LGBTQIA+ commission sets Oct. 8 town hall and Oct. 11 Outfest, seeks volunteers

Corey, representing the mayor's office, told the commission that the group has set a town hall for Oct. 8 and Outfest for Oct. 11 and needs a small planning committee to handle logistics. He said the city has a recurring budget for Outfest and that the overall budget is "floating around $10,000," while last year's spending was closer to $2,000.

Julia McClain and Donnie Donovan described recent coordination with the Equality Center and said community partners have already expressed interest in supporting programming. Julia said the town hall will also serve as a chance to reinforce SOGI training and other civil-rights topics being advanced with the mayor's office.

Commissioners raised venue and access concerns. Members noted Hazelwood Green's accessibility challenges and discussed alternatives such as Mallon Park as a centrally located option. Donnie Donovan said the group needs to clarify entertainment, permitting and whether the city will cover performers or contractors.

Several commissioners suggested combining the two events into a single coming-out weekend to reduce audience fatigue and improve turnout. One member urged the commission to schedule a planning meeting soon so volunteer tasks, permits and budgets can be finalized.

Corey said he will send a follow-up email to organize the working group and that commissioners are welcome to help with both events; the commission expects to begin more detailed planning this summer and confirmed the Oct. 8 and Oct. 11 dates.