Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Community Liaison
Greater Fort Lauderdale is a diverse and welcoming community with one of the highest concentrations of same-sex households in the nation and hundreds of LGBTQ-owned businesses.
LGBTQ City Liaisons
The LGBTQ City liaisons serve as an accessible and friendly ear to the City’s LGBTQ+ community and elevates LGBTQ-related concerns to the City executive and other City officials. The City of Fort Lauderdale is proud to be a part of the Broward County LGBTQ+ Coalition. The coalition is a new multi-jurisdiction initiative that brings together LGBTQ+ representatives from cities across Broward County.
LGBTQ Community Liaison: Luisa Agathon - Neighbor Support Phone: (954) 828-5271 Email: LAgathon@fortlauderdale.gov
LGBTQ Liaison Officer: Police Officer Cristina Beltrani Email: CBeltrani@fortlauderdale.gov Visit the LGBTQ Liaison Officer website
City Earns Perfect Score in 2021 LGBTQ Municipal Equality Index
Fort Lauderdale earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) for the third year in a row. The City joins Miami, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors and other 104 municipalities across the nation that earned the highest score of 100. MEI assesses municipalities’ LGBTQ+ inclusion in laws, policies, services, law enforcement, and leadership.
City Initiatives that Contributed to Perfect Score:
- Adopting Ordinance C-19-30, creating Chapter 29, “Human Relations,” of the City’s Code of Ordinances.
- Adopting Ordinance C-18-33, amending Section 2-187, “Non-discrimination by City contractors,” of the City’s Code of Ordinances.
- Offering domestic partner benefits including inclusive coverage for gender transition and gender reassignment surgery.
- Implementing an anti-bullying policy and reporting procedure to protect the dignity of youth served by the City’s Parks & Recreation Department.
- Continued appointment of City LGBTQ+ community and police liaisons.
- Reporting hate crime statistics to the Federal Bureau of Investigation annually.
- Proclaiming June 2021 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
View the full report, detailed scorecards for every city, and a searchable database at www.hrc.org/mei.