HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner has created an LGBT Advisory Board of 49 people, in a symbolic nod to the 49 victims in the Orlando shooting.
The board consists of a diverse group to represent Houston's LGBT community.
The racial makeup of the board is 21 Anglos, 12 African Americans, 13 Hispanics and three Asians. There are 26 gays, 13 lesbians, eight transgender people including two intersex, one bisexual and one parent of a transgender child. The gender breakdown is 21 females and 28 males.
“It was important to me to make this announcement before the end of Pride Month,” said Mayor Turner. "However, let me be clear, our support for the LGBT community is not ending. We are standing with Orlando today and we will be standing with them tomorrow. In Houston, we fight hate with love and inclusion. There is much work to be done and I can’t wait to get going.”
The board will serve as a link between the mayor's office and the LGBT community, providing advice and recommendations on relevant issues.
Due to the board’s size, the mayor says there will be a committee structure. The board chair and co-chair are Lou Weaver and Melanie Pang, respectively.
Weaver is with Equality Texas and Pang works for the Salvation Army.
Below is the list of other board members:
Kristen Capps
AJ Mistretta
Alan Dettlaff
Ashton Woods
Aurora Harris
Barry Mandel
Becca Keo-Meier
Brad Pritchett
Brandon Mack
Brandon Wilke
Chris Busby
Crystal Solares-Bockmon
Dee Dee Watters
Dennis Beedon
Eesha Pandit
Erika Richie
Felix Perez
Fran Watson
Frances Valdez
Harrison Guy
Isabel Longoria
Januari Leo
Jeffry Faircloth
Juan Lerma
Kent Loftin
Kevin Nix
Koomah
Lily Pando (15-year-old who will serve as an honorary member)
Lura Groen
Maria González
Mark Chupik
Maximo Cortez
Mike Webb
Monica Roberts
Paul Guillory
R. Aaron Flores
Renita Cooksey
Ricardo Rodriguez
Richard Lapin
Ron Goines
Ryan Leach
Steven Guthrie
T. Ray Purser
Tamira "Augie" Agustine
Tammi Wallace
Tiffany Ross
Tim Martinez