LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission - Dec. 8, 2025
LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Special Called Meeting of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Quality of Life Advisory Commission
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2025, AT 6:30 P.M. AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS, DRISKLL ROOM 1125 4815 MUELLER BLVD AUSTIN, TEXAS Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Ryan Sperling at 512-974-3568 or ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS : Commissioner Appointment Kitty McLeod, Vice Chair (she/they) District 1 Commissioner Mariana Krueger (she/her) KC Coyne, Chair (they/them) Steven Rivas (he/him) Brigitte Bandit (they/she) Jerry Joe Benson (he/him) Asher Knutson (he/him) J. Scott Neal (he/him) Garry Brown District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 District 8 Appointment District 9 District 10 VACANT Rocío Fierro-Pérez (she/her/ella) Mayor Morgan Davis (he/him) Taylor Treviño (she/her) VACANT VACANT Stakeholder Stakeholder Stakeholder Stakeholder AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission regular meeting on October 15, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. Update on the progress of the LGBTQ+ Cultural Center Feasibility Study Task Force. Presentation by Mark Gilbert, Director, Hayat Brown. Discussion regarding the implications of SB8 on City Facilities. Discussion regarding the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling on drag shows. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Update from the Community Safety Working Group regarding planning for the February Community Safety Town Hall and a recap of the group’s recent meeting with the Chief of Police regarding the Community Liaison Officer Program and next steps. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. Approve the 2026 Annual Meeting Schedule of the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission. Approve a recommendation for urgent funding for HIV/STI and Mpox community health programs following the Tax Rate Election failure. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person …
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, October 20, 2025 The LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, October 20, 2025, at 6:30 PM at Austin City Hall, 301 W 2nd St., Austin, Texas 78701, Boards & Commissions Room 1101. Commissioners in attendance in person: KC Coyne (Chair) Brigitte Bandit Jerry Joe Benson Garry Brown Rocío Fierro-Pérez Asher Knutson Steven Rivas Commissioners in attendance remotely: Morgan Davis J. Scott Neal Chair Coyne called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Sweet Gwendolyn – Rainbow Safety Squad Dan Chavez – Rainbow Safety Squad Jonathan Barrett – Cheer Up Charlies Travis Coles – Cheer up Charlies APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission's regular meeting of September 15, 2025. The minutes of the September 15, 2025 meeting were approved on Commissioner Benson’s motion, Commissioner Brown’s second on a 9-0 vote. Vice Chair McLeod and Commissioners Krueger and Treviño were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS Page 1 of 4 2. Briefing regarding the Homeless Strategy Office’s current homelessness response efforts and key metrics, use of funding that targets trans community needs, and potential commission support. Briefing by David Gray, Director, Homeless Strategy Office. The presentation was made by David Grey, Director, and Charles Loosen, Community Engagement Consultant, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation informing commissioners about the new ASHwell Community Center. Presentation by Cy Herrera, Executive Director, ASHwell. The presentation was made by Cy Herrera, Executive Director, ASHwell. The meeting was recessed without objection at 8:05 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:15 PM. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Approve the 2026 Annual Meeting Schedule of the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission. Taken up after item 11 without objection. Item 4 was postponed to November 17, 2025 without objection. 5. Approve a Recommendation for Equal Access to IVF Benefits. Item 5 was taken up before Item 4 without objection. The motion to approve a recommendation for equal access to IVF benefits was approved on Commissioner Benson’s motion, Commissioner Fierro-Pérez’ second on an 8-0-1 vote. Commissioner Scott abstained. Vice Chair McLeod and Commissioners Krueger and Treviño were absent. 6. Approve a Recommendation for a Proclamation for Transgender Day of Remembrance. The motion to approve a recommendation for a proclamation for Transgender Day of Remembrance was approved on Commissioner Brown’s motion, Commissioner Coyne’s second …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL City of Austin LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: [To be completed by City Clerk]: Urgent Funding for HIV/STI and Mpox Community Health Programs Following TRE Failure WHEREAS, Austin Public Health (APH), in collaboration with community-based organizations, has invested in HIV, STI, and Mpox (formerly monkeypox) prevention, testing, treatment, and outreach efforts throughout the City of Austin and Travis County; and WHEREAS, despite these efforts, the region continues to face a substantial HIV burden, with Travis County reporting 6,189 people living with diagnosed HIV (PLWH) in 2024 — a 6% increase since 2020 — and 214 new HIV diagnoses in 2024, 71% among men who have sex with men (MSM), concentrated in ZIP codes 78704, 78741, and 78744 (APH HIV Surveillance Report 2025); and WHEREAS, the proportion of individuals achieving viral suppression in Travis County remains below the national goal of 90%, at only 65% in 2024; and WHEREAS, sexually transmitted infections continue to rise across Austin and Travis County, with 2024 data showing 13,482 cases of chlamydia, 5,927 cases of gonorrhea, and 1,143 cases of syphilis — including the highest rate of congenital syphilis in a decade (APH STD Program Annual Report 2025); and WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Texas continues to experience elevated rates of Mpox infections, with Austin-Travis County recording 125 confirmed cases since 2022 and more than 12,000 JYNNEOS vaccines administered locally; and WHEREAS, the November 4, 2025 Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Tax Rate Election failed to pass, eliminating funding planned for full-time equivalent (FTE) positions within APH that were intended to fill service gaps left by prior federal cuts; and WHEREAS, the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission affirms that the most effective use of available funds is through established community-based partners who provide culturally competent, trusted care to the populations most affected; and WHEREAS, without immediate funding, the City risks significant interruptions to prevention and treatment programs that protect public health and advance equity for LGBTQ Austinites and other disproportionately impacted residents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission urges the Austin City Council to immediately allocate up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) in the revised FY 2025 City Budget to sustain HIV, STI, and Mpox prevention, testing, and treatment programs. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that this allocation …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: 20251208-007: Urgent Funding for HIV/STI and Mpox Community Health Programs Following TRE Failure WHEREAS, Austin Public Health (APH), in collaboration with community-based organizations, has invested in HIV, STI, and Mpox (formerly monkeypox) prevention, testing, treatment, and outreach efforts throughout the City of Austin and Travis County; and WHEREAS, despite these efforts, the region continues to face a substantial HIV burden, with Travis County reporting 6,189 people living with diagnosed HIV (PLWH) in 2024 — a 6% increase since 2020 — and 214 new HIV diagnoses in 2024, 71% among men who have sex with men (MSM), concentrated in ZIP codes 78704, 78741, and 78744 (APH HIV Surveillance Report 2025); and WHEREAS, the proportion of individuals achieving viral suppression in Travis County remains below the national goal of 90%, at only 65% in 2024; and WHEREAS, sexually transmitted infections continue to rise across Austin and Travis County, with 2024 data showing 13,482 cases of chlamydia, 5,927 cases of gonorrhea, and 1,143 cases of syphilis — including the highest rate of congenital syphilis in a decade (APH STD Program Annual Report 2025); and WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Texas continues to experience elevated rates of Mpox infections, with Austin-Travis County recording 125 confirmed cases since 2022 and more than 12,000 JYNNEOS vaccines administered locally; and WHEREAS, the November 4, 2025 Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Tax Rate Election failed to pass, eliminating funding planned for full-time equivalent (FTE) positions within APH that were intended to fill service gaps left by prior federal cuts; and WHEREAS, the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission affirms that the most effective use of available funds is through established community-based partners who provide culturally competent, trusted care to the populations most affected; and WHEREAS, without immediate funding, the City risks significant interruptions to prevention and treatment programs that protect public health and advance equity for LGBTQ Austinites and other disproportionately impacted residents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission urges the Austin City Council to immediately allocate a minimum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in the revised FY 2025 City Budget to sustain HIV, STI, and Mpox prevention, testing, and treatment programs. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that this allocation be directed to community-based partners rather than …
