(Pontiac) Willie W. Payne is the newest Mayor of Pontiac and is deeply interested in diversity and inclusion.

Triangle Foundation met with Mayor Payne on May 21, to discuss issues relevant to the GLBT and HIV+ community. Mayor Payne was very interested and responsive when Triangle spoke of the need for equality in city employment and city commerce. There was also discussion about the need for needle exchange programs, and diversity training for city employees, especially police. The mayor knew that Pontiac was home to one of the few gay bars in Oakland County, Club Flamingo, and even stated that he sought the bar's support for his campaign.

Overall the meeting was very productive and helped open the door to better communications between the GLBT community and the City of Pontiac. Pontiac is an important city for GLBT people, not just because of Club Flamingo, but also because of the large entertainment and shopping venues available in and around that community.

"It is critical that the GLBT community build bridges with policy makers and community leaders," said Sean Kosofsky, Director of Policy for Triangle Foundation. "Our community is more visible in Oakland County than most other places and city leaders can benefit from that diversity."

The meeting was also timely because the American Family Association of Michigan's first fundraising dinner event was to take place in Pontiac this week and Triangle wanted to inform the Mayor of the presence of the AFA in his community. We encouraged him not to attend or support the dinner with a greeting letter because the group represents the divisiveness and discrimination that the new mayor is opposed to.