Item 7: Draft Recommendation — original pdf

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RECOMMENDATION NO. [Assigned by City Clerk] A RECOMMENDATION REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO REVIEW THE CITY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH AUSTIN PRIDE, EXPLORE CROSS-CITY BENCHMARKING OF PRIDE FESTIVALS, AND IDENTIFY OPTIONS FOR CITY-SUPPORTED PRIDE CELEBRATIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF YEAR TO BETTER REFLECT THE AUSTIN LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY’S NEEDS. WHEREAS, the City of Austin recognizes the importance of Pride celebrations in affirming the visibility, safety, and belonging of LGBTQIA+ residents, employees, and visitors; WHEREAS, the Austin Pride festival has historically served as the city’s flagship celebration of LGBTQIA+ communities, but the current organizational structure, funding relationship, and scheduling approach have raised questions about inclusivity, transparency, and alignment with City values; WHEREAS, many major U.S. cities directly fund, coordinate, or partner with local Pride events through structured agreements, city-led committees, or grants that ensure accountability, equity, and representation across LGBTQIA+ subcommunities; WHEREAS, Austin’s Pride celebration is typically held in August, which presents accessibility and safety challenges due to extreme heat, and diverges from the June national observance of Pride Month, limiting coordination with regional and national advocacy efforts; WHEREAS, local community groups and LGBTQ+ leaders have expressed interest in expanding Austin’s Pride-related programming, including trans visibility events, queer arts and culture showcases, and inclusive family-oriented celebrations that reflect the full spectrum of Austin’s unique LGBTQIA+ community; and, WHEREAS, reviewing Austin’s current approach and benchmarking against peer cities could help identify best practices for equitable city partnerships, funding models, and scheduling that better support community needs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that the City Council direct the City Manager to review the City’s current relationship with Austin Pride, including potential funding mechanisms, contracts, city services support, and coordination across departments (including Economic Development, Equity Office, and Visit Austin). BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Commission recommends that the City Council direct staff to conduct a benchmarking analysis of Pride festivals in comparable cities—such as Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Denver, and Portland—to assess governance structures, timing, city support models, and community engagement practices. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Commission recommends that the City Council direct staff to explore and evaluate options for hosting or supporting additional City-recognized Pride celebrations at other times of year, including events aligned with national LGBTQ+ observances such as Pride Month (June), Trans Day of Visibility (March), or LGBTQ History Month (October). BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Commission recommends that City Council direct staff to report back to Council and the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission within six months with findings, recommendations, and options for improved coordination, funding equity, and scheduling for Austin’s Pride celebrations. Sponsored by: [Commissioner Name(s)] Date Approved by Commission: [Insert Date]