LGBTQIA+ Commission

MINUTES LGBTQIA+ COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING APRIL 16, 2024 Present: Chair Steven Kovach, Vice Chair Jennifer Billingsley, Commissioners, Laura Timmons, Cayes Jarda, Dolly Haddad, Katie Marrotte, Beth Shapiro, Jesse Nasta, and Assistant General Counsel Christopher Forte. Members of the Public: Joanna Schnurman, Holly Simon, Haley Stafford, Captain John Lozefski, Cindi Perugini, and Ethel De Luxe. 1. Call to Order. Vice Chair Billingsley called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. 2. Approval of the Minutes for the March 19 Regular Meeting of the LGBTQIA+ Commission, and of the April 2, 2024 Special Meeting of the Middletown Pride Scholarship Subcommittee. MOTION: Commissioner Shapiro made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Haddad seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 5:33 p.m with Laura Timmons absent for the vote. 3. Public Session on Agenda Items. Joanna Shnurman and Holly Simon from Adath Israel introduced themselves to the Commissioners. Public Comment was reopened at 6:37 pm, upon a motion by Commissioner Laura Timmons, seconded by Commissioner Marrotte. Ephraim Adams then addressed the Commission. 4. New Business. A. Approval of Mayoral Proclamation for June 2024. MOTION: Commissioner Kovach made a motion to approve the Mayoral Proclamation for June 2024 with four amendments. Commissioner Shapiro seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously at 5:34 p.m. The changes to the proposed motion made on the floor are as follows: 1. Amend the first WHEREAS clause to include the following language: “courageously fought back against long-standing and ubiquitous discrimination from every facet of society, in this instance from police officers at the Stonewall Inn. In doing so, they ushered in the LGBTQIA2S+ liberation movement, which challenged the widespread criminalization and discrimination of LGBTQIA2S+ people.” 2. Add in number of community events the LGBTQIA+ 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.  Commission organized over the past year as part of the Middletown Pride Community Events Program; 3. Make sure the order of grand marshals and donations Middletown Pride are making on their behalf are reflective of each other; and 4. Ensure that the proclamation is clear that Middletown Pride organized the first LGBTQIA2S+ events for teens. B. Submitted Applications for Proposed Events. I. Middletown Pride Pop-Up Shop, Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 5-8 pm (Haley Stafford. MOTION: Commissioner Haddad made a motion to approve the event as proposed. Commissioner Kovach seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 5:45 p.m. 5. Old Business. A. Middletown Pride 2024. I. Pride Kick-Off Event, Thursday, May 30, 2024 (Haley Stafford). Haley Stafford provided updates for the Commission. II. Drag Artist Story Hour at Middletown PrideFEST on June 1 at 11:30 am (Commissioner Billingsley). Commissioner Billingsley updated the Commission and the decision was made to keep the time of the event at 11:30 am. III. Middletown PrideFEST 2024 on June 1 from 12pm – 10 pm (Commissioners and Members of Public). AGC Forte provided updates to the Commission. IV. Pride Ride, June 8 at Pedal Power (Haley Stafford). MOTION: Commissioner Haddad made a motion to approve the amended budget for the event as proposed. Commissioner Shapiro seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 6:09 p.m. V. Books and Brews at Stubborn Beauty on June 13 (Christy Billings). No updates. VI. Book Talks with a Walk on June 24 from 12 – 1 pm (Christy Billings). No updates. B. Middletown Pride Mutual Aid Program (Brianna Skowera). No updates. No further action needed. 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. Middletown Pride Discord Account and Facebook Access (Commissioner Haddad). No updates. No further action needed. D. Safety for LGBTQIA+ Community in Middletown (Commissioner Timmons and Mangiafico). Commissioner Timmons spoke on vandalism in schools and Captain Lozefski from Middletown Police Department will be following up. E. Middletown Pride Grant Program. (AGC Forte). AGC Forte updated the Commission that Peer Pride is now part of the Middletown Pride Grant Program. F. Middletown Pride Scholarship Program (Subcommittee). MOTION: Commissioner Shapiro made a motion to approve the recommended recipients for the first-ever Middletown Pride Scholarship Program as proposed: $7,000 to William Ollayos, $2,000 to Kenzie Howden, and $1,000 to Claire Fresher. Commissioner Timmons seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 6:23 p.m. G. Pride Flag Visibility Initiative (AGC Forte). No updates. H. Pride Micro-Grant Initiative (AGC Forte). No updates. I. Middletown Pride Community Event Program. No updates. 6. Adjournment. MOTION: Commissioner Timmons made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Commission Haddad. The motion was approved and meeting adjourned at 6:54 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.