LGBTQIA+ Commission

MINUTES LGBTQIA+ COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 21, 2023 Present: Chair Steven Kovach, Vice Chair Jennifer Billingsley, Commissioners, Laura Timmons, Cayes Jarda, Dolly Haddad, Katie Morette, Jesse Nasta, and Assistant General Counsel Christopher Forte. Members of the Public: Anthony Mangiafico, Paul Brindimore, Derek Angel Cartagena, Christine Rebstock, Maria Scarlett, Captain John Lozefski. 1. Call to Order. Chair Kovach called the meeting to order at 5:37 p.m. 2. Approval of the Minutes for the October 17, 2023 Regular Meeting of the LGBTQIA+ Commission. MOTION: Commissioner Nasta made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Jarda seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 5:37 p.m. 3. Public Session on Agenda Items. Maria Scarlett, HR Specialist for the City of Middletown spoke regarding her role as staff on the Anti-Racism Task Force, informed the Commission regarding the Task Force’s goals and objectives, and requested parties interested in joining to reach out to her directly. Paul Brindimore introduced himself. 4. New Business. A. Submitted Applications for Proposed Events. I. Cookie Decorating at Sweet Harmony, December 10, 3-6 pm (AGC Forte) MOTION: Commissioner Billingsley made a motion to recommend approval of the proposed event with a budget of $800. Commissioner Morette seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 5:46 p.m. II. Happy Hour at Perk on Main, December 15, 5-7 pm (AGC Forte). MOTION: Commissioner Billingsley made a motion to recommend approval of the proposed event with a budget of $500. Commissioner Nasta seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 5:49 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.  III. Speed Dating and Friending: Ugly Sweater Edition, December 18, 6 – 9 pm at Relish (Commissioner Jarda). MOTION: Commissioner Morette made a motion to recommend approval of the proposed event with a budget of $800. Commissioner Timmons seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 5:54 p.m. 5. Old Business. A. Middletown PrideFEST 2024 (Commissioners and Members of Public). I. Recommend approvals for Middletown PrideFEST 2024. a. Application Review. AGC Forte introduced the applications, and Commissioners proposed changes. AGC Forte will make the changes requested, and resubmit to the Commission for next month’s meeting. II. New Ideas for Middletown PrideFEST 2024. No update. B. Middletown Pride Mutual Aid Program (Brianna Skowera). No update. C. Middletown Pride Discord Account and Facebook Access (Commissioner Haddad). No update on the Discord account. Commissioners stated that they enjoyed having individual access to the Middletown Pride social media accounts to post and promote their events. D. Safety for LGBTQIA+ Community in Middletown (Commissioner Timmons and Mangiafico). No updates. E. Middletown Pride Grant Program. (AGC Forte). No updates. F. Middletown Pride Scholarship Program. First subcommittee meeting will take place on December 6. No other updates. G. Middletown Pride Community Event Program. I. Recap of Queer Youth Open Mic at Downtown Trick or Treat, 11am-2pm on the South Green on October 28 (Mel Cordner). No updates. II. Recap of Gayme Night, Back Again Board Games, 6-9 pm (Commissioners Haddad and Santacroce) on November 13. Commissioner Haddad stated this was an amazing event and was much better attended than the last one. III. Recap of LGBTQIA+ Happy Hour on November 16 (Commissioner Kovach). Commissioner Kovach stated that this was a great event with over 30 people in attendance. 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.  IV. November 22, 2023—Pridesgiving (AGC Forte). AGC Forte encouraged Commissioners to promote the event and to sign up and attend. V. December 9, 2023 – Swim with Pride (Commissioner Billingsley). Commissioner Billingsley encouraged Commissioners to promote the event and attend. VI. December 10, 2023 – Cookie Decorating at Sweet Harmony (AGC Forte). No updates. VII. December 11, 2023 – Pride Health Clinic at City Hall (AGC Forte). AGC Forte encouraged Commissioners to promote the event and to sign up and attend. VIII. December 15, 2023—Happy Hour (AGC Forte, Commissioners Kovach and Shapiro). No updates. IX. December 18, 2023, Speed Dating and Friending: Ugly Sweater Edition, Relish, 6-9 pm. No updates. X. January 2024—Gayme Night, Part 4, Back Again Board Games, 6-9 pm (Commissioners Haddad and Santacroce). No updates. XI. January 2024—Flower Arranging at Wild Orchid (AGC Forte). No updates. XII. February 2024. No updates. XIII. March 2024—Gayme Night, Part 5, Back Again Board Games, 6-9 pm (Commissioners Haddad and Santacroce). No updates. XIV. April 2024. No updates. XV. May 2024—Gayme Night, Part 6, Back Again Board Games, 6-9 pm (Commissioners Haddad and Santacroce). No updates. XVI. June 2024 (Connecticut Trail Days Event, June 2, 2024 Update (Commissioner’s Shapiro and Haddad). No updates. H. Pride Flag Visibility Initiative (AGC Forte). AGC Forte has been working with the Mayor on this and will report back when there is concrete news. I. Pride Micro-Grant Initiative (AGC Forte). AGC Forte has been working with the Mayor on this and will report back when there is concrete news. 6. Adjournment. 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.