REGULAR MEETING OF THE LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026 AT 6:30 P.M. AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2ND ST. 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 Commissioner Kitty McLeod, Vice Chair (she/they) District 1 Mariana Krueger (she/her) Appointment District 9 KC Shepherd Coyne, Chair (they/he) District 2 Devan Daniel (he/him) District 10 Steven Rivas (he/him) District 3 Rocío Fierro-Pérez (she/her/ella) Mayor Brigitte Bandit (they/she) District 4 Morgan Davis (he/him) Jerry Joe Benson, Secretary (he/him) District 5 Randy Pituk (he/him) Asher Knutson (he/him) District 6 Marlon Johnson (he/him) J. Scott Neal (he/him) District 7 Anna Nguyen (she/her) Garry Brown District 8 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 June 15, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Austin Police Department’s (APD) communication and engagement with LGBTQ+ communities; gaps and challenges; status of the Community Liaison Officer program; and APD policies, training, and initiatives related to the LGBTQ+ community. Briefing by Chief Lisa Davis, APD. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Presentation to introduce Queer MMA ATX and provide information on an upcoming Queer Fight Night in Spring 2027. Presentation by Luis Villareal and Marléne M. Feliz Nina, Queer MMA ATX. Presentation regarding OutYouth’s programming, history, challenges, and successes. Presentation by Jaryn Holbrook Janeway, Executive Director, OutYouth. Recognition of Commissioner Rivas’ work on Mayor’s Task Force on Public Spaces and discussion of community celebrations in June. Discussion to collect feedback on what to include in the 2025 Annual Report. Discussion regarding priorities for the August meeting and a potential community social event before. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. 7. 5. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Update from the LGBTQIA+ Cultural Center Working Group regarding their first …
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2026 The LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission convened in a special called meeting on Monday, June 15, 2026 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) Kitty McLeod (Vice Chair) Garry Brown Devan Daniel Marlon Johnson J. Scott Neal Randy Pituk Steven Rivas Commissioners in attendance remotely: Morgan Davis Rocío Fierro-Pérez Mariana Krueger Anna Nguyen Chair Coyne called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission regular meeting on May 20, 2026. The minutes were approved as amended at the June 15, 2026 meeting on Vice Chair McLeod’s motion, Commissioner Brown’s second on an 11-0 vote. Commissioner Fierro-Pérez was o(cid:431) the dais. Secretary Benson and Commissioners Bandit and Knutson were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. Presentation regarding the impact of SB12 on the Austin Independent School District (AISD). Presentation by Edna Butts, Intergovernmental Relations Director, AISD. Withdrawn without objection. Presentation providing an update on SB12. Presentation by Ash Hall, Policy & Advocacy Strategist on LGBTQIA+ Rights, ACLU of Texas. The presentation was made by Ash Hall, Policy & Advocacy Strategist on LGBTQIA+ Rights, ACLU of Texas. Presentation by the SAFE Alliance regarding their closing and at-risk programs. Presentation by Dani Fletcher, Director of Communications and Marketing, SAFE Austin. The presentation was made by Dani Fletcher, Director of Communications and Marketing, SAFE Austin. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding proclamation dates for the 2026 calendar year. The recommendation to Council regarding proclamation dates for the 2026 calendar year was approved on Commissioner Brown’s motion, Chair Coyne’s second on a 12- 0 vote. Secretary Benson and Commissioners Bandit and Knutson were absent. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding SAFE Alliance – Eloise House funding. Item 6 was taken up after Item 4 without objection. The recommendation was approved as amended to read as follows on Chair Coyne’s motion, Commissioner Neal’s second on a 12-0 vote. Recommendation: The LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that the Austin City Council and the Mayor’s O(cid:431)ice, in partnership with Travis County and other funding partners, identify and allocate su(cid:431)icient emergency and bridge funding to ensure the uninterrupted …
QUEER MMA AUSTIN PRESENTS QUEER FIGHT NIGHT ATX Spring 2027 • A community martial arts event for LGBTQIA+ Austin Who we are Founded in August of 2025, Queer MMA is a free, volunteer-run monthly martial arts program for Austin's LGBTQ+ community, hosted at Black Widow MMA — one of the state's most recognized LGBTQ-friendly gyms. Open to everyone All skill levels welcome. Participants range from beginner to advanced. Real instruction Rotating monthly technique focus - Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, & Muay Thai More than a class Partnerships with community orgs like Trans Education Network of Texas, allgo, Kind Clinic, Queer Black Women Alliance, and Autonomy Austin who provides resources on trans healthcare access in Texas. FREE every month, no cost barrier 100% volunteer-run coaching 321 unique registrations since Aug 2025 10-40 participants per session August 2025 October 2025 Why this matters Safety & self-defense Traditional martial arts spaces are often unwelcoming — or unsafe — for queer and trans people. Dedicated spaces remove that barrier at a time when our community faces rising hostility. Physical, mental, & emotional health Martial arts builds fitness, confidence, and body autonomy. For trans participants especially, feeling at home in your own body is powerful and rare. Community connection Training together builds deep trust. Queer MMA has become a monthly gathering point. Participants travel as far as Round Rock, San Antonio, College Station, and the Dominican Republic to attend our classes — a fight night scales that connection nationwide. Human Impact From 12 testimonials submitted by Queer MMA participants in July 2026 Respondents were 67% BIPOC and 58% low-income “ As a transgender woman I did not feel like I could ever go train at a gym without the sport being taken away from me because of prejudice. Spaces and opportunities like this are very important to me and other queer people alike — especially here in Texas. – Alessia “ I could just show up, train, and have fun without worrying about being judged for being gay. I could focus on learning martial arts instead of wondering if I needed to hide parts of myself or whether someone would treat me differently because of who I am. That feeling of safety is something I don't take for granted. - Alex “ “This group has made me feel so much safer and less alone in a world that is getting very scary for queer people. …
36 Years of Life-Saving Care, Connection, and Community Presented By JARYN HOLBROOK JANEWAY, MBA, SHRM-SCP Executive Director | They/Them Who We Are & Why We Exist 2 Why We Exist: The Reality for LGBTQ+ Youth ● 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered suicide in the past year—including 46% of transgender and nonbinary youth. ● 50% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were unable to access it. ● 49% of LGBTQ+ youth ages 13–17 experienced bullying in the past year. Source: The Trevor Project National Survey 3 Our 36-Year Journey (1990 – 2026) ● 1990: Two UT Social Work graduate students begin hosting support groups in Austin living rooms. ● 1995: Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to protect and serve local youth. ● 1998: We purchase and move into our historic 1,900-square-foot house in North Central Austin—which we still call home today. ● 2001: Free mental health care services added to our offerings. ● 2015: The Youth Development Model, the first of its kind, is created in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin. ● Today: 36 years of uninterrupted service, impacting over 40,000 lives across Central Texas. 4 The Youth Development Model 5 Core Youth Programs (Ages 9–23) ● The Drop-In Community Center: Tailored, age-separated environments designed to foster belonging, safety, and friendship. ○ Pre-Teen Program (Ages 9–12) | Focus: Exploration ○ Teen Program (Ages 13–17) | Focus: Discovery ○ Young Adult Program (Ages 18–23) | Focus: Awareness ● Everyday Resources: Secure virtual drop-in centers via Discord 6 Our Developmental Framework ● The 6 Pillars of Youth Excellence: Our programs purposefully build skills across six core developmental domains. ○ 1. Social Development: Interpersonal relationships and life skills. ○ 2. Self-Discovery: Fostering high self-esteem and authentic identity. ○ 3. Community Connections: Civic involvement and mutual advocacy. ○ 4. Health & Wellness: Self-care, safety, and physical/mental well-being. ○ 5. Leadership: Peer collaboration and program advisory roles. ○ 6. Future Planning: Transitioning to higher education, employment, and stable adulthood. 7 Youth Initiatives, Cultural Spaces, & Media Arts ● The Jerry Strickland Jr. Memorial Library: The largest privately managed collection of queer literature in Texas, completely cataloged and free for public checkout. ● The Media Arts Program: Empowers youth to master creative technology, digital storytelling, and content creation in an affirming environment. ● David Bohnett CyberCenter & Sound Studio: Providing technology equity, digital literacy, and creative …
