Who We Are LGBTQ and Planning
The LGBTQ and Planning Division of APA is a forum for the exchange of ideas and information of interest to people in the planning profession who identify as part of the LGBTQ community and anyone who is interested in LGBTQ community issues.
The division addresses planning topics and issues that relate to the LGBTQ community by providing a forum for exchanging ideas and information. It provides a professional network for planners who are division members and a mechanism that allows friends of the division and the LGBTQ community to collaborate and support the division's mission.
The LGBTQ and Planning Division evolved in 2016 from the Gays and Lesbians in Planning (GALIP) Division that was created as a formal APA division in 1998 at the APA National Planning Conference in Boston. We've been an informal network since 1992 when we met for the first time at the national conference in Washington, D.C.
Connect with Community Bi-Monthly Coffee Chats
Let's connect and percolate with pride! The LGBTQ & Planning Division is hosting bi-monthly coffee chats — an informal space to build community, share ideas, and support one another in planning and beyond!
Register using the following links:
📅 First Fridays at 12:00 PM ET - Register here!
📅 Third Tuesdays at 5:00 PM ET - Register here!
All beverages and identities welcome, just bring a mug and your full self!
Recent Events A Conversation with Dr. Petra Doan
In celebration of Trans Awareness Week (November 13–19), the APA LGBTQ & Planning Division invited Dr. Petra Doan for a one-hour talk exploring how zoning and land use regulations impact the creation, preservation, and erasure of queer urban spaces.
Drawing from decades of scholarship on Queer Urbanism and lived experience, Dr. Doan examined how planning tools, such as zoning codes, nuisance regulations, noise ordinances, and bar licensing policies, have historically constrained LGBTQ+ spaces while also offering opportunities for community resilience and visibility. The discussion examined how planners can recognize and protect these spaces as vital components of urban diversity and inclusion.
Recent Events LGBTQ Historic Context Statement Panel
In celebration of LGBTQ History Month, we held a special webinar:
LGBTQ Historic Context Statement Panel
This panel explored how cities across the country are preserving queer history through LGBTQ Historic Context Statements. Panelists shared how their cities developed these powerful tools and how they’re being used to guide planning and preservation today. Our Panelists Include:
- Susan Coleman, Urban Planner III, Atlanta Office of Design Historic Preservation Studio
- Alex Westhoff, Senior Planner, San Francisco Planning
- Rafael Fontes, City Planning Associate, Los Angeles City Planning Historic Resources
Moderated by the APA LGBTQ & Planning Division, this webinar offers practical insights for planners, preservationists, and advocates committed to elevating underrepresented histories in the built environment.
Events
- There are no upcoming Division-related events at this time.