Photo: H.Eric Schockman
Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang appointed LGBTQ+ community leader and educator as well as noted author H.Eric Schockman, Ph.D., to the first-ever Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Commission.
Dr. Schockman currently is Professor of Politics and International Relations at Woodbury University, previously serving as Associate Dean and Associate Adjunct Professor at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.
He was President and founder of the Global Hunger Foundation, dedicated to helping women in the developing world break the chains of poverty by funding projects designed to provide sustainable development and organic farming. He served as CEO and President of a prestigious international anti-hunger organization for over a decade pumping some $60 million in grants into the field.
“This was an easy choice for this ground-breaking commission,” Assessor Prang said.“I’m just grateful that Eric agreed to serve on this important commission, especially in light of the serious and hateful policies against the LGBTQ+ community across the country. Eric has a long record of leadership and activism, advocating for LGBTQ+ equality and will add a strong voice of experience and accomplishment to this important commission.”
Dr. Schockman served as high-level staffer in the State Assembly and was instrumental in passing AB 1 (the first LGBTQ+ civil rights bill in California). He also has written several books and edited many articles on leadership and politics in California, the nation and international affairs, and presented on scholarly panels on these same topics. Schockman holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations from the University of California.
“I am pleased and honored to be asked to serve on this historic commission,” Dr. Schockman said. “Assessor Prang has shown his leadership in LGBTQ+ issues for years and I do not take this new assignment lightly. I am grateful to be selected.”
The Commission was created last June with a motion authored by Supervisors Hilda L. Solis and Janice Hahn. The 15-member Commission will provide recommendations on policies and budget priorities at a time when LGBTQ+ people face mounting challenges. According to the LA County Commission on Human Relations’ 2021 Hate Crime Report, 89% of the hate crimes towards gay men were of a violent nature and 93% of anti-transgender crimes were violent – a rate of violence higher than any other marginalized group recorded by the report.
The Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Commission will be seated and hold its first meeting in the coming months.
