Title
Notice/Advertisement Title: LGBTQ+ Commission Meeting 9/16/2026 Draft Meeting Minutes
Contact Name: Raven Ho
Contact Telephone Number: 614-645-9692
Contact Email Address: rvho@columbus.gov
Body
Columbus LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission Meeting Minutes
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Columbus City Hall (90 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215), 2nd Floor,
City Council Conference Room, Room 225
Commissioners’ Present: Julia M. Applegate, Siobhan Boyd-Nelson, Adam Cogar, Tyson Crenshaw, Jaylah Hollins, Jonathan Keilholz, Chair Jasmine Roberts-Crews PhD, Blaine G. Saito, Vice Chair Thomas Savage, Riley Williamson
Commissioners Absent: Jamie Luby Lenzo, Peaches Calhoun.
Staff Present: Marshall Troxell (Mayors Office), Raven Ho (Office of Diversity and Inclusion), Andrew Borst (Office of Diversity and Inclusion).
Agenda:
• Call to Order & Welcome
o Chair calls to order 6:05 p.m.
• Approval of the August 19, 2026 Meeting Minutes
o Motion to approve by Adam Coger at 6:06 p.m., Chair Roberts-Crew seconded, passed unanimously.
• Executive Committee Update
o Chair Roberts-Crew discussed what is done in the executive committee, the quarterly cadence, contextualized what the committees are working on, what support is required and where the committee needed consensus from the full commission.
o Chair Roberts-Crew updated the commission on the RFP, what was edited, the scope of work, what meeting facilitation meant for the consultant and the specifics of the annual report. The only items needing to be decided are the timeline. Chair Roberts-Crew opened for questions, Marshall Troxell added that ODI will talk Monday of next week to align from a staff capacity standpoint.
o Vice Chair Savage, asked to discuss “telling the story” on how people are showing up. Discussed looking at the best approach to this, and figuring out a common template to ensure everything runs smoothly.
o Vice Chair Savage asked board members to provide a list of events that commissioners have been to that are related to the commission so identify where commissioners have gone. Asked for information from January through today.
o Jonathon Keiholz asked if there is double work occurring with engagements in the current calendar system.
o Vice Chair Savage, states that it is an exercise in doing and creating a calendar list and is helpful in building understanding on how to create such work while reducing the communications teams’ workload.
o Chair Roberts-Crew states that she is mapping out strategic partnerships among those contacting the commission. She will meet with individuals in September and October including KYC, Vice Chair will approach a summit in October.
o Chair Roberts-Crew states there will be a continued partnership with E.O. (Equality Ohio)
o Chair Roberts-Crew attended a roundtable meeting on the BRAVO program at Equitas Health. This related to health and safety for the LGBTQ+ community. Chair Roberts-Crew states she is waiting to hear back from this to see how they can partner.
o Chair Roberts-Crew states that they will discuss with the state board of disability issues and doing intentional work with disabled LGBTQ+ places.
o Julia Applegate states the commission should reach out to COAAA (Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging.)
§ Chair Roberts-Crew agrees
o Discussion between commissioners on LGBTQ+ individuals cross referenced resources.
o Adam Cogar states that LGBTQ+ sports organizations should be involved.
o Vice Chair Savage,states that Franklin County programs may be beneficial to ensure we are reaching more vulnerable student programs.
o Jonathan Keiholz states that regular meetings with the council and the mayor. Commissioners discussed meetings with various councilpersons.
o Chair discussed the LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission Public / Media Statement Review Rubric - One Page Reference.
§ Discussed on “tiers” 1- Emergency, 2 - Urgent, and 3 Standard.
§ Discussion on how commissioners will be contacted and how they will be reached out to depending on urgency and based on some lived experience criteria.
• Chair also clarified that individuals would be added for a lived experience check. Discussion about what will happen if any of the commissioners do not have the lived experience that the publication would be about. Discussion on how to announce if a commissioner has a lived experience. Commissioners settled on understanding that individuals should self-identify as they would like to prevent tokenization. Chair states that looping in a community partner may be beneficial for lived experience.
o Siobhan Boyd-Nelson and Chair will discuss further.
o Jonathon Keiholz will discuss aligning the commission with the mayors and city councils goals.
o Marshall Troxell states that cc’ing himself and Sam Duling will be more than helpful in ensuring all items are aligned.
o Chair states that committees should be working through their committee’s rubric. Vice chair will send it out again.
o Chair reminds commissioners that next executive committee will be on October 19th virtually.
• Advocacy and Policy Committee Update
o Julia Applegate was not present, Blaine Saito discussed the drivers license issue, the federal administration, and a lack of action from House and Senate as we go into campaign season. There is valid concern from the Executive branch, however. Committee will be meeting next week. Discussed partnership with Equality Ohio. Discussed potential drag ban in Ohio and testimony on the bill.
§ Discussion between commissioners about procedural items during the elections and timeline.
§ Jonathan Keiholz discussed how we make a distilled statement that makes sense for all individuals.
§ Blaine Saito discussed LGBTQ+ policies that may be hidden in their impact. Discussed the continuing resolutions from the federal government and the One Big Beautiful Bill.
• Health and Social Services Committee Update
o Julia Applegate discussed speaking with various individuals, including those form Equitas health. Discussed bringing on other committee members.
o Chair Roberts-Crew discussed the 13th commissioner may come online.
§ Discussed the notification necessary for the public. (public notices)
§ Chair states that some items the committee is working on may not be aligned with the community listening sessions.
• Community Engagement, Communications, and Outreach Committee Update
o Jonathon Keiholz states that the commissions Instagram and social media platforms are active. It is for awareness and visibility, but not for daily postings. It is a work in progress.
o Jonathon Keiholzs created an online event registry for the listening session on September 24th.
• Next Steps: Community Listening Session #2
o Jonathon Keiholz discussed the Columbus LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission Listening Session #2 Draft Agenda.
o Discussed feedback cards and microphones / technology available.
o Discussed how the meeting will go with level-setting, overview on the committees and recap of the last meeting.
o Proposed a discussion on candid conversation with the understanding that the commission is there to listen to the community while also moving things along.
o Discussion on the questions posed to the community.
o Raven Ho to discuss the badges for the LGBTQ+ Commission with ODI internals.
o Discussion on exactly what the business card looks like.
o Chair Roberts-Crew states that getting the ball rolling on the business card is a priority.
o Chair Roberts-Crew states that ensuring that the commission has background in what they have done in the past as items that they have accomplished.
o Discussion on the three priorities of the committee in preparation for the meeting.
o Jonathon Keiholz stated that alignment between the various agencies is very important.
o Adam Coger asks if City Council will be available to listen to citizens’ concerns.
The Community Listening Session is scheduled to take place in the Community Room on the first floor of the Fran Ryan Center (865 E Capital St, Columbus, OH 43205) on Thursday, September 24 at 6 - 8 p.m.
• Public Comment
o No public comment
• General Questions
o Marshall Troxell asks if the committee wants everyone to have individual business cards versus one business card type for everyone.
o A consensus was reached that a singular business card would be produced, however a few blank lines would be added to each one to ensure commissioners can write out information as they would like.
• Adjournment
o Motion to adjourn from Vice Chair Savage seconded by Siobhan Boyd-Nelson. Meeting Adjourned 7:19 p.m.