Columbus council advances plan to create LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission; second reading set for Monday

Council President Shannon Hardin introduced Ordinance 14122025 on the creation of a Columbus LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission at a Columbus City Council hearing, saying the commission "will give our community a permanent seat at the table." The council scheduled a second reading for the ordinance on Monday and said it intends to open applications this fall with the first commission seated before the end of the year.

The proposal, as described by Sam Dooling of the City’s legislative research office, would create a 13‑member advisory commission: six members appointed by the mayor, six appointed by council and one jointly appointed member who would serve as chair. Initial terms would be staggered, members would serve without compensation, meet at least quarterly and submit an annual report to the mayor and council. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will provide staffing support; the ordinance anticipates the commission may use a consultant in its first year to develop an engagement strategy.

Supporters at the hearing said the commission could address housing, health care, safety and education needs facing LGBTQ+ residents. Dara Adkisson, executive director of TransOhio, told council that recent state-level activity has increasingly targeted transgender and gender‑expansive people and urged the city to provide "practical concrete and tangible support for the community." Troy Anthony Harris and other community members argued the commission must be built to include people who are frequently marginalized within LGBTQ+ spaces — including Black, Indigenous, Latino/Hispanic, Asian, trans, disabled and low-income residents — and recommended transparent selection processes and equity benchmarks.

Public-health and service providers voiced institutional support. Candace Janidlow, legislative affairs manager for Equitas Health, said cities with advisory LGBTQ+ bodies see measurable improvements in public health and economic outcomes, and urged the council to "fully support and resource the LGBTQ+ affairs commission." Speakers representing older LGBTQ+ residents, veterans and neighborhood advocates urged the commission to focus on tailored social services, intergenerational connection and inclusion of residents who live outside central neighborhoods.

Several presenters and council members recalled footage from a 1984 Columbus City Council debate, shown during the hearing, as a historical example of the hostility the community has faced. Mary Jo Hudson, a former council member who appeared as a witness, and others said the video underlined why a permanent city body could matter now. Sam Dooling cited peer-city examples—Kansas City, Seattle and Cincinnati—and presented demographic context, including Williams Institute data referenced at the hearing that estimate a substantial local LGBTQ+ population and local economic impact figures for recent Pride events.

Council members and witnesses discussed the commission’s potential role in the city’s budgetary process. Council President Hardin and others said they expect the commission to advise the council and mayor on budget priorities that affect LGBTQ+ residents, and urged that language in the ordinance ensure the commission has a voice during budget deliberations.

The hearing also included critical testimony calling for non‑carceral approaches to public safety and questioning whether a city commission can avoid reinforcing existing systems that harm marginalized people. Council members asked witnesses about outreach and recruitment; President Hardin urged community organizations to help build a diverse applicant pool when applications open.

No formal vote was taken at the hearing. The council announced it will bring the ordinance back for a second reading on Monday and expects to open applications in the fall, with the goal of seating the first commission before year’s end.