LGBT Liaison for the City of Memphis, Dabney Ring, continues to be an ally
What’s your background?
I am a lifelong Memphian (specifically a Midtowner). In college I started volunteering for the Clinton/Gore campaign and ended up volunteering for then State Senator Steve Cohen. I went on to be his Legislative intern and started working for all of his campaigns, working my way up to the Finance Director on his Congressional Campaign staff. My husband and I now live in Cooper Young with our family – my stepson, a grumpy old man cat, and an enthusiastic puppy.
Can you help us understand the Liaison job?
I jumped at the chance to work with Alan Crone (my boss) as Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator for the City of Memphis because I feel it is important to bring voices and people to the table that might not traditionally be included. The ‘Liaison’ job is one that builds relationships and helps keep things on track and get things done, especially between local officials and government agencies. I am one of those people who think you can make changes from within, and working with people and the relationships that I have been building for the past 20+ years in a way that helps the city I love is a great positon to be in.
Are you like a Batwoman for LGBT, swooping in to the rescue?
When there is a high profile crime, it would certainly be on my radar to get updates, but it would not be a central part of my everyday job. That being said if the LGBTQ community felt like the crimes that happen against community members were being ignored or there was a huge uptick in unsolved cases, I would be in a position to set up a meeting between organizations to see if we could come to a better understanding of the process. If there is a case of unfair treatment by an officer, it would have to work its way through Internal Affairs and CLERB (Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board).
This job is about listening more than anything. There are people in Memphis, and in City Hall, experiencing things that I don’t experience regularly – discrimination with regards to sexual orientation, housing issues, instances of hate crime, etc. My job is more to take an issue that is brought to me and see if there is a way that the City Of Memphis can help. It may need to be that I can schedule a meeting with a Director to help encourage understanding and needs within the LGBTQ community. Or, possibly help a group develop a resolution to be heard at the City Council or County Commission. I know in the past there have been issues about making sure partner/marriage benefits were recognized and updated. I am here to help in any way that I can.
How does someone request your help?
The easiest way is by email: dabney.ring@memphistn.gov. My office is in City Hall and I don’t always know what my day will bring, but checking email is definitely a constant for me.
