Middletown LGBTQIA+ Commission adopts 2026 meeting calendar after debate over earlier start times

The Middletown LGBTQIA+ Commission on Dec. 17 approved its 2026 meeting calendar, keeping regular meetings on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.

The commission’s chair opened the discussion on the draft calendar and commissioners debated whether to return to earlier start times that had been used previously. Committee member (S2) said the group had "talked about in the past" moving meetings earlier; Committee member (S3) replied, "Earliest I could do would be 6 personally," citing scheduling constraints. Several commissioners said they had grown used to the 7 p.m. time and preferred leaving it as is.

Committee member (S2) moved to adopt the calendar and the motion was seconded; the transcript records the motion "passes unanimously." The calendar lists monthly meetings for Feb. 21, Feb. 18, March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, 2026, and an additional date of Jan. 20. The commission’s minutes-approval vote earlier in the meeting recorded "one abstention and five ayes" for approval of the Nov. 19 minutes; individual vote-by-name for either vote was not recorded in the transcript.

Commissioners said logistics such as room availability and staff capacity would drive any future move to an earlier start time. Chair (S1) asked commissioners to raise specific availability concerns ahead of when the calendar would be finalized so staff could check facility scheduling.

The commission did not change the start time at the meeting and adopted the calendar to guide its meetings and event planning for 2026. The commission adjourned at the end of the session; next steps include notifying stakeholders of the approved dates and confirming room reservations.