Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joined local lawmakers in announcing the creation of a Transgender Advisory Council Tuesday.
“Today, the City of Los Angeles sends a clear message to transgender Angelenos: your voices matter and your experiences count,” the mayor said in a press conference. “The nine members of our Transgender Advisory Council will bring a new and important perspective to City Hall that will help empower trans Angelenos to lead stigma-free, productive, and meaningful lives.”
“Los Angeles can lead the way to greater inclusion of the transgender community in issues like economic development, public safety, accessibility and public awareness,” added Councilman Mike Bonin. “The progress we have made toward equality in the last few years has been historic, but we are far from done.”
According to a statement from the mayor’s office, the TAC will advise “departments and other elected officials on projects and policies that address critical issues facing the trans community — such as economic development, public safety, accessibility, and public awareness.”
Los Angeles is the largest city in the nation to establish a “permanent council of transgender community leaders.”