Prince George's County workgroup compiles recommendations to improve domestic‑violence services for LGBTQ+ residents

Prince George's County Council Vice Chair and LGBTQIA+ Workgroup Co‑Chair Crystal Orieva opened the meeting by saying the group would focus on “specific recommendations around domestic violence and the intersection with LGBTQ plus community and how we can better serve the community from that lens.”

The workgroup spent the session reviewing a package of recommendations aimed at improving county response to domestic violence affecting LGBTQ+ residents. Members discussed short‑ and mid‑term steps including mandatory cultural‑competency training for first responders, designated affirming shelter beds, expanded outreach at LGBTQ venues (including coordination with events in nearby Washington, D.C.), inclusive hotline services, free or low‑cost legal clinics, a peer survivor advocacy program, mobile outreach, expanded trauma‑informed mental‑health access, emergency phones and transit cards, youth prevention workshops, and a countywide multilingual resource guide.

The workgroup did take a formal procedural step at the start of the meeting: a workgroup member moved to approve the March 21 meeting minutes and the motion was seconded by Vice Chair Crystal Orieva. Hearing no objections, the minutes were approved by consensus.

Members framed the recommendations with timelines…