In the latest move to advance leftist policies in local government adjacent to the nation’s capital, the District of Columbia is forcing every department manager—and highly encouraging all employees—to undergo a special training on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or Questioning), Intersex, Asexual, and more (LGBTQIA+). The course is titled “LGBTQIA+ Cultural Humility: A Space for Queer Life Training,” according to a memorandum distributed to “all District Government Personnel” by Charles Hall Jr., the director of the DC Department of Human Resources. “We’re excited to introduce a vital new training initiative from the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, designed to foster a more inclusive and understanding workplace,” the memo, which was obtained by Judicial Watch this week, states. “This training is MANDAORY for all managers and highly encouraged for all DC Employees to complete by July 30th. 2025.” It is worth noting that the directive specifically excludes the 13-member DC Council, which is comprised of representatives from each of the eight wards and four members elected at large.
Attached to the human resources director’s memo is a short video message from a “workforce specialist” at the DC Mayor’s Office of LGBTQA Affairs, which is dedicated to connecting LGBTQA residents with city services, advocating on behalf of policies that benefit them, providing grants to organizations that serve them and hosting events that enrich, promote and bring together the LGBTQA community.
The workforce specialist, Rae Dyson, is a former Biden administration official and was recently hired by the DC Mayor’s office because her skills to empower individuals will be instrumental in leading trainings and expanding opportunities for DC’s LGBTQIA+ workforce, according to an announcement posted on social media. In the video attached to Hall’s memo Dyson introduces herself and promotes the new LGBTQIA+ training for all public employees, especially licensed health professionals who she says can receive two continuing education credits for completing it.
The training promises to go beyond surface-level awareness by delving into critical areas such as intersectionality, health disparities, legal protections and creating inclusive environments. Intersectionality is described in Hall’s memo as “understanding the complex interplay of various social identities.” The health disparities training recognizes and addresses the unique health challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and the portion on legal protections will clarify relevant laws and policies for the demographic.
Practical strategies for building a respectful and supportive workplace for all will be covered in the section dedicated to creating inclusive environments. “Why is this training important?” the HR memo asks. “By participating, you’ll gain valuable insights that will contribute to a more equitable and welcoming environment for your colleagues and the community we serve.” The HR document further states that the training “provides the tools necessary to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.”
Besides widespread corruption among elected officials, DC government is notorious for its excessive leftist policies, which are typically described as progressive in the mainstream media. A few years ago, the DC Council passed legislation allowing incarcerated convicted felons to vote and months later a jailed murderer won public office in a DC election that featured five inmate candidates from the same prison.
DC also established a Council Office of Racial Equity (CORE) to tackle racism as part of a broader initiative to establish a racial equity framework across the entire DC government by, among other things requiring mandatory racial equity training for DC government employees as well as conducting racial equity impact assessments on council measures. A few years ago, DC’s Racial Equity Office ruled that installing an Abraham Lincoln Spirit of Freedom Emancipation Statue at the African American Civil War Museum would widen racial inequity.
With DC crime out of control, local leaders wasted over a quarter of a million dollars to promote the extremist Black Lives Matter movement after days of protests and riots, allowing artists, residents, DC employees and demonstrators to paint “Black Lives Matter” in 50-foot-tall yellow capital letters and the District’s crest, which resembles three stars above an “equals” sign, on 16th Street NW near the White House. Judicial Watch obtained records from the DC Department of Transportation that show it cost taxpayers $271,231 to repaint the Black Lives Matter slogan on a street in the nation’s capital.
