Does Richmond need a Human Rights Commission?

City residents are being asked to voice their views on the topic to a Richmond City Council task force that is evaluating the need for and potential scope for a new commission.

Two public hearings will be held next week at which residents can weigh in.

The first will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the city’s Southside Community Service Center, 4100 Hull Street Road, at Southside Plaza.

The second will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, in the Richmond City Council Chambers, 2nd floor, City Hall, 900 E. Broad St.

Residents also can share their opinions via email to Joyce Davis, who serving as the task force’s staff, at Joyce.Davis@Richmondgov.com.

The city used to have a Human Rights Commission, but shut it down more than a decade ago.

The council created a task force after Riqia Taylor, a rising senior at Virginia Commonwealth University, spoke about the need for a commission to focus on issues involving equality and discrimination.

Ms. Taylor is now co-chair of the five-member task force the council established to make recommendations.

The other co-chair is James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia, a nonprofit educational, outreach and advocacy group that promotes equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The three other members of the task force are Giles Harnsberger, Josie Mace and Leah Page.

Details: Ms. Davis at (804) 646-5009. — JEREMY M. LAZARUS