LGBTQIA+ Commission

MINUTES LGBTQIA+ COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 15, 2023 Present: Chair Steven Kovach, Vice Chair Jennifer Billingsley, Commissioners, Dolly Haddad, Beth Shapiro, Laura Timmons, Cayes Jarda, Anthony Mangiafico, and Assistant General Counsel Christopher Forte. Members of the Public: Jeremy Michaud. 1. Call to Order. Chair Kovach called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. 2. Approval of the Minutes for the July 18, 2023 Regular Meeting of the LGBTQIA+ Commission. MOTION: Commissioner Shapiro made a motion to approve the minutes for the July 18, 2023 meetings. Commissioner Haddad seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 5:33 p.m. 3. Public Session on Agenda Items. Ari Kubie made a public statement on his resignation from the Middletown Board of Education. 4. New Business. A. Transgender Day of Remembrance Event (Commissioner Timmons). Commissioner Timmons explained that they would like to hold the event at the Wadsworth Mansion or First Church and sought input from the Commission. Commissioners indicated a preference for a non-religious venue. B. Middletown Pride Grant Programs. I. New Programs. AGC Forte stated that he would like to issue a second grant program to PeerPride to bring trans spaces to Middletown. AGC Forte solicited opinions from the Commissioners. Commissioner Billingsley supported that idea and also suggested Kamora Harrington of Kamora’s Cultural Corner. Commissioner Timmons stated OutFilmCT and the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective. II. Q+. AGC Forte informed the Commission that he is working to secure another year of programming with Q+. If you require special accommodations for any meeting, please call the ADA Coordinator at (860) 638- 4540, (voice) or (860) 638-4812 (TDD/TTY), or the Town Clerk’s Office at (860) 638-4910 at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting.  C. Submitted Applications for Proposed Events. I. Gayme Night at Back Again Board Games, September 18, 6-9 pm. MOTION TO APPROVE: Commissioner Haddad made a motion to approve the event as presented, at the Tier 2 expense of $700 per event. Commissioner Billingsley seconded the motion. During discussion on the motion, Commissioner Haddad stated they would like to amend the motion to include dates during November, January, March, and May. MOTION TO AMEND: Commissioner Billingsley made a motion to amend the underlying motion to approve to add dates in November, January, March and May. Commissioner Shapiro seconded the motion. Motion was approved unanimously at 6:04 pm. The underlying motion to approve was then approved unanimously at 6:04 pm. MOTION TO AMEND AGENDA: Commissioner Billingsley made a motion to amend the agenda to add an item for Karaoke Night on September 23, 2023, from 6-9 pm at Oh Mama. Commissioner Billingsley seconded the motion. Motion was approved unanimously at 6:09 p.m. II. Karaoke Night at Oh Mama, September 23, 6-9 pm. Commissioner Shapiro introduced the event and stated it would cost $600. MOTION TO APPROVE: Commissioner Billingsley made a motion to approve the event as presented. Commissioner Shapiro seconded the motion. Motion was approved unanimously at 6:11 p.m. 5. Old Business. A. Band Night at Wadsworth Mansion on July 20 from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Commissioner Aldieri). Commissioners reported on the event. B. Review of Pride Flag Tie Dye Events on June 24, July 22, and August 19 at Russell Library (Russell Library). No update. C. Review of Middletown Pride 2023 (Commissioners and Members of the Public). No update. D. New Ideas for Pride 2024 (AGC Forte). No update. If you require special accommodations for any meeting, please call the ADA Coordinator at (860) 638- 4540, (voice) or (860) 638-4812 (TDD/TTY), or the Town Clerk’s Office at (860) 638-4910 at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting.  E. Update on LGBTQIA+ Commission Initiatives and Events. I. LGBTQIA+ Commission Monthly Community Event Updates: a. August 23, 2023—Trivia Night at Recreation Center from 6-8pm (Brianna Skowera). No update. b. September 2023 (Commissioners Haddad and Santacroce, Game Night). See above. c. October 2023. No update. d. November 2023 (Commissioner Timmons, Thanksgiving Dinner). Commissioner Timmons is working on putting this together. Venues are proving difficult to find. e. December 2023. No update. f. June 2024 (Connecticut Trail Days Event, June 2, 2024 Update (Commissioner’s Shapiro and Haddad). No update. II. Safety for LGBTQIA+ Community in Middletown (Commissioner Timmons and Mangiafico). Commissioner Mangiafico will attend the Community Safety meeting next week. Commissioner Timmons stated she is working with the PD to get training for front-line officers. Commissioner Shapiro requested an update on the pride flag vandalism investigation in the north end. Captain Lozefski stated he will check in the with the Chief for an update, and that the investigation is still ongoing. III. Middlesex Health and Middletown Pride (Commissioner Jarda). No updates. 6. Adjournment. Commissioner Timmons made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Haddad seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 6:39 p.m. If you require special accommodations for any meeting, please call the ADA Coordinator at (860) 638- 4540, (voice) or (860) 638-4812 (TDD/TTY), or the Town Clerk’s Office at (860) 638-4910 at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting.