LGBTQIA+ Commission

MINUTES LGBTQIA+ COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING February 19, 2025 Present: Chair Steven Kovach, Vice Chair Dolly Haddad, Commissioners, Jennifer Billingsley, Laura Timmons (arrived 7:07 pm), Katie Marrotte, Anthony Mangiafico, Beth Shapiro, Cayes Jarda (joined at 7:30 pm), and Brianna Skowera; Staff, Christopher Forte. Members of the Public: Haley Stafford, Seth VanNatter, Joey Riggie and Reverend Miller 1. Call to Order By Chairperson. Chair Kovach called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. 2. Approval of the Minutes for the January 15, 2025 Regular Meetings of the LGBTQIA+ Commission. MOTION: Dolly Haddad made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 15, 2025 Regular Meeting of the LGBTQIA+ Commission. Beth Shapiro seconded the motion. Motion was approved by Steven Kovach, Dolly Haddad, Jennifer Billingsley, Katie Marrotte, Anthony Mangiafico, Beth Shapiro, and Brianna Skowera at 7:07 pm. Laura Timmons and Cayes Jarda were absent for the vote. MOTION: Brianna Skowera made a motion to remove section 4(I) from the agenda as duplicative of 5(C). Jennifer Billingsley seconded the motion. Motion was approved by Steven Kovach, Dolly Haddad, Jennifer Billingsley, Katie Marrotte, Anthony Mangiafico, Beth Shapiro, and Brianna Skowera at 7:08 pm. Laura Timmons abstained, and Cayes Jarda was absent for the vote. 3. Public Session on Agenda Items. None. 4. New Business. A. Nondiscrimination Policies and Laws Presentation (Director Richardson). Did not occur, Director Richardson was not present. B. Social Media Discussion. Commissioner Skowera detailed the new procedures for posting on Facebook and Instagram for Middletown Pride. C. Rotary Mental Health Fair at Harbor Park, May 3, 2025 from 10am-2pm. Commissioners held a discussion that Middletown Pride is not set up as a mental health provider. Commissioner Kovach stated that he would reach out to the Rotary Club with contact information for Q+, Circle Care and Middlesex Health. 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.  D. Submitted Applications for Proposed Events. I. Day of Gifts, March 29, 2025, 10am – 2 pm at Randy A. Goodwin MD Conference Center at Middlesex Hospital, cost $163 (Commissioner Marrotte). MOTION: Jennifer Billingsley made a motion to approve the event as presented. Beth Shapiro seconded. Motion was approved unanimously at 7:29 p.m. II. Trans/Gender Expansive Youth Circus Program, Saturdays in March and June, from 11am – 1pm, at First Church, cost $3,550. (Commissioner Timmons). MOTION: Laura Timmons made a motion to table this issue so that First Church can apply to be a part of Middletown Pride’s grant program. Cayes seconded the motion. A discussion was had among the commissioners that this event was not being run by commissioners, nor is it open tot he public at large. As a result, it makes more sense to have this be a part of the Middletown Pride grant program. Motion was approved unanimously at 8:02 p.m. E. Grand Marshal Nominations for PrideFEST 2025 (Commissioner Kovach). MOTION: Jennifer Billingsley made a motion to select Ace Ricker, Erin Reed, and Christopher Forte as grand marshals for PrideFEST 2025. Laura Timmons seconded the motion. Motion was approved unanimously at 7:36 p.m. F. Rejection of Sponsorships and Participation with Middletown Pride (Commissioner Skowera). Commissioner Skowera informed the Commission that CHC is no longer providing gender affirming care to people under the age of 19. They have taken no steps to refer the patients being treated to other providers, and have refused all communication by Middletown Pride on the subject. Commissioner Skowera recommended that CHC not be allowed to participate in Middletown PrideFEST in any way, including marching, vending, and sponsoring. MOTION: Steven Kovach made a motion that CHC not be allowed to participate in Middletown PrideFEST in any way, including marching, vending, and sponsoring. Jennifer Billingsley seconded the motion. Motion was approved unanimously at 8:12 p.m. G. Review of Submission Process for New Events and Creation of a New Submission Form (Commissioner Haddad). Commissioner Haddad would like to revisit the event submission form and process for submitting events and grants to Middletown Pride. No other action taken. 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.  H. Ongoing NAMI Events (Commissioner Skowera). A discussion was had by the Commissioners that the organization that recently ran a Queer Art Night program, who has expressed interest in running more events, be a part of the Middletown Pride grant program. No other action taken. I. Scholarship Program (Commissioner Skowera). Removed from agenda. No action taken. J. Sponsorship Criteria for PrideFEST 2025 (Commissioner Skowera). No action taken. K. Door knocking with the Chamber of Commerce in April (Commissioner Skowera). Commissioner Skowera is coordinating with the Chamber in early March. L. Planning for PrideFEST 2025 (Commissioners, and Members of the Public). No action taken. 5. Old Business. No updates or action taken. A. Safety for LGBTQIA+ Community in Middletown (Commissioner Timmons and Mangiafico). B. Middletown Pride Grant Program. C. Middletown Pride Scholarship Program and Scholarship Sub-Committee Report (Commissioner Shapiro). 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 Gayme Night, January 27, 2025, 6-9pm at Back Again Board Games (Commissioners Haddad, Santacroce, Marrotte). II. Recap of Educational Mental Health Event, Thursday, January 30, 2025, 6-8pm, Free Center in Middletown, co-sponsorship, cost $250-550. (Dana LaBranche). III. Recap of 2 of 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). IV. Recap of Murder Mystery Party, February 13, 2025, from 6-11pm, cost $6,625 (Commissioner Jarda). 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. Sessions of Sexual Health Education Presented by Circle Care Center, 6-8 pm, February 26, 2025, and March 5, 2025, at Hubbard Room at the Russell Library, cost $400 (Commissioner Skowera). VI. Legal Services Event, Part 2, date TBD at First Church. Cost $2,500. (Commissioner Timmons). VII. Day of GIFTS in partnership with Middlesex Health, date Saturday, March 29, 2025 – Serve on Planning Committee to help plan event. VIII. Middletown Pride River Paddle and Invasive Water Chestnut Pull, June 1, 2025, cost $2,791 (Commissioner Billingsley). IX. TCC Event Series, September 2024 through August 2025 (Cayes Jarda, Beth Shapiro, and Jennifer Billingsley) 6. Adjournment. MOTION: Laura Timmons made a motion to adjourn. Katie Marrotte seconded the motion. Motion was approved unanimously at 8:34 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.