Hawai‘i State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission

 Agenda: November 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM

In-person location: 

1390 Miller Street, 2nd Floor DHS Conference Rooms 1 & 2 Honolulu, HI 96813

Virtual meeting Zoom link: 

https://zoom.us/j/92198507509?pwd=hieXyWvs3IPkxKPWliHOlqUKuG7jbm.1 

Dial in by phone: +1 669 444 9171 US

Meeting ID: 921 9850 7509 | Passcode: 509173 | Waiting room opens 5 - 15 minutes before meeting

Commission Purpose: 

[Chapter 369, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes] The legislature finds that there is a need to establish a body to improve the State's interface with members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus community; identify the short- and long range needs of its members; and ensure that there is an effective means of researching, planning, and advocating for the equity of this population in all aspects of state government. Accordingly, the purpose of this chapter is to establish a commission to provide for a statewide program, on a permanent and continuing basis, on the status of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus individuals in Hawai‘i.

CALL TO ORDER

I. Introduction and Roll Call (HRS §92-3.7(a), state name of anyone present at a private location)

A. Commissioners (voting members)

1. Chair - Michael Golojuch, Jr. (he/him) - C&C Honolulu 

2. 1st Vice Chair - Shanda Brack (she/her) - SGM Working Group

3. Secretary - Sandy Harjo Livingston, PhD (he/him/they/them)- C&C Honolulu

4. Finance Director & VC of Keiki/Health Care - Sylvia Romm (she/her) - C&C Honolulu

5. VC Education - Crissi Doyle (she/her) - C&C Honolulu

6. Vacant - Kaua‘i County

7. Joe Tolbe (he/him) - Maui County

8. Char Sinclair (she/her) - Hawai‘i County

B. Ex-Officios or their designees (non-voting members)

1. Superintendent of Education designee Beth Schimmelfennig, Director of the  Department of Education, Civil Rights Compliance Office

2. President of the University of Hawai‘i System designee Dr. Tara O’Neill, Professor, STEMS2 and Science Education

3. Director of Labor and Industrial Relations designee David Rodriguez, State’s Equal Opportunity Officer

4. Director of Human Resources Development designee Signe Nakamura-Dureza, EEO Administrator

5. Director of Human Services designee Jonathan Kimura, Executive Specialist

6. Director of Health designee Thaddeus Pham (he/him), MPH, Viral Hepatitis  Prevention Coordinator, Harm Reduction Services Branch

C. Staff – Hanne Bulagay - Administrative Assistant, Department of Human Services

D. Deputy Attorney Generals for Sunshine Law Issues

II. Approval of Board Minutes:

A. October 12, 2026

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

2. Vote

III. Public Comment

A. Public testimony on any item relevant to this agenda may be taken at this time, or a testifier may wait to testify at the time the agenda item is called for discussion, pursuant to HRS §92-3

B. Distribution and review of written testimony not received by November 6, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. - if written testimony is received at the meeting, a break for Commissioners to review testimony may be required.

IV. Presentation (5-10 minutes)

A. Newly crowned Empress Janna Del Rey and/or Emperor Andrew Del Rey of the Imperial Sovereign Court of Hawai‘i will come to talk about what the Imperial Court is and what their goals are during their reign.

V. Reports - Note: Any item brought up during this session not agendized below cannot be discussed or debated - for informational purposes only.

A. Chair’s Report (see Board Packet)

1. Mahalo nui loa to Philip Steinbacher for his service to the Commission and filling his vacancy aka the Kaua‘i County Commissioner

2. Remembering civil rights icon and ally Dolores Huerta

3. Out Summit 2026: The Future We Claim– FREE Nov. 6th online conference – click here to register 

4. 2026 Financial Disclosure and Mandatory Ethics Training

B. Finance Director’s Report (see Board Packet)

C. Official Communications from State Officials

D. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

VI. Action Items

A. ELECTION – Open nominations for issue-based Vice Chair (i.e. Kūpuna, immigration, Native Hawaiian, etc.)

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

2. Vote

B. Update on the next Rainbow Pau Hana: Queer Community Leaders Gathering

1. Vote for lead on coordinating the Rainbow Pau Hana

2. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

C. Review the letter sent to State of Hawai‘i’s Attorney General Anne Lopez requesting guidance related to strategies to encourage insurance companies to more closely follow statutes related to denials of services related to Gender Affirming Care. (See Board Packet)

1. Discussion on additional measures to may be taken to encourage insurance companies to more closely follow statutes related to denials of services related to Gender Affirming Care.

2. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

3. Vote

D. Discussion on adopting the proposed Commission’s ‘Culture of Practice Statement’ (See Board Packet)

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

2. Vote

E. Sponsorship for the 2027 Harm Reduction Conference: Healthy Horizons – Reflecting Back, Moving Forward – July 21, 2027 (See Board Packet)

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

2. Vote

VII. Updates on Ongoing Business

A. Update from Honolulu Pride: Oct. 17th 

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

B. Update on H3RC Youth Pride: Rainbow Prom Hawai'i 2026 that has been rescheduled to November 22, 2026 at the Capitol Modern- Free for students 14 – 20 years old

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

C. Commission’s website - https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/lgbtq-commission/

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

D. Addressing the needs of our community’s kūpuna, especially māhū, trans, non-binary, and intersex.

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

E. Hawai‘i Coalition for Civil Rights

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

F. Developing written protocols/procedures and record keeping for the Commission (See Board Packet)

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

G. Updates on Commission’s 2027 Legislative Priorities 

1. Expand gender markers on birth certificates from F & M to F, M, & X to match driver’s licenses and State IDs.

2. Require a more accurate and comprehensive count of hate crimes in Hawaiʻi. 

3. Expand the Hawai‘i State LGBTQ+ Commission from 8 voting members to 11 members. 

4. Ensure that the māhū, LGBTQIA+, QTPI+ (Queer and Trans Pacific Islander plus) and MVPFAFF+ communities have access to mental health care on all islands 

5. Banning forced gender mutilation surgeries for intersex minors.

6. Establish an education requirement of teaching māhū, LGBTQIA+, QTPI+ and MVPFAFF+ history (achievements and contributions) in public schools K- 12 and University of Hawai‘i system.

7. Chosen names used in Dept. of Education schools. University of Hawai‘i already has a simple system in place. The chosen name is used on all forms except transcripts, legal and financial forms.

8. Resolution – Requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study to determine the cost and timeline of implementing a comprehensive, statewide survey of māhū, LGBTQIA+, and QTPI+ populations in Hawaiʻi

9. Addressing the state of Hawai‘i’s youth suicide crisis

10. Modernization of state requirements and allowances for telehealth

11. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

H. Update on the 2026 campaign to encourage voter registration and voting in the General Election for members of the māhū, LGBTQI+, and QTPI+ community.

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

I. Update from the PIG (Permitted Interaction Group) named “Healthcare PIG,” created to:

(1) Advocate with insurers to improve access to hair removal services to ensure access to medically necessary surgeries already included in covered medical services but which are difficult to obtain due to lack of a contract with a service provider. 

(2) Advocate with insurers to revise their coverage-denial practice so that any denial is reviewed by a professional with appropriate subject matter expertise, as required by law (HRS § 431:10A-118.3 (insurers), HRS § 432D-26.3 (HMOs), and 

(3) Advocate with medical organizations to increase access to specific medical procedures

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

J. Update on conducting outreach to māhū, LGBTQIA+, and QTPI+ community members who are willing to share their experiences encountering barriers to obtaining gender-affirming care including surgery

1. Update on the request to the Insurance Commissioner to craft and do a training for the māhū, transgender, queer, gender nonconforming and intersex community members on how to file a complaint when they have been denied insurance coverage for gender-affirming care including surgery.

2. Update on the campaign to announce the community partner with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protections to gather experiences for those that have been denied insurance coverage for gender-affirming care including surgery.

3. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

K. Attendees for 2027 Creating Change – January 27–31, 2027 in Louisville, KY

1. Public Testimony

L. Update on collaborating with the State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to update the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s policies regarding the māhū, transgender, intersex, and gender expansive individuals under their prevue to include but not limited to inmates, and detainees.

1. Public Testimony

VIII. New Business (Not requiring action)

A. None

IX. Future Meeting Topics or Speakers

A. Discussion on inviting government and Non-Government Organization to present to the Commission

1. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

X. Announcements - Note: Any item brought up during this session not agendized below cannot be discussed or debated - for informational purposes only.

A. Commissioners

B. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

XI. Adjournment

A. Discussion

B. Public Testimony (allow 1 minute)

C. Vote on Adjournment

Future 2026 Commission meeting dates: 

December 14th

Future 2027 Commission meeting dates:

January 11th, February 8th, March 8th, April 12th, May 10th, June 14th, July 12th, August 9th, September 13th, October 11th, November 8th, and December 13th

Board Packet: 

Click here for the folder where the Board Packet will be placed a minimum of 3 business days before the meeting. If the link does not work go to: https://bit.ly/HIStateLGBTQBoardPacket

Additional meeting information:

Written and oral testimony will be accepted. Written testimony must be received by November 6, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. to be included in the board packet. Written testimony received after that time will be distributed to the Commissioners at the meeting.

Written testimony may be submitted as follows:

By email: hawaiistatelgbtqpluscommission@gmail.com

By postal mail: Hawai‘i State LGBTQ+ Commission

c/o The Department of Human Services

 PO Box 339

 Honolulu, Hawaii 96809-0339

● Written testimony should include the words "Public Testimony" with the agenda item number and description in the subject line to aid the Commission in reviewing the testimony. 

● Written testimony submitted to the Commission will be treated as a public record, and any contact information contained therein will be available for public inspection and copying.

Request for auxiliary aids: If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Hanne Bulagay at hbulagay@dhs.hawaii.gov as soon as possible, preferably by November 4, 2026. Requests made as early as possible will be more likely to be fulfilled.  

Upon request, this notice is available in alternate/accessible formats.