Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lgbtq Advancement Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement requests sustained funding after demand outpaced grants
Summary
Julianne Lee, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement, told councilors MOLA gave $150,000 in Beyond Pride grants to 45 organizations and piloted a $100,000 family and individual legal support grant funded with one‑time contributions; demand exceeded available funding by roughly five times, the office said.
Julianne Lee, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement (MOLA), told the Boston City Council committee that MOLA has expanded grants, training and outreach but remains constrained by available funds.
Lee said MOLA awarded $150,000 in Beyond Pride grants to 45 organizations that provide housing support, emergency services, youth programming and elder services, but that demand exceeded funding by roughly five times. The office also piloted a $100,000 family and individual legal support grant funded with one‑time contributions from sibling departments; Lee said that pilot is unlikely to be renewed without new funding. MOLA allocated $50,000 to help residents cover legal fees for name and gender marker changes and supported NARCAN trainings and competency training for city and state agencies.
Lee told the committee MOLA is building a partner network, launched an advanced training to address anti‑LGBTQ+ disinformation and has increased community engagement, saying the office “is building a Boston where being your full self is not just safe, it's celebrated.”
Why it matters: councilors raised questions about legal support and housing. Lee said housing is the number one need identified in a 300‑person needs assessment MOLA recently completed, and the office has directed some grant funding to emergency housing and legal services.
Discussion versus action: MOLA described current grants and a one‑time pilot legal fund and sought continued FY26 support; no formal council action occurred at the hearing.
Ending: MOLA asked councilors to strengthen partnerships and to consider sustained funding so pilot programs and competency training can continue.
