Middletown LGBTQIA+ Commission finalizes performer roster, adds Wesleyan Transgender Day of Visibility event

The Middletown LGBTQIA+ Commission on March 18 approved adding a Transgender Day of Visibility panel at Wesleyan and moved ahead with key logistics for Middletown PrideFest 2026, including performer confirmations, vendor outreach and accessibility planning.

Chair opened the meeting and led the vote to add the Wesleyan panel, which will be held April 2 at 4:30 p.m. in the Daniel Family Commons and will include four panels. "It is family commons at Wesleyan, and there are 4 panels," Annika said when the commission recorded the event details and the amendment passed unanimously.

Planning for PrideFest, scheduled for June, centered on performer selections and the event footprint. A committee member reported invitations were sent to returning performers and "of the 31 that went out, 29 have responded and confirmed," a sign the lineup is largely set. Organizers decided to close performer and host applications after determining only two open slots remained; the committee said it did not want to open the process if that would require turning away most applicants.

Commissioners debated whether to run one or two stages and whether hosts for the showcase should also emcee the rally portion. One committee member said they would review prior notes and follow up: "I'll find that note, and then I'll touch base, and we can link up and mix the magic," they said, committing to follow-up coordination so hosts and emcees are aligned.

Vendor and sponsor applications are live on the Pride site, Haley confirmed. "They have. The vendor applications and sponsor applications are all on the bridal website," Haley said, pointing organizers to middletownpride.org/participate for vendor sign-ups. Commissioners also discussed a Red Cross outreach about participation; Haley offered to forward contact information so city health staff could coordinate whether the Red Cross would run a blood drive or attend with an informational table.

Accessibility was raised as an event priority. Commissioners confirmed funds had been approved for ASL interpreters and asked event forms to include an interpreter-request checkbox so organizers can schedule interpreters in advance. One commissioner identified a past interpreter coordinator, Nick Dionne, and said multiple interpreters typically rotate during the program to avoid fatigue.

Other community-event updates included a recent game night that drew about 28 people despite mobile registration problems on the city site; organizers said desktop registration worked but that mobile sign-up failures likely reduced turnout. Commissioners asked staff to coordinate with the web host to restore mobile registration access.

The commission also discussed parade logistics after learning the usual parade band is unavailable this year; a commissioner suggested the Queer Big Apple Corps as a marching-band option and said they would share contact information. Chair said follow-up on sponsorship outreach and performer contracts would occur at upcoming meetings.

The commission approved routine minutes and adjourned after confirming next steps for vendor outreach, ASL coordination and finalizing stage and host responsibilities.