LGBTQIA+ Commission

MINUTES LGBTQIA+ COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MAY 21, 2024 Present: Chair Steven Kovach, Vice Chair Jennifer Billingsley, Commissioners, Laura Timmons, Cayes Jarda, Dolly Haddad, Katie Marrotte, Beth Shapiro, Christine Santacroce, Anthony Mangiafico, and Assistant General Counsel Christopher Forte. Members of the Public: Haley Stafford, Police Chief Erik Costa, Captain John Lozefski, and Cindi Perugini. 1. Call to Order. Vice Chair Billingsley called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. 2. Approval of the Minutes for the April 16 Regular Meeting of the LGBTQIA+ Commission. MOTION: Commissioner Haddad made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Santacroce seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 5:33 p.m. 3. Public Session on Agenda Items. Dana Asvey, from the National Alliance on Mental Illness introduced herself to the Commission, and informed the Commissioners that she would be willing to work on events with them focused on mental health. 4. New Business. A. Submitted Applications for Proposed Events. None. B. $500 Sponsorship Request for CHC’s Tony Ferraiolo Event, Beyond the Binary: A Journey to Self Love and Acceptance, May 29 from 5-7 pm at 675 Main Street. MOTION: Commissioner Billingsley made a motion to approve the sponsorship request. Commissioner Haddad seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 5:37 p.m. 5. Old Business. A. Middletown Pride 2024. AGC provided a general update on all the subparts of Agenda Items 5(A) and responded to questions from the Commissioners. I. Pride Kick-Off Event, Thursday, May 30, 2024 (Haley Stafford). Haley Stafford provided updates for the Commission. 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.  II. Drag Artist Story Hour at Middletown PrideFEST on June 1 at 11:30 am (Commissioner Billingsley). Commissioner Billingsley updated the Commission on the event. III. Middletown PrideFEST 2024 on June 1 from 12pm – 10 pm (Commissioners and Members of Public). See above IV. Pride Ride, June 8 at Pedal Power (Haley Stafford). Cindi provided updates on the event. 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. Safety for LGBTQIA+ Community in Middletown (Commissioner Timmons and Mangiafico). Police Chief Erik Costa spoke on the safety of attendees of PrideFEST, the DHS security alert that has been issued, and what we can expect at PrideFEST. Answered questions from the Commissioners. C. Middletown Pride Grant Program. (AGC Forte). AGC Forte updated the Commission that Peer Pride is now part of the Middletown Pride Grant Program and events will be forthcoming. D. Middletown Pride Scholarship Program (Subcommittee). No updates. E. Pride Flag Visibility Initiative (AGC Forte). No updates. F. Pride Micro-Grant Initiative (AGC Forte). No updates. G. Middletown Pride Community Event Program. AGC Forte informed the Commission that he has received $20,000 in grant funding for the Community Events Program, so Commissioners should keep that in mind when preparing the budgets and events for FY 24-25. Events can be bigger and have more impact. Commissioner Haddad updated the commissioners on the success of Gayme Night 6, where 27 people attended and had a great time. Commissioner Marrotte updated the Commission on the success of the Pride Rocks! Family event, which drew almost 50 people at the library. AGC Forte noted the success of the family friendly events, stating that it appears that there is a need for more. 6. Adjournment. MOTION: Commissioner Timmons made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Commission Marrotte. The motion was approved and meeting adjourned at 6:24 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.