06/17/2025 Meeting Notes

CCDC meeting notes 6/17/2025: LGBTQ+ issues and policies

1. Corinna’s intro:
   1. If members could pay their dues, it’d be really helpful, as income does determine some of the projects we can take on. Cost will never be a barrier to your ability to participate, but it could be a barrier to how much you can participate in (via how much we are able to do)
   2. Caroline County DCC meets next Thursday, 6/26, at the Denton library. Open session is from 6:00–6:30
   3. Reminder of Corinna’s background on LGBTQ issues
      1. Queer person with deep ties to the queer community, history of successful activism for lgbTq+ & disabled people
   4. Introduction of speakers:
      1. Angel Perez, CEO Caroline Pride
      2. Jeremy Browning, Director, MD Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs
2. Meeting
   1. Angel’s background
      1. Caroline Pride founder
         1. Founded after the first pride fest
         2. Young people at the festival kept talking about leaving, Caroline Pride seeks to make them feel accepted 
         3. Office focuses on providing/connecting resources to LGBTQ+ people in Caroline to offer a safe space, hosts a support group for LGBTQ+ youth
            1. Announces the youth group will be launching a podcast
      2. Involved community member, has run for town council in Denton
         1. Representation matters and Angel feels strongly his work and who he is while doing it has been making a positive impact and making Caroline County more accepting
   2. Jeremy Browning
      1. Founder of Annapolis Pride in 2018, left to become Director of the MD commission on LGBTQIA+ affairs
      2. Commission mission statement: To serve LGBTQIA+ Marylanders by galvanizing community voices, researching and addressing challenges, and advocating for policies to advance equity and inclusion. 
      3. Publishes reports and examines how legislation will impact lgbtq+ people
      4. One of 2 employees paid to do this by the state
      5. Pride festivals and organizations across the state (including the shore) have been growing and multiplying
      6. Has seen an increase in constituents reaching out regarding the increase in harassment and discrimination this year
   3. Q&As
      1. More paid positions/funding for the commission?
         1. Advocates for inclusion 
         2. The commission struggles to meet the needs of the state’s lgbtq+ community 
         3. MD is in a budget deficit right now
      2. How challenging was the last legislative session?
         1. Carlton R. Smith Act – passed; decriminalizes HIV status
         2. Tough session this year but 9/10 priority bills were passed
            1. Not passed was a trans-specific bill regarding birth certificates
         3. Gearing up for next year already
      3. Clarifying questions for Angel about Caroline Pride
         1. Under mid-shore community foundation and is a non-profit
         2. Community partners:
            1. Mid-shore community foundation, chesapeake college pride club, mid-shore behavioral health, trans maryland, etc.
         3. Caroline County is not an easy place for Angel or his organization
            1. He has received death threats
            2. Has had to move due to trespassing and harassment
      4. Cultural history and education
         1. Commission has a committee that pushes for inclusive education that represents all students with all identities
         2. Caroline pride tries to partner with ccps
      5. Providing education to adults as well as children
         1. Commission has education resources on their resources page
         2. Corinna is willing to meet or answer questions
      6. Is there a peer support group?
         1. Pflag in salisbury or delmarva pride in easton have some
3. The importance of local government––representation and attending meetings
   1. Our local government does not reflect us and we do not have voices in these rooms most of the time where these decisions are being made
   2. We need
      1. People to run for local office
      2. People to attend local meetings and be there to object to policies that further inequities in Caroline County

Resources:

Questions:

corinnacrenshaw@gmail.com

Check on the status of the md commission on LGBTQ+ affairs’ policy recommendations this year here: