Credit: Emanuel Wallace
The Executive of Small Business Development in the City’s Economic Development Department, Kevin Schmotzer, was recently named Cleveland’s first LGBTQ+ Liaison by Mayor Frank G. Jackson.

As part of his new position, Schmotzer will collaborate with internal departments, individuals, social service organizations and coalitions to address the needs of the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. He will also serve as an adviser to Mayor Jackson on LGBTQ+ issues.

“Cleveland has a long legacy of inclusion and welcomes people of all backgrounds,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson in a press release. “Mr. Schmotzer will help us expand and advance nondiscriminatory policies that move our entire community forward.”

This new role means that Schmotzer is joining several others in the Jackson administration who take an active role in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Director of Public Safety Michael McGrath recently named Commander Deirdre Jones as its LGBTQ+ Liaison in the Department of Safety and the Division of Police.

Jones will focus specifically on building relationships with the city’s LGBTQ+ community and the Division of Police. LGBTQ+ advocates also serve on various city boards including, but not limited to, the Community Relations Board, Workforce Development Board and the Police Review Board.

Schmotzer has been working with the city of Cleveland for nearly two decades and has been responsible for creating and administering programs, financial incentives, and economic development tools to attract entrepreneurship, small business development and private investment as the Executive of Small Business Development. He also served on the board for the 2014 Gay Games held in Cleveland.

This article appears in Jul 25-31, 2018.

2 replies on “Kevin Schmotzer Named Cleveland’s First LGBTQ+ Liaison”

  1. What are the Gay games? Are they special, gay themed acrobatics or are they implging that gay people are needing their own version of the games that everyone plays because gay people are handicapped in someway because of their sexual preference?

  2. Does anyone know what his salary will be for this position? -Was it a posted position on the City Hall Website? Thanks to Taxin Jacksons massive income tax hike, Id be willing to bet this is yet another one of his 6-figure salaried positions which now seems to be the norm for virtually any position at City Hall.

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