A town hall meeting focused on the LGBT community is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 27, Vice Mayor Denise Simmons said Tuesday. The meeting is to be held in Sullivan Chamber at City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square.

State Rep. Byron Rushing, who has been celebrated for his work in advancing LGBT equality across the Commonwealth, is keynote speaker. The meeting is to start with an overview of the LGBT experience in Cambridge and including facilitated discussion groups on issues including those affecting LGBT seniors and LGBT parents of school-age children. Lee Swislow, executive director of GLAD, representatives of the Cambridge GLBT Commission and representatives of MassEquality will speak. A meal will be served.

“Cambridge, the very first city in the nation to issue marriage certificates to same-sex couples in 2004, continues to be a leader in the advancement of LGBT rights and inclusiveness,” Simmons said. “I want to make certain that city officials hear from all of their constituents, and everyone must realize that they have an important role to play in shaping their community. Town meetings are as old as our democracy, and they are the best way for citizens and their representatives to have an unfiltered, honest discussion about the state of the community.”

Previous LGBT Town Hall meetings held in 2004 and 2008 and helped set priorities and agendas for the City Council and other local officials and led directly to the establishment of the City’s GLBT Commission, Simmons said.

For information, call (617) 349-4277.