National Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer+ Issues (NCLGBTQ+)

Authorization and Accountability

The National Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ (NCLGBTQ+) Issues is mandated by the NASW Bylaws. The Committee reports on a regular basis to the NASW Board of Directors on matters of policy and shall coordinate with the Program Committee on activities related to program.

Purpose

The National Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ Issues develops, reviews, and monitors programs of the Association that significantly affect gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender and queer+ people.

Time Frame

The National Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender and Queer+ Issues is an on-going Bylaws mandated committee.

Members, Terms and Criteria

The committee shall be comprised of up to 9 members but no less than 7. Members serve for three years, one of whom will be the Board Secretary or another member of the NASW Board of Directors. The Chair is appointed for3 years. The Committee requests that members be openly gay male, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer social workers in both their personal and professional lives in so far as possible.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Given that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer+ issues are core to all association work, this committee shall develop, promote and/or collaborate on methods of insuring inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender and queer+ issues in all activities of the association.
2. To promote the development of knowledge, theory and practice as related to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender and queer+ issues.
3. To review proposed Delegate Assembly public social policies for their impact on gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people and make recommendations for their acceptance or modification.
4. To monitor policy changes, and data affecting policy changes, with regard to gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender and queer+ people- both native-born and immigrant.
5. To identify ways to eliminate stigmatizing, prejudicial and discriminatory social work practices and policies related to sexual orientation and gender identity and make recommendations to appropriate organizational units for action.
6. To support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer+ affirming legislation or policy related to equal protection, inheritance, insurance and property rights, services for youth, hate crimes, adoption, foster care, parental rights, health and mental health services, domestic partnership, and same sex marriages.
7. To assist the association in developing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and queer+ affirming policies, procedures, programs to guide the association in supporting the objectives of NCLGBTQ+I.
8. To participate with coalitions of related organizations, agencies, and professional associations.

History

The Committee was originally created as the Task Force on Gay Issues in January 1976. In 1979, the Task Force was restructured as an authorized committee of the Association. The NASW Board of Directors subsequently formed the National Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues at its June 1982 meeting. The words “Bisexual" and “Transgender” were added by the Delegate Assembly in 1996 and 2005 respectively.

The Committee was established to enable NASW to further the cause of social justice by promoting and defending the rights of persons suffering injustices and oppression because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.