Special Meeting of the LGBTQI Plus Commission - March 3, 2026 (Noted Transcript Date: March 2)
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Special Meeting of the LGBTQI Plus Commission - March 3, 2026 (Noted Transcript Date: March 2)
Note: The user instruction specifies the meeting date as March 3, 2026, but the transcript states "Monday, March 2nd, 2026". This summary uses the instructed date and notes the discrepancy.
The special meeting of the LGBTQI Plus Commission was called to order at 7:02 PM and adjourned at 7:17 PM. All six attending commissioners participated via virtual roll call votes. The meeting addressed two agenda items: selection of Grand Marshals for the upcoming Pride events and the proposed Trans Lifeline 5K fundraiser.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Haley Stafford (representing the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, fiscal agent for Middletown Pride) stated that the Chamber cannot fundraise for another organization due to auditing and back-end complications. She encouraged fundraising for Middletown Pride itself, noting that sponsorships have declined compared to the prior year. She also explained that the Chamber can accept cash, card donations via a card reader, Venmo, and checks for Middletown Pride.
Discussion Items
- Grand Marshal Selection (Item 3A): The commission reviewed compiled scores for nominees. The top vote-getters were John Pepe and Jennifer Billingsley. A motion was made to approve them as Grand Marshals, with the understanding that if either declines, the next highest-scoring nominee would be offered the position. The motion passed unanimously via roll call.
- Trans Lifeline 5K Fundraiser (Item 3B): Commissioner Lisa Loomis-Davard reported that she had left two messages for the contact provided but received no response. She proposed converting the event into a walk to show support for the trans community, providing information about donation options (including an organization supporting trans people in Kansas) rather than a formal fundraiser. Commissioner Annika Dane noted that a Wesleyan organization is excited to cover Wesleyan-related costs and that community members (e.g., from the Anti-Racism Task Force) are supportive. After discussion, the commission decided to hold the event as a Trans Day of Visibility fundraiser for Middletown Pride, with commissioners taking donations, selling merchandise, and allowing other trans-focused organizations to table or distribute materials. This motion passed unanimously via roll call.
Key Outcomes
- Grand Marshals: John Pepe and Jennifer Billingsley were approved unanimously. If either declines, the next highest-ranked nominee will be offered the position.
- Trans Day of Visibility Event: The commission voted unanimously to hold a walk/visibility event on March 31, 2026 (Trans Day of Visibility) as a fundraiser for Middletown Pride. Commissioners will accept donations (cash, Venmo, checks) and sell merchandise. Other trans organizations may table or provide information. The chair (Brianna Bloom Scavera) will place a placeholder in the newsletter with an image and mention of this event and the previously approved Wesleyan TDOV event, with a follow-up email when graphics are ready.
- Meeting adjourned at 7:17 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Um Brianna Bloom Scavera, and we are calling to order the special meeting of the LGBTQI Plus Commission scheduled for Monday, March 2nd, 2026 at 7 p.m. It is currently 702. Because this is a virtual meeting, I am going to read out the names of commissioners who are in attendance. Any votes that will be taken tonight will be made through roll votes. Each person will be called upon to vote individually. Again, I am the chair of Brianna Scavera. We have Commissioner Angela Crow, Commissioner Annika Dane, Commissioner Beth Shapiro, Commissioner Derek Cartoenia, Commissioner Katie Marot. I apologize if I misspelled your last uh mispronounced your last name. And Commissioner Lisa Loomis Davard. We are joined from a member of the public, our partner at Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, Haley Stafford. As a reminder, because this is a special meeting, only items on the agenda can be discussed, which means there can be no good of the order conversations, no new business can be added. Meeting has been called to order, so we will move on to the public session on agenda items. There is one member of the public, Haley Stafford. Haley, if you wish to speak, you may on the agenda items. If I don't hear from you in a few seconds, we'll move on. I think you can go on. Thank you. First item under item three, a grand marshal selection. Within the meeting packet, we have the compiled scores for the nominees. It appears that John Pepe and Jennifer Billingsley have received the most votes. If either declines, we would continue to offer in the order that it people are listed. I'll make that motion. Moved by Angela. I was gonna say, and I can second that. Second by Katie. Is there any discussion? Okay. Seeing none, uh, we will do a roll call vote. Um we'll start with Commissioner Angela. I approve. Annika. I approve. Approve. Derek. Approved. Katie. Approved. Lisa. And I vote yay as well. Matter passes unanimously. We'll now go to item 3B, trans lifeline 5K fundraiser. I will turn this over to Commissioner Loomis Tavern to discuss. Hi, so I um did I think leave a two messages with that number that was provided, and I have not heard back. Um so my thinking is um that we do the walk um asking people to show up in support of um the trans community. And there we um we provide people with information about some places that they could donate to if they want to show further financial support for the community. Um we know the things that are happening in Kansas right now. Um there might uh I believe there's an organization that's specific to um supporting trans people in Kansas. So um in addition to TransLifeline, just sharing um a couple of organizations so that we can still do something and um show support for the community, but just not um sponsor or host the the fundraiser piece. May I ask a question?
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