal body within the county government to further the cause of inclusiveness and give input on policy decisions.

The LGBTQ Commission was initially planned to have nine members, but after 50 residents applied for the seats, the board expanded the commission to contain 11 members. The panel will meet at least six times per year and the members will serve three-year terms.

The commission members include Dr. Jei Africa, of San Mateo; Richard Faust, of Pacifica; Jason Galisatus, of Redwood City; Gabe Garcia, of Portola Valley; Stan Kiino, of San Mateo; Kate MacKay, of South San Francisco; Alex Neumann, of Atherton and the panel’s youth representative; Glenda Savage, of East Palo Alto; Lynn Schuette, of Pacifica; Stevie Stallmeyer, of Menlo Park; and Jennifer Walter, of Half Moon Bay.

“San Mateo County is honored to add the LGBTQ Commission to our family of community advisory and advocacy bodies,” Pine, the Board of Supervisors’ president, said in a statement. “Diverse, community-based voices are critical for developing public policy that reflects the needs and values of San Mateo County residents.”

--Bay City News