Wayland HRDEI panel will draft LGBTQ statement at Feb. 6 special meeting

WAYLAND -- January 21, 2025, Wayland human rights committee will draft LGBTQ statement after federal gender order. Chair Karen Blumenfeld told the HRDEI Committee on Tuesday that while the panel's values "haven't changed," the federal policy environment had, citing an executive order recognizing only two genders that she said "subordinates a group of people to the majority." Blumenfeld and member Heather Pino will draft language for a Feb. 6 special meeting at 6 p.m., the committee's first formal LGBTQ statement. The committee unanimously co-sponsored the Wayland Chinese American Association's Feb. 2 Lunar New Year celebration and a March 13 screening of Ava DuVernay's "Origin" organized by Wayland CAN. Members also revoted to request "up to $12,000" from the Select Board for the multicultural festival and stepped back from filling town sign boards with monthly cultural observances, with member Marianne Burkowski favoring "more ecumenical" welcome messaging.