Description
Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission
AGENDA:
April 23, 2026
Location: Hybrid*: 689 Mass. Ave, 2nd floor & Zoom
Neighborhood: City Wide
Contact
Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission <LGBTQ@CambrixxxxxxxdgeMA.gov>
617-349-3355
Agenda
Co-Chairs: Bill Barnert and Zachary Dresser
Tonight’s meeting chaired by: Zachary Dresser
Call to Order
Welcome
Approve / Modify Agenda
Approve Previous Minutes: 3/26/26
Introductions What is your personal sign/indicator that it’s Spring!
Updates on Previous Action Items
Re: Rose Lipkin Award (Pride): Commissioner Howe volunteered to connect and coordinate with Arthur Lipkin
Re: Budget: ED Gregory plans to request additional $5000 for Commission budget for programming.
Funds requested in budget process. Request currently sitting with City Manager for his approval or rejection. If approved, it goes before the Council for a final decision. ED Gregory will keep Commission appraised of progress.
Re: Working Group mission, goals, & purpose. Commissioner Monrreal will look at archives and figure out where to go from there
ED Gregory will follow up with entire Commission to see if anyone else would like to participate in the Pride Working Group. [Sent Mon, Mar 30]
Re: Inconsistencies in housing recommendations compared to current housing applications. Phoebe West suggested inviting others who are over these processes. Commissioner Foster will send Commissioner Huhmann’s notes and invite these people to one of the next two working group meetings.
Re: Recruitment poster for youth commissioner - Youth working group will ensure flyer is provided in time for Youth Pride (May 16, 2026). [Flyer is ready, waiting to find out if we will be recruiting new commissioners by then.]
Shameka will send email to recruit Commissioners for tabling at Trans-friendly Pool Party, Queer Intentional Families, Multi-Generational LGBTQ+ Dinner, Youth Pride, Mayfair, Boston Pride, & Cambridge Pride [Sent Mon, Mar 30]
ED Gregory to send blank “Hearts for Queer Youth” to Commissioners electronically & collect responses for Sam Musher (CPS). [Sent Mon, Mar 30]
Project Updates (current actions & plans, including reports from Shameka)
(Monthly until resolved): Status update on Fair Housing Ordinance change in definition of sexualities
Working Group Reports
Outreach & Visibility WG (Greg & Bill)
Queer Intentional Families Panel was very well received, but with a small audience.
Basic design for billboard done, being finalized by Rachel Alexander.
Policy & Advocacy (Vinny)
Pride (Shameka) - Cambridge Pride has been shifted to Saturday, June 20th. There were too many other competing events going on June 13th. So while we could have moved forward with that date, we would not have had the City resources we need for the day such as DPW.
Public Health & Safety WG (Vinny)
Seniors WG (Evan)
Trans Sanctuary WG (Finley)
Youth WG (Emmy)
Old Business
New Business
An organization called webinartv.us contacted us to tell us that they were highlighting one of our Working Group meetings to entice people to watch it. But we don't want our meetings recorded or published, so Shameka is talking to IT about this.
Sam Musher (CPS) has invited us to collaborate on the showing of a film The Dads. ("Amid rising anti-trans legislation and hostility in the US, dads forming a movement to support their trans and gender expansive children face an impossible choice.") There is a 10-minute short film & a 1:12 documentary version. https://www.thedadsfoundation.org/host-a-screening-or-fundraiser
We have been invited by the City Manager to a Civic Leadership Celebration on Wednesday evening, April 29, 2026. Details were emailed from Shameka to Commissioners on Apr 10th.
We have been contacted by two queer performers, Joel Light and Dan Moore, and asked if we would like to do a one-hour LGBTQ+ sing-along “participatory celebration of LGBTQ+ Songs.”
New tabling opportunity: CIRC & HRC Celebration - Saturday, May 9th from 11-2
"The Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship and the Human Rights Commission, in collaboration with several housing-focused City departments, are hosting a Community Celebration on Saturday, May 9 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the King Open School.
We would love to invite your Commissions to table at the event. We’re expecting approximately 300 to 400 attendees, and it will be a great opportunity to connect with community members and share resources."
Public Comments / Announcements
Commissioner Departure
So, we currently have twelve Commissioners*, which means we need seven to have a quorum. (*Co-chairs Bill Barnert & Zachary Dresser, and Commissioners Bob Bordone, Caitlin Egleson, Emmy Howe, Evan MacKay, Finley Foster, Frank Arce, Gregory MacDonough, Linden Huhmann, Noelani Kamelamela, & Dx. Vincent Daveed (Vinny) Monrreal.)
Program Manager Update
Upcoming films in the LGBTQ+ Film Series at the Cambridge Senior Center (First Tuesdays, 10am):
May 5: Infamous - In Kansas, with childhood friend Harper Lee (Sandra Bullock), author Truman Capote (Toby Jones) developed an intense and complex relationship with convicted killer Perry Smith (Daniel Craig) while researching what would become one of his greatest works, In Cold Blood.
June 2: The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert - When drag queen Anthony (Hugo Weaving) agrees to take his act on the road, he invites fellow cross-dresser Adam (Guy Pearce) and trans Bernadette (Terence Stamp) to come along. In their colorful bus, named Priscilla, the three performers travel across the Australian desert performing for enthusiastic crowds and homophobic locals. But when the other two performers learn the truth about why Anthony took the job, it threatens their act and their friendship.
Next Commission Meeting: Thursday, May 28th, 6-7:30pm, Hybrid*
* Hybrid meeting info
GUESTS: Please let us know if you will be coming, and whether you will be joining us in person or via Zoom by emailing LGBTQ@CambridgeMA.gov.
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.
To join via Zoom, join Zoom Meeting:
https://cambridgema.zoom.us/j/89723365868
Meeting ID: 897 2336 5868
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