Cleveland now has a full-time LGBTQ+ community liaison; one of only a handful in the country

Republished with permission from The Buckeye Flame.

This is not Carey Gibbons’ first gay job. 

Gibbons has spent over 15 years spent working in LGBTQ-related positions – from roles with the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland and May Dugan Center to the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. 

But Gibbons’ new position – Cleveland’s LGBTQ+ community liaison – is a first in Cleveland and maybe even in Ohio.

Gibbons was hired in July to the full-time paid position that now stands among only a handful of similar paid positions across the country. 

Many cities have volunteer or part-time LGBTQ+ liaison positions – including Columbus and Dublin here in Ohio. Cleveland had one as well.

In 2018, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson appointed a part-time, unpaid LGBTQ+ liaison position, and current Mayor Justin Bibb reappointed the position in 2022. The volunteer role was in addition to the appointee’s full-time position and LGBTQ-related advancements – like the creation of a gender-neutral bathroom in City Hall – were made when time allowed.

Few cities  – Gibbons estimates around a dozen – have a full-time, paid position.

Cleveland’s commitment to creating this position is, in Gibbons’ view, sorely needed here in Ohio.

“This is Cleveland’s time to meet the moment,” Gibbons told The Buckeye Flame. “It’s our time to be seen.”

According to the job description, the role “will serve as a dedicated advocate and representative for Cleveland’s diverse LGBTQ+ communities, striving to ensure inclusivity, equity, and meaningful access to City resources and services.”

With people already reaching out to them with expectations on how the position can affect LGBTQ+ lives in Cleveland, Gibbons is careful to explain the limitations of the position: the LGBTQ+ Community Liaison is not a policy-maker.

“My role is not to stand in front, but to stand at the threshold to ensure the door is open and no one is left outside,” Gibbons said. “This means building connections across city departments and creating supportive services that not only exist on paper but also exist in people’s lives.”

On paper, Cleveland is doing well by the LGBTQ+ community, especially without statewide LGBTQ+ protections in Ohio in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations. The city passed a nondiscrimination ordinance in 2009, which was expanded in 2016 to more fully include transgender Clevelanders. The city banned conversion therapy on minors in 2020 and has received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index for several years. 

Yet Gibbons notes that “Cleveland is a little behind” Columbus and Cincinnatii–”the other two C’s”–in LGBTQ+ protections. 

In the past year, Cincinnati has created an official LGBTQ+ commission and earmarked $500,000 for trans youth mental healthcare. Columbus has also created their own LGBTQ+ affairs commission and recently awarded a $100,000 grant to LGBTQ+ youth services. 

“We need to at least meet the other two C’s,” Gibbons said. “Cleveland’s decision to hire this particular role is the city’s way of saying, ‘We are here. We are supporting. We are showing up.’”

In these first three months of filling this new role, Gibbons has been meeting with as many individuals, departments and organizations as possible, including within Cleveland’s municipal government.

“I’m one of 8,000 [Cleveland employees],” Gibbons said. “I want to find champions for the LGBTQ+ community in every department.”

Upcoming plans include possibly creating an LGBTQ+ employee resource group for city employees and a visual display on National Coming Out Day, October 11, with individuals holding up pieces of fabric to form a human pride flag. 

“We want people to see that the city of Cleveland isn’t just here for the LGBTQ+ community in June (Pride Month),” Gibbons said. “The city of Cleveland is here for the LGBTQ+ community for all of the days of the year.”

Jorge Ramos Pantoja, communications specialist for the Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Communication, said that the new role is uniquely positioned to work with the administration and city council.”

“I could not be more proud that we have landed Carey as part of our team,” Ramos Pantoja said. “If Clevelanders reach out to Carey, Carey will listen and will serve as an advisor to the administration and the city council.”

Drawn to the “Together starts now” slogan for the WNBA’s return to Cleveland, Gibbons wants people to know that with this role and the LGBTQ+ community working together, the city can make substantive progress toward LGBTQ+ protections and equality.

“I truly believe in collective power,” Gibbons said. “And if we can do that, then for LGBTQ+ community too: Together starts now.”