Qmmunity: Bridging the City Government Gap

Hey, Austin reader: Did you know that there’s a specific group in our local city government meant to advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community? Perhaps you haven’t checked in for a LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission meeting – which happen every third Monday at City Hall, 6:30pm – but their work is all about your experience with the city of Austin. Now, nine years out from the commission’s first meeting, current Chair KC Shepherd Coyne and Vice Chair Kitty McLeod continue leading the 15-member team in understanding and supporting Austin’s queers.

Formerly on Equality Texas’ board, Coyne’s also worn several hats throughout city government, including environmental officer, assistant director in the Watershed Protection Department, and steering committee chair for Austin’s climate equity plan. In that work, they found an understanding of city government’s functionality, its decision-making process, and – most importantly – how communities affected by those decisions can engage in the process.

“As a queer, trans, nonbinary person,” Coyne says, “it’s always been important to me to do the work of helping our community thrive and to find ways to mitigate the harm that often comes from state and federal policies targeting LGBTQ+ people. Local government can’t solve everything, but it can make a meaningful difference in people’s daily lives.”

Coyne says that overall, city leaders and staff members have shown a real commitment to supporting Austin’s LGBTQ+ populace, but “city government can still seem inaccessible or confusing to many people,” Coyne admits.

“One of the [LGBTQIA+] commission’s most important roles is helping bridge that gap,” they explain. “Sometimes community members reach out because they don’t know who to talk to, how to navigate a city process, or how to access a program or resource. Helping people find their way through those systems is often just as important as the formal recommendations we make.”

A major step toward building that bridge has been Coyne and Vice Chair McLeod setting up unofficial office hours. The informal meet-ups have lately been at biscuit haven Lynny’s new 12^th Street digs on Monday and Thursday mornings. These offer a place for people unable to attend the commission’s City Hall meetings to share their concerns, ask questions, or just connect with community. “Building relationships is one of the most important parts of community work,” Coyne says, “and we wanted to create an environment that felt welcoming and accessible.”

On the current summer agenda for the commission is the possibility of an LGBTQ+ cultural center – a long-running dream for the city’s growing queer community. “This summer, the Commission will receive the results of a feasibility study examining how such a center could be created and sustained,” Coyne explains. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a permanent space for community gathering, cultural preservation, education, services, and celebration.” However, alongside this big opportunity is an increased need for community involvement to make sure the project is as successful as possible.

Intimidated by the idea of attending a city meeting, even one that’s got literally got Dolly of ATX Brigitte Bandit on its member roster? Don’t be, Coyne says: “You don’t need to be an expert in city government to participate.” They advise first-time attendees check the meeting agenda ahead of time – available for viewing at austintexas.gov/boards-commissions/board/lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-and-queer-quality-life-advisory – and consider signing up to speak directly to the commission if there’s an issue you care about not represented. “Public input genuinely helps shape our priorities and recommendations,” Coyne says. There are also working groups available for community participation focused on health, trans resources, and community safety.

“The commission creates a direct channel for LGBTQ+ residents to inform city policy, identify emerging issues, and ensure decision-makers understand what our community is experiencing,” they say. “If we want City leaders to make informed decisions, they need to hear directly from the people affected by those decisions. … The more voices we bring into the conversation, the stronger our advocacy becomes.”

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This article appears in June 12 • 2026.

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