The City of Philadelphia is committed to diversity and inclusion across all departments and commissions.

Taking a citywide approach means that sometimes it can be hard to navigate all of our different resources. For answers to frequently asked questions about how to get involved in the City’s community engagement work or to report discrimination, see below.

What does the Office of Diversity and Inclusion do?

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion was created by Mayor Kenney in order to ensure that the lack of diversity within the City’s workforce and procurement process would no longer be a side project. Specifically, the Diversity & Inclusion Office focuses on internal changes, with a primary focus on changes that can be made within City government to improve diversity and inclusion of City government. Currently, the City’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Nolan Atkinson, is analyzing the City’s current diversity metrics and will present a report at the conclusion of the year in order to form a basis for policy changes. He is also working to ensure labor diversity in Rebuild, a $300 million investment in parks, rec centers and libraries.

What does the Office of LGBT Affairs do?

The mission of the Office of LGBT Affairs is to connect LGBT people with government services and to help ensure that the services they receive are culturally competent. The office advises the Mayor and Philadelphia City government on the needs of LGBT residents and supports LGBT policy development, community outreach, education, and capacity building throughout City government. Specifically, according to City Charter, the Office of LGBT Affairs has the power to perform the following functions:

• Develop proposed City policy regarding civil rights issues affecting LGBT people;
• Coordinate the implementation of policies and programs to meet the City’s diversity and equality goals as expressed in this Charter, ordinances and Executive Orders;
• Coordinate among City Departments, agencies and offices to improve LGBT access to City services, and to promote equality and safety for LGBT people;
• Support the growth and development of the City’s LGBT communities; and
• Serve as liaison between the City’s and region’s LGBT communities and the City.

What does the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) do and what is its relationship to Mayor?

According to its mission statement, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR), established under the Home Rule Charter in 1951, enforces all laws prohibiting discrimination, promotes equal rights and opportunities for all Philadelphians, and resolves conflicts and advances community relations throughout Philadelphia’s diverse neighborhoods.

In other words, PCHR is an independent City commission which enforces the nondiscrimination laws. As part of that mission, they investigate allegations of discrimination and hold hearings in order to recommend specific changes. They also work to resolve neighborhood disputes through conflict mediation. The Executive Director of the PCHR and all its Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor.

What does the Office of Public Engagement do?

The Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement (OPE) is actively engaged in designing strategic processes to allow the City to enhance community outreach and engagement efforts. Led by Deputy Mayor, Nina Ahmad, Ph.D., OPE oversees several of the Mayor’s offices and commissions. These include the Youth Commission, the Office of Black Male Engagement (including President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative and the Mayor’s Commission on African American Males), the Commission for Women, the Mayor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs, the Millennial Advisory Committee, and the Mayor’s Commission on Religious and Civic Affairs (in process).

What’s relationship between the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of Public Engagement, the Office of LGBT Affairs, and PCHR?

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion encompasses the Office of LGBT Affairs along with the Office of People with Disabilities. This change in structure was implemented under Mayor Kenney in order to ensure an intersectional approach to the administration’s diversity policies.

The Office of Public Engagement, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of LGBT Affairs work closely with the PCHR to coordinate resources and responses between the offices.

What has the Office of LGBT Affairs done in the past to address racism within the LGBT community?

Since the Office’s inception in 2008, it has partnered with many other City departments to ensure the services that the City provides are more culturally competent. The Office started work with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop program to match LGBT youth with affirming homes and we are continuing to develop ways of recruiting LGBT resource parents. The Office also worked with ally organizations and the Office of Homeless Services to ensure LGBT homeless youth were represented at City Council’s hearing on homelessness.

Additionally, the Office worked with community leaders and Project Home to develop the Project Home LGBT project. Finally, the Office served as a contributor and advisor to Philadelphia’s creation and implementation of My Brother’s Keeper in order to ensure LGBT issues and people were considered in Philadelphia’s submission to The White House.

Acknowledging that far too many LGBT people are not treated fairly by the criminal justice system, the Office has also held numerous trainings with the Police Departments, Prisons, Probation and Parole Departments and the DA’s Office, to teach them how to appropriately interact with LGBT individuals. The Office also supported the development and passage of PPD Directive 152, which governs interactions with transgender individuals, and the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Additionally, while PCHR, is responsible for enforcing discrimination laws, the Office of LGBT Affairs has also coordinated with them to ensure that people are aware of how to report discrimination to them.

What will the Office of LGBT Affairs be doing in the future regarding racism in the gayborhood and throughout the LGBT community?

Following the October 25, 2016, hearing held by PCHR, the Office of LGBT Affairs will work with other members of the Administration to help implement PCHR’s recommendations.

Additionally, the Office of LGBT Affairs will work with the new Commission on LGBT Affairs to establish working groups addressing racism in the LGBT community, homeless and housing insecure LGBT youth, and transgender equality, with the goals of identifying new programs for the benefits of LGBT residents living in Philadelphia.

What will happen at the October 25 PCHR hearing? What is the follow-up?

Stakeholders will submit written or oral testimony and the PCHR will utilize that testimony to make a series of recommendations to address the issues of racism and discrimination in the LGBT community. PCHR will provide a public report of their recommendations.  The Office of LGBT Affairs will then work with other members of the administration to help implement PCHR’s recommendations.

How many members will be on the LGBT Commission?

At least 15 members, but subject to change as we review surveys and interview interested individuals.

Will this be a permanent commission?

The Office of LGBT Affairs is a permanent part of the Charter. The Commission on LGBT Affairs will exist by Executive Order.

Is this a new commission?

Prior Administrations have had various forms of advisory groups and this is the first time that the newly chartered and permanent office of LGBT Affairs will establish a commission. This is what distinguishes this development from the previous Mayor’s Commission on Sexual Minorities (Mayor Goode) and LGBT Advisory Board (Mayor Nutter).