Connecticut
Opinion: Connecticut can resist!
The President of the United States has rescinded civil rights programs, has threatened to withhold funding from diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and has announced plans to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education. A group of other states has sued to repeal Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
These actions endanger decades of including people with disabilities and others in our national melting pot. While I am alarmed and saddened by these threats to our civil rights, I believe that Connecticut can resist this assault and protect our residents.
Did you know that the State Constitution declares that “No person shall be denied the equal protection of the law nor be subjected to segregation or discrimination in the exercise or enjoyment of his or her civil or political rights because of religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex or physical or mental disability.”?
Our State Constitution also affirms that “There shall always be free public elementary and secondary schools in the state” and Connecticut enacted a law requiring special education 15 years before the federal government did so. Did you know that, in Connecticut, the membership of each state appointive board, commission, committee, and council must reflect the gender and racial diversity of the state?
Not all states guarantee free public education and equal protection of the law. Not all states require diversity in their public boards and commissions. We do, and these are just a few examples of Connecticut’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
However the federal government erodes the civil rights of diverse peoples, Connecticut can do better. I am proud of the actions by our federal delegation in Washington D.C. to resist the assault on public programs and civil rights. I am proud of our Gov. Ned Lamont for confirming that our enduring values include hope and opportunity for dreamers from around the world, yearning to breathe free.
I am proud of our Attorney General William Tong for joining other states in federal courts to stop unilateral abuses of power by the federal government. The State Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) has declared, “The actions at the federal level do not remove civil rights protections under Connecticut state law, and the CHRO remains steadfastly committed to enforcing civil rights antidiscrimination law for all protected classes and people.”
I am not Pollyanna. Intentional work will be required to ensure that, here in Connecticut, there is no discrimination in the exercise or enjoyment of civil or political rights because of religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, or physical or mental disability. Where federal funding is withheld, Connecticut must find the means to compensate. There will be choices to be made. We must consider our priorities.
Our Secretary of the State has launched a new campaign, the Power of Civics, to promote the importance of civic education and civic engagement by encouraging and enabling people to participate in their communities, identify issues, and work to solve problems. Get involved!
We can do this! We can be the city upon a hill.
Walter Glomb is Executive Director of the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities.
The New Haven Pride Center will close for 30 days starting Thursday, as leaders reassess the organization’s finances and its long-term business model.
Board members said the temporary shutdown will allow the nonprofit to stop accruing expenses and get better insight into a $250,000 IRS debt discovered in 2022 that has weighed heavily on the center’s operations.
According to board co-chair Hope Chavez, the debt was found four years ago. The board let the executive director go and began paying the back taxes. The payments have been ongoing, but Chavez said there’s no clarity on how much has been paid toward principal versus interest, making it hard to map out a payoff.
Chavez said the organization has an attorney to help obtain more details from the government, and that the debt has hurt its ability to generate income during an already challenging time.
“It all depends on the political climate — whether corporate sponsors feel like they can sponsor you, whether funders feel like they need to redirect elsewhere,” she said.
The 30-day furlough will include a pause in services. In the meantime, staff members are compiling a list of alternative LGBTQ-affirming resources in the Greater New Haven area to support community members.
Laura Boccadoro, who has worked at the center for more than six years, joined at what she says was a dark time.
“I was in and out of rehab dealing with drug abuse, and the center found me,” she said. “I grew up here, honestly.”
She said the organization has offered vital services, such as a clothing closet and a food pantry, and programs that she is helping clients find through partner organizations.
“There are so many LGBTQ-specific or affirming spaces that have food pantries, clothing closets, healthcare — all those kinds of things,” Boccadoro said.
Chavez highlighted partnerships with groups including AIDS Project New Haven, Anchor Health Initiative, and Q Plus, as well as other grassroots community organizations that will offer assistance during the pause.
Boccadoro emphasized that the staff’s focus remains on serving the community as effectively as possible.
“Our job at the end of the day is to impact the community in the best possible way that we can,” Boccadoro said.
The Board hopes a clearer financial picture and a restructured business model will position the center to reopen stronger and more stable.
“We want to ensure that our community has the care and supportive services that we’ve been providing,” Chavez said.
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