Description
Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission
AGENDA: Jan. 22, 2026, 6pm
Location: Hybrid: 689 Mass Ave, 2nd Floor Conference Room & Zoom https://cambridgema.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BWFKe6SwRUG8pn_h76RECA
Neighborhood: City Wide
Contact
Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission <LGBTQ@CambridgeMA.gov>
617-349-3355
Agenda
Co-Chairs: Bill Barnert and Zachary Dresser
Tonight’s meeting chaired by: Zachary Dresser
Welcome
Approve / Modify Agenda
Approve Previous Minutes (2025-12-11)
Introductions
Updates on Previous Action Items
Domestic Partnership Zine (October), tabled in December) —PL Hallahan requested final edits to the text before sending the draft to the artist. Chair Barnert and Commissioner Huhmann will provide edits. A draft version of the ‘zine has been received from the artist & Bill & Linden should review for edits.
Project Updates (current actions and plans, including reports from Shameka)
(Monthly until resolved): Status update on Fair Housing Ordinance change in definition of sexualities. No updates as of now
Gender Inclusion Ordinance-Legal Department has the language and is reviewing. Shameka touching base periodically.
Update on Housing Task Force from Phoebe West. Recommendations included as Item 1 below
Rebranding update
Working with the Cambridge Public Library:
Emmy & Bill met with Ruby Vail of the Central Square Library, and realized that there are a number of events that various Working Groups are working with the library on. Here is a list so cross-promotion can happen. (And so people in each WG understand that we may be overloading the library staff!)
NOTE: Some -- maybe all -- of these events may be co-sponsored by the library. But some they may just help us promote.
We should review the level of staff support that is needed/desired for each of these.
The Youth WG plans to host three kinds of community events, spread out & probably recurring:
Banned Book Read-Aloud - Family Friendly
Banned Book Read-Around for Adults
LGBTQ+ Craft event
The Youth WG is also planning a weekend day event, with a film & performance by drag queen Aurora Whorealis (Kalon Shepard) - date to be determined by Kalon's schedule.
The Trans Sanctuary WG is planning a Book Group reading of Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas. [NOTE: This has been put on the back burner for now.]
The Seniors WG is planning a Book Group reading of How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective.
The Outreach & Visibility WG is planning an informational panel event on April 9th on Queer Adoption & Fostering in Massachusetts.
Working Group Reports
Outreach & Visibility WG (Greg & Bill)
We will be hosting an evening on Queer Fostering & Adoption in Massachusetts at the CPL on Thursday, April 9th, from 6-8. Mark your calendars!
If you know someone who might make a good candidate to be on a panel that evening, let us know.
We will be using the spreadsheet at Contacts for Queer Intentional Families Panel to keep track of who is contacting whom.
We did something really cool. Since we were taking the minutes in real time in Sharepoint, and everyone could see them, at the end of the meeting, the minutes were ready. So we voted to approve them instead of waiting a month.
Policy & Advocacy (Vinny)
Public Health & Safety WG (Vinny)
Seniors WG (Evan)
Trans Sanctuary WG (Finley)
Planning an indoor TRANS + GENDER EXPANSIVE POOL PARTY similar to this summer’s outdoor event, perhaps on or near Trans Day of Visibility (March 31st)
Heath Umbreit recently gave a presentation to SpeakOUT about trans athletes, and we reviewed their slides.
Next meeting: Tuesday, February 10 at 5:30pm
Youth WG (Emmy)
We hope to coordinate with the library & the YWCA on a number of regular events (see i. above).
Sam Musher, Youth Advocacy Specialist at Cambridge Public Schools, attended the meeting & helped us plan how to interface with students in & out of CPS.
We are hoping to have an out-of-school movie & entertainment event at the Cambridge Public Library on a Sunday afternoon in February.
Next meeting: Tuesday, February 17th, 4-5pm
Old Business
SAGE Table (April & October), Pride 2026, Monthly films at the Senior Center & Newsletters:
Shameka is taking the lead on these items. If you are interested in assisting in planning any of these things, please volunteer
New Business
Recruiting new Commissioners
There are currently 14 Commissioners. A "full house" would be 20.
Everyone whose term ends this year has indicated they would like to stay on.
Do we want to add more Commissioners?
When?
How? (Zack has offered to lead this if we do it.)
BLU Foundation will be joining us at next meeting
Public Comments / Announcements
Next Commission Meeting: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 6pm, Hybrid
*Hybrid meeting info
GUESTS: Please register for the meeting using the link below.
https://cambridgema.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BWFKe6SwRUG8pn_h76RECA
To join in person, come to 689 Mass. Ave, Cambridge. If the front door is locked, call us at 617-349-3355. Come up to the 2nd floor and follow the signs.
Item 1
City Manager’s LGBTQ+ Friendly Housing Task Force Report Recommendations
The Task Force recommends the following measures to make housing in Cambridge more
LGBTQ+ friendly.
1. Create an LGBTQ+ Community Space in Cambridge
Establish a city-wide LGBTQ+ community space within one of the planned housing
developments. This space would function as a central hub for resources and events.
Resources would include information on commissions and city services, health and
wellness, housing opportunities, and avenues for sharing information regarding how to
address discrimination. It could also be used for LGBTQ+ cultural and social events such
as clothing swaps, SAGE Table intergenerational meals, and celebrations.
To ensure effective programming and development of this space, the Task Force
suggests that the City explore partnerships with an existing LGBTQ+ serving
organization with a presence in Cambridge or the Greater Boston area.
2. Develop and administer a City of Cambridge LGBTQ+ Friendly Housing Accreditation
LGBTQ+ Friendly Housing Accreditation would include requirements for affordable and
market-rate housing providers and property managers to meet certain standards for staff
training, gender-inclusive and relationship-inclusive applications, gender neutral
bathrooms, LGBTQ+-welcoming programming, and visibility. The City would curate and
disseminate best practices, offer trainings, develop accreditation criteria and implement
a process for providers and managements to obtain and maintain accreditation.
For the City and its residents, accreditation would support consistency and accountability
to LGBTQ+ friendly housing goals. This program could become the first of its kind at the
municipal level, offering Cambridge the chance to develop a rigorous and effective
model that could be tested locally and shared nationally.
3. Develop guidelines for future city funded housing developments to be more welcoming
Guidelines would include implementing features such as gender-neutral bathrooms,
display rainbow flags, and decorate with images of LGBTQ+ and racially diverse families
to increase inclusivity. Encourage housing providers to host LGBTQ+-related activities
and events. Additionally, provide LGBTQ+-inclusive materials—such as Pride month
packages with rainbow flags and brochures from the LGBTQ+ Commission—to all
housing providers.
4. Increase LGBTQ+ visibility through public art
Choose an affordable property from the City’s development pipeline to host a public art
installation celebrating LGBTQ+ history and culture. Partner with the Arts Commission
and the LGBTQ+ Commission to select and fund an LGBTQ+ artist to create a
compelling and meaningful installation.
5. Adopt measures to increase inclusivity of gender and relationship diversity in all housing programs
Revise city funded housing program applications and materials to enhance clarity and
inclusivity, using the City of Boston’s gender-aware guidelines and standards as a
starting point. Measures would include the following: Request gender information only
when necessary. Avoid limiting gender identity to binary male/female options; instead,
allow individuals to self-identify their gender. Unless required by law, regulation, or other
non-local funding source, do not restrict self-identification to what is specified on
government documents. If documentation is needed, clearly specify the type required
and provide a clear explanation of the intended use of any gender information collected.
Update terminology to better reflect relationship diversity and employ language that
clearly conveys the purpose of the question. See Appendix A for specific measures.
6. Consider a specific study around homelessness and LGBTQ+ identity
Because the needs and experiences of unhoused people are multiple and complex, the
Task Force decided not to incorporate this population into our study. Consider a specific
study around the needs and experience of unhoused members of the LGBTQ+
community in Cambridge.
7. Continue to prioritize affordable housing that meets the needs of diverse family and relationship configurations
Along with many communities, the LGBTQ+ community has expressed a strong need for
more affordable housing in Cambridge. Furthermore, investing in living spaces with more
bedrooms will serve people with diverse relationship statuses and family structures.
8. Identify and direct appropriate city departments to implement recommendations
Ensure there is staff capacity and resources to develop budgets and workplans to
achieve these recommendations.