LGBTQIA+ Commission

MINUTES LGBTQIA+ COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING January 15, 2025 Present: Chair Steven Kovach, Vice Chair Dolly Haddad, Commissioners, Jennifer Billingsley (arrived at 7:08 pm), Laura Timmons, Katie Marrotte, Anthony Mangiafico, Beth Shapiro, Cayes Jarda (joined at 7:18 pm), and Brianna Skowera. Members of the Public: Haley Stafford, Seth VanNatter 1. Call to Order By Chairperson. Vice-Chair Haddad called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. 2. Approval of the Minutes for the November 20, 2024 and December 18, 2024 Regular Meetings of the LGBTQIA+ Commission. MOTION: Laura Timmons made a motion to approve the minutes from the November 20, 2024 and December 18, 2024 Regular Meetings of the LGBTQIA+ Commission. Beth Shapiro seconded the motion. Motion was approved by Steven Kovach, Dolly Haddad, Laura Timmons, Katie Marrotte, Anthony Mangiafico, Beth Shapiro, and Brianna Skowera at 7:08 pm. Jennifer Billingsley and Cayes Jarda were absent for the vote. 3. Public Session on Agenda Items. A discussion occurred with concerns of events that may out people, and whether information can be shared to groups so they do not have to physically attend events in person. Discussion if there can be questions asked prior. When signing up, there is the option to email the event coordinator directly to not have to register. Laura Timmons is going to ask fellow Legal Service coordinators if there is an option to accommodate. 4. New Business. A. Submitted Applications for Proposed Events. I. Middletown Pride River Paddle and Invasive Water Chestnut Pull, June 1, 2025, cost $2,791 (Commissioner Billingsley). MOTION: Brianna Skowera made a motion to approve the event as submitted. Katie Marrotte seconded the motion. Motion unanimously approved. 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. 4 Sessions of Sexual Health Education Presented by Circle Care Center, 6-8 pm, February 11, 2025, February 18, 2025, February 26, 2025, and March 5, 2025, at Hubbard Room at the Russell Library, cost $400 (Commissioner Skowera). MOTION: Steven Kovach made a motion to approve the event as submitted. Jennifer Billingsley seconded the motion. Motion unanimously approved. III. Proposal for Radio/Podcast Interview Series to promote Middletown Pride (cost $500). MOTION: Laura Timmons made a motion to approve the event as submitted. Katie Marrotte seconded the motion. Motion unanimously approved. B. Receipt of Bids for Lead Organizer of Middletown Pride. (AGC Forte). MOTION: Brianna Skowera made a motion to reject all bids. Jennifer Billingsley seconded the motion. Motion unanimously approved. C. Selection of Middletown Liaison for Connecticut’s LGBTQ+ Congress (Commissioner Skowera). MOTION: Beth Shapiro made a motion to have Brianna Skowera represent the LGBTQIA+ Commission at the LGBTQ+ Congress. Katie Marrotte seconded the motion. Motion unanimously approved D. Scholarship Program (Commissioner Skowera). No updates. E. Sponsorship Criteria for PrideFEST 2025 (Commissioner Skowera). MOTION: Laura Timmons made a motion to set criteria for large sponsorship donations of $5,000 or over, to ask companies to provide or make a commitment to enact a DEI policy that includes queer/trans community. Jennifer Billingsley seconded the motion. Motion unanimously approved F. Door knocking with the Chamber of Commerce in April (Commissioner Skowera). This is to help inform Main Street businesses and let them know PrideFEST is an opportunity. 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.  G. Planning for PrideFEST 2025 (Commissioners, and Members of the Public) I. PrideFEST footprint and layout. Brianna Skowera informed the Commissioners that PrideFEST will be scaled back a block, and to only have one stage located on the South Green. Spear Park will be a cooling area and art show. Brianna Skowera will reach out to the historical society to inquire whether we can hold a kid zone in their back garden. Chamber will set up meeting with the Inn at Middletown to have events inside. Reducing some food vendors. Stage on South Green will be the Showmobile and will not have full bands. 5. Old Business. A. Safety for LGBTQIA+ Community in Middletown (Commissioner Timmons and Mangiafico). No update. B. Middletown Pride Grant Program. No update. C. Middletown Pride Scholarship Program (Commissioners Timmons and Shapiro). MOTION: Jennifer Billingsley made a motion to create a 2025 scholarship sub- committee composed of Beth Shapiro, Trevor Charles, Nina Vasquez-Rosa. Katie Marrotte seconded the motion. Motion unanimously approved D. Middletown Pride Community Events Program (Total approved spending for FY 2024-2025: $26,012. Excludes the $6,500 approved for TCC). I. Recap of Middletown Pride Holiday Dinner. Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 6 pm at Perk on Main Street. Estimated cost $2,100. (Commissioner Skowera). 50 people attended. Great success. Thanks to Cayes for DJing. II. Recap of Legal Services Event, Part 1, Saturday January 4, 2025 from 12 – 4 pm at First Church. Cost $2,500. (Commissioner Timmons). Very Successful, number of attendees and volunteers. There was a wedding ceremony. III. Legal Services Event, Part 2, date TBD at First Church. Cost $2,500. (Commissioner Timmons). Looking at February for next date. IV. Gayme Night, January 27, 2025, 6-9pm at Back Again Board Games (Commissioners Haddad, Santacroce, Marrotte). January 27 is next date. 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.  V. Educational Mental Health Event, Thursday, January 30, 2025, 6-8pm, Free Center in Middletown, co-sponsorship, cost $250-550. (Dana LaBranche). No updates. VI. Murder Mystery Party, February 13, 2025, from 6-11pm, cost $6,625 (Commissioner Jarda). Event is taking place at the New Free Center. VII. Day of GIFTS in partnership with Middlesex Health, date Saturday, March 29, 2025 – Serve on Planning Committee to help plan event. Commissioners will be tabling at the event. VIII. TCC Event Series, September 2024 through August 2025 (Cayes Jarda, Beth Shapiro, and Jennifer Billingsley). No updates. 6. Adjournment. MOTION: Beth Shapiro made a motion to adjourn. Jennifer Billingsley seconded the motion. Motion unanimously approved, meeting adjourned. 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.