Advocacy Tools
Attending Public Hearings and Meetings
Attending public meetings and hearings at the state and local level is one of the most effective ways for LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones to make their voices heard. Showing up in these spaces ensures that lawmakers understand the real impact of their decisions, helps build community power, and lays the foundation for stronger, more inclusive policies.
- Building relationships. Regularly showing up is the first step in forming a connection with lawmakers, helping them become familiar with you and recognize you as an expert with lived experience in your community.
- Representation matters. When LGBTQ+ people and allies attend, it puts real faces and stories in front of decision-makers, reminding them that policies affect their own constituents, and are not abstract issues about faceless people.
- Challenging false narratives. Attending hearings and meetings ensures that harmful myths or misleading claims about LGBTQ+ people don’t go unchallenged, and that lawmakers hear accurate, lived experiences instead.
- Showing solidarity. Attending alongside others demonstrates the breadth of support for LGBTQ+ people and sends a powerful message that the community and its allies are united.
- Accountability. When community members are present, it makes it harder for lawmakers to ignore public input and gives them more to consider before making decisions.
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Attending a School Board Meeting
School boards usually meet once or twice a month on a set day, and these meetings are open to the public. While the schedule can vary by district, meetings are often held in the evening to make it easier for community members to attend. Many districts also post meeting dates, agendas, and minutes on their official websites.
Finding Your Local School Board Meeting
- Check the district’s website. Look for sections like School Board, Board of Education, or Meetings. Agendas and minutes are often posted there.
- Call the district office. If the information isn’t online, contact the main office to ask for the meeting schedule and any other details you may need.
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Attending a Library Board Meeting
Most library boards meet at least once a month to conduct official business, though the exact schedule can vary depending on state and local laws. Many boards meet on a set day and time each month, making it easy for community members to plan ahead.
Finding Your Library Board’s Meeting Schedule
- Check the library’s website. Look under sections like About Us, Board of Trustees, or Meetings for posted dates, times, and locations.
- Call or visit the library. If you can’t find the information online, your local library staff can provide the meeting schedule.
- Watch for public notices. Some boards are required to post meeting announcements in advance, either on the library’s website or in local newspapers.
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Attending a City Council Meeting
City councils generally meet once or twice a month, though some meet weekly, with the exact frequency determined by the specific city’s charter and established by the council itself.
Finding your city council’s meeting schedule
- Visit the city’s official website. Look for sections like City Council, Government, or Meetings for dates, agendas, and minutes.
- Contact the city clerk’s office. Call or email to get information about upcoming meetings or access to public records.
- Watch local government access TV. Many meetings are broadcast live or recorded for later viewing.
- Access public records. Agendas, minutes, and video recordings are part of the public record and must be available to all residents.
Attending a State Legislature Hearing or Committee Meeting
State legislatures typically meet once a year in what’s called a regular session, though a few states meet every other year. These sessions can last from a few weeks to several months, depending on the state. During the session, committee meetings and public hearings may happen daily or weekly, offering key opportunities for public input. Some states also hold special or interim sessions to address urgent issues or prepare for upcoming legislation.
Finding legislative hearings in your state
- Visit your state legislature’s official website, where hearing schedules and agendas are posted.
- Sign up for email alerts or newsletters from your state legislators or committees that focus on issues you care about.
- Follow local advocacy groups that often share hearing schedules and calls to action.
