Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Montgomery County officials kicked off Pride Month with the release of the first-ever survey of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ+) residents. Launched on June 1st, the LGBTQ+ community survey will collect anonymous information about health and wellness, access to resources and services, experiences of discrimination and other aspects of residents’ life in the community.
The survey, which was drafted in collaboration with the County’s LGBTQ Advisory Board and launched by the Office of Community Partnerships, aims to gather data that will guide the future work of the County’s LGBTQ Liaison and LGBTQ Advisory Board.
“Montgomery County has made a commitment to ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community feels safe and welcome, said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This survey will provide important data to help us keep that commitment. Our LGBTQ+ community contributes to our history, economic vitality, and culture, building a brighter future for all.”
The survey’s findings will be shared with other County departments and presented back to the community for feedback and dialogue. “We are hopeful that the results from this survey will give us a clearer understanding of the experiences and needs of Montgomery County’s diverse LGBTQ+ communities,” said Dr. Amena Johnson, the County’s LGBTQ liaison. “We designed the survey to elicit actionable responses. We don’t plan to sit on this data, we plan to use it to create a safer and more affirming Montgomery County for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Find the survey in multiple languages on the Office of Community Partnerships website. Deadline to complete the survey is Friday, July 15.
The survey is being distributed electronically throughout the community, and residents and community organizations are invited to share the survey links with their networks. Respondents who complete the survey, which takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, will have a chance to win an incentive.
The County’s LGBTQ Advisory Group will attend the Pride in the Plaza festival on June 26th in downtown Silver Spring to promote and distribute the survey. Members of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board are M Aragon, Lee Blinder, Julian Harris, Loraine Hutchins, Samantha Jones, and Vanessa Til. Find more information on the advisory group on the Office of Community Partnerships website.
For questions about the survey, please contact Dr.Amena Johnson at amena.johnson@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza will take place on Sunday, June 26 from 12 noon to 8 p.m.at Veterans Plaza (1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring). More information on this and other County-sponsored Pride events can be found at PrideInthePlaza.com.
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