Since the closing of the regular legislative session, Governor Inslee has signed several pieces of legislation that protect vulnerable communities in our state, including women, people of color, and 2SLGBTQIA+ Washingtonians. Below is a short summary of some of these pieces of legislation that are now the law in the state.

• HB1089 - Supporting adults with lived experience of sex trafficking.
  • This bill funds a statewide network of culturally competent and trauma-informed services for adults who have survived sex trafficking.
• HB1207 - Preventing and responding to harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in schools.
  • This bill requires distribution of policies and a complaint procedure related to harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in public schools, and codifies requirements related to designation of a primary contact for compliance with nondiscrimination laws.
• HB1469 - Concerning access to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming treatment in Washington state.
  • This bill protects the rights of people who can get pregnant to access reproductive care, including termination of pregnancy. It also protects transgender people of all ages to access gender-affirming care. Finally, the bill protects people who come to Washignton from other states to receive these services as well as the medical professionals who provide the services.
• SB5142 - Creating an account for the pharmaceutical rebate revenue generated by the purchase of medications for people living with HIV who are enrolled in the early intervention program.
  • With this bill, an account is created for the pharmaceutical rebate revenue generated by the purchase of medications for people living with HIV who are enrolled in the Department of Health early intervention program.
• SB5028 - Revising the process for individuals to request name changes.
  • With this bill, the legislature removed financial barriers for people to access name changes through Washington courts. The bill authorizes the waiving of name change fees for people with limited income, and also provides for petitioners to request that their name change documents be sealed if desired.
• SB5186 - Requiring antidiscrimination clauses in public contracting.
  • This bill requires state contracts for public works, and goods and services to contain nondiscrimination clauses, to protect protected classes including sexual orientation and gender identity.
• SB5599 - Supporting youth and young adults seeking protected health care services.
  • There are several protections for our 2SLGBTQIA+ youth under this bill:
    • Provides that a shelter for runaway or homeless youth does not need to contact the youth's parents if there is a compelling reason not to, which includes a youth seeking protected health services.
    • Allows host homes to house youth without parental permission if a youth is seeking or receiving protected health care services.
    • Appropriates $7.5 million to the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection for providing access to supportive care grants to organizations in order to address the needs of youth and young adults seeking protected health care services.

The LGBTQ Commission will continue working with the Governor, the Legislature, and the community to ensure that 2SLGBTQIA+ Washingtonians feel safe and protected in our state.

The Washington State LGBTQ Commission, in collaboration with RAIN and the Office of the Governor, will host the annual Raising of the Pride Flag on the Capitol Campus to mark the beginning of LGBTQ Pride Month. The event will take place on the flagpole between the Capitol Building and Temple of Justice on Thursday, June 1^st at noon.

More information and details on speakers will be shared in the coming weeks. You can follow updates through our social media link here.

The Washington State LGBTQ Commission will host its May public meeting on Friday, May 19^th from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. This meeting will take place in King County, at the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, located at the Rainier Tower locate on 1301 5th Ave, Seattle, WA. This will be an in-person public meeting with no live broadcast. The public can attend in person and public comments will be received both in person at the meeting or in writing prior to the meeting. If you want to submit public comments, please direct them to Tracey Carlos, Program Manager for the Commission at tracey.carlos@lgbtq.wa.gov.

Please note that the agenda and other materials for the meeting will be made available no later than 24 hours prior to the event through our website here.

Pride season is just around the corner! The WA State LGBTQ Commission wants to keep an updated calendar of Pride events throughout the state. We have created this form which you can use to let us know about any event your agency or community group is planning for this year. Feel free to share this link with agencies around your area who are planning events to celebrate and honor our community.

Commission staff and LGBTQ Commissioners would be delighted to share with our community at Pride events throughout the season. If you want to extend an invitation to the staff or Commissioners to attend your event in an official capacity, please submit your invitation through the Commission’s “Contact Us” page here.

The Access to Justice Board is recruiting for two new members. The term begins October 1, 2023 and will end on September 30, 2026. The individuals will be eligible to serve again from 2026-2029. 

We are committed to expanding the presence of community representation on the Board. We strongly believe that the problems with the current legal system are due in large part because of the absence of community voices in the reviewing, revising, and remodeling of that very system. We define community voices as folks who have a lived experience with racism, poverty, and other forms of oppression and who can center the needs of the community. The positions may be filled by people who are or are not attorneys. 

Please consider applying for this position. The attached has more information about serving as an Access to Justice Board member. Read through our website to learn who we are and what we do. You can also watch recent Access to Justice Board meetings on our YouTube channel here. 

Please also share this announcement with your community and networks.

Applications are due May 12, 2023, and can be submitted online at https://www.mywsba.org/personifyebusiness/MyProfile/VolunteerApplication.aspx. 

Questions: If you have any trouble with the application portal or have additional questions, please contact atj@wsba.org.  

The Washington Supreme Court created the Access to Justice (ATJ) Board in 1994 in response to a lack of justice in the civil legal system for people who experience racism, poverty, and other oppression. For almost 30 years, the ATJ Board has been working toward a more accessible and equitable civil legal system in Washington. The ATJ Board serves as a catalyst to change systems and convenes the Alliance for Equal Justice, which is a network of Washington State social justice organizations that support and deliver civil legal aid to people who experience poverty and injustice. The ATJ Board grounds its work in race equity and centers the voices of people who experience racism, poverty, and other forms of oppression.

Launched on March 21, 2023, the $250 million Yield Giving Open Call is an initiative focused on elevating organizations working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States: communities, individuals, and families with access to the fewest foundational resources and opportunities. The registration period is now open.

About the Open Call

This initiative seeks community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to advance the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means, and groups who have met with discrimination and other systemic obstacles. Organizations best suited to this initiative will enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources. This includes, for instance, organizations providing access to health care, stable and affordable housing, education and job training, support for sustained employment, asset ownership, civic engagement, and other pathways. They may also be engaged in data collection and communication to amplify the voices of people and communities struggling against inequities.

Community-led, community-focused nonprofit organizations from across the United States and U.S. Territories are invited to apply and share the impact they have had on the abilities of individuals and families in their communities to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being.

For complete information and registration form, visit this link.

The Washington State Department of Health OID has released two RFAs for services and activities beginning January 1, 2024. Find the full RFAs and application materials here. Applications are due June 5, 2023, by 5:00 pm PST.

1. Ryan White RFA ($21 million available per year):  Focused on client services and service delivery to people living with HIV in Washington. 
2. Syndemic RFA ($6 million available per year):  Focused on client services and "syndemic" service delivery of overlapping prevention efforts (e.g., infectious disease testing, linkage and navigation services, syringe service programs) for:
   •  HIV
   • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
   • Hepatitis C
   • Infectious disease and other health consequences for people who use drugs

Submit Questions by April 18th

If you are considering applying, please take the time to read the entire application and begin compiling your questions. There is a short turnaround time for the question and answer period. If you have questions about the application, you can ask them through April 18, 2023 at 5:00 pm PST via email.  

Washington is home to vibrant communities and diverse Washingtonians who all have unique talents, skills and experiences. Governor Inslee places a high priority on boards, commissions, and agencies that are reflective of the diverse make-up of Washington and that utilize the impressive talent of Washingtonians. We are always seeking skilled and experienced individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds to participate in boards and commissions ensuring an effective and representative government.

We are excited to share the highlighted Current and Upcoming Gubernatorial Appointment Opportunities.

As someone with deep roots in your respective communities and organizations, we hope that you will share these opportunities.  Anyone interested in being appointed will need to fill out this Application.  Please explore the Boards and Commissions Profiles if you are interested in learning more about the many opportunities to get involved!

Thank you for your assistance in helping Governor Inslee find well-rounded candidates with significant talent and diverse experiences. Please feel free to reach out to Boards and Commissions staff with any questions you might have.  Thank you for your time.