Commission will sponsor Wesleyan Trans Day observance (no funding); Trans Lifeline 5K fundraising plan tabled

The Middletown LGBTQIA+ Commission voted Feb. 18 to allow its name to sponsor a Trans Day of Remembrance/observe event at Wesleyan University on April 2 without providing financial support, and agreed to postpone a decision about involvement in a March 29 Trans Lifeline 5K fundraiser until a special meeting.

Wesleyan student organizers had asked the commission to sponsor the campus observance and provide distribution of information; the commission approved sponsorship with no money. The motion was moved and seconded and passed unanimously.

On a separate item, commissioners discussed a proposed Trans Lifeline 5K at Wesleyan on March 29. Organizers had secured an indoor track and some institutional hosting from Wesleyan’s Jewett Center for Community Partnerships; speaker discussion listed an $80 estimate for ASL interpretation and raised questions about cleaning fees, registration logistics and whether the commission should collect or route donations intended for another nonprofit. Commissioners cautioned against taking on liability for funds meant for an external charity without direct coordination. One commissioner said the commission should work with Trans Lifeline to provide a pay portal so donors can give directly to Trans Lifeline rather than routing money through the commission.

Because the financial and fiduciary details were unresolved, the commission voted to add the fundraiser item to the upcoming special meeting and instructed organizers to reach out to Trans Lifeline so the group can advise on acceptable donation mechanisms. A commission contact also called a Trans Lifeline primary contact and said the organization would provide a named contact to finalize logistics.

Next steps: organizers will contact Trans Lifeline to confirm materials and donation-processing options; the commission will revisit the fundraiser at the special meeting.