The Tactile Group is pleased to announce the appointment of our President and CEO, Marc Coleman, to the newly formed Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. Marc joined with other distinguished colleagues to be sworn in as members of the the first-in-the nation, 40-member Commission at a ceremony at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg on Monday, August 6.
The Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs joins Governor Wolf’s existing commissions, including those on African American Affairs, Asian Pacific American Affairs, Latino Affairs and the Commission for Women.
In remarks made before signing the Executive Order creating the Commission, the Governor said “Today’s announcement is timely and important, but also not the end of our efforts to create a Pennsylvania that espouses inclusion and diversity in all that we do. The efforts of the LGBTQ work group, established early in my administration, are recognized in many accomplishments that will continue and that group’s work will move forward as a function of this commission.”
Newly appointed Commissioner Marc Coleman has been a tireless advocate, teacher, and mentor in the LGBTQ community in Philadelphia and beyond for more than a decade. Among his many positions of leadership is his current service as Board and Executive Committee member of the Independence Business Alliance, Philadelphia’s LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. He also formerly served on the Board of Directors of the William Way LGBTQ Community Center. He is often asked to speak and facilitate discussions about inclusivity and intersectionality, and will be speaking at a Breakout session during the upcoming national conference of the NGLCC, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, in Philadelphia.
“I am sincerely honored to have been invited to serve on this commission and am humbled by the Governor’s appointment,” Marc commented. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with some of the most incredible LGBT advocates from across our great Commonwealth and am excited for this part of our journey towards equality.”
“The creation of the commission on LGBTQ Affairs is one step of many we have taken to ensure obstacles are removed for anyone who is facing an unfair disadvantage based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression,” Gov. Wolf said at the signing and induction ceremony. “It’s a step we took together with our stakeholder and advocacy groups and one that those involved asked for – a commission to help coordinate and drive statewide equality efforts.”
When I became governor, we saw that change was needed and we made it happen. Better yet, we are still making it happen and will do so until every Pennsylvanian can live, work, love, and thrive in our state with an assuredness of support and safety.”