The Washington State LGBTQ Commission held its July public meeting on the campus of Whitman University in Walla Walla on Friday, July 21^st. This meeting marks the first time the LGBTQ Commission visits Walla Walla County. During the meeting, Commissioners made several important decisions, including appointing Commissioners to represent the agency at different workgroups and taskforces, as well as start working on a “Values Statement” that will complement and guide the Mission and Vision of the agency.

Staff from two local organizations shared about their programs with Commissioners. Blue Mountain Heart to Heart is a local organization that works on reducing the risks associated with drug dependency as well as providing case management for people living with HIV. Commissioner Everett Maroon serves as Executive Director, and he invited a member of his team to share with the Commission about their holistic approach to providing case management for people living with HIV in the region. The second group that shared with the Commission was Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho (PPWI). A member of the staff and a clinician shared with the Commissioners about their Gender Care Clinic as well as services for women and people who can get pregnant. The staff at PPWI spoke about the realities of trans and gender expansive people in rural communities who have fewer resources available for them. They also pointed out the huge impact that the recent Supreme Court decision to strip women and people who can get pregnant from their right to privacy has have for residents of the Idaho panhandle. Their clinic has experienced a surge of patients from the area, as people seek reproductive medical care.

A significant part of the meeting was designated to discuss the values by which the Commission will conducts its work. Commissioners and staff had thoughtful conversations about the values that the agency wants to adopt and model for other public entities and our constituents.

The Commission also created a taskforce that will work on gathering feedback from the community and present a plan to establish an LGBTQ Youth Advisory Board for the Office of the Governor. After the LGBTQ Youth Summit hosted by Governor Inslee last summer the idea of establishing a formal way of gathering LGBTQ youth feedback was presented. Governor Inslee included appropriations in his budget to establish an LGBTQ Youth Advisory Board managed by the LGBTQ Commission. In the coming months, the newly established taskforce will reach out to community partners to start this important work. The taskforce is comprised of Commissioners KB Kelly-Barroga, Abigayle Coleman, Alvaro Figueroa, Nick Franco, and Everett Maroon.

The public meeting concluded with members of the community sharing during public comments about the challenges they face as LGBTQ Washingtonians in rural Washington.

The next public meeting of the LGBTQ Commission is scheduled for Friday, September 15^th from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm in the Olympia area, and the public is welcome to participate.

If you live in Pierce County, are part of the LGBTQ+ community and are age 50 or more, Tacoma Older LGBT wants to hear from you.

The organization wants to hear what your vision for aging looks like, whether you believe that resources exist locally to help you age successfully, and what services are missing to support you as you get older. The 2023 Older LGBT+ Needs Assessment Survey is very short and is completely anonymous unless you choose to share your contact information.

Thanks to Tacoma Older LGBT’s partners Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources and PCAF for their input and feedback.

You can take the survey by going to this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2SGPJPW

Commerce is seeking proposals from qualified LGBTQ+ competency trainers who can provide expert training to Housing Division staff, grantees, and partners. The training will cover a range of topics related to LGBTQ+ identities, issues, and challenges, and should equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to support and serve LGBTQ+ individuals and communities in a sensitive, respectful, and inclusive manner. 

Responses are due Sept. 8, 2023, 5 p.m. Pacific Time

Download the RFQQ (Word)

Washington State’s Department of Children Youth and Families, in collaboration with Kauffman and Associates Inc., is holding gathering sessions with external stakeholders to better understand the existing service landscape and unmet needs for six different populations of children, youth and families. We are holding a gathering session with Tribal Partners to discuss AI/AN populations. The five population gathering sessions we would like you to consider attending are:

1) Hispanic and Latino

2) Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI)

3) Black and African American

4) Immigrants and refugees

5) Non-English primary language/American Sign Language (ASL)/Sign language/limited English proficiency (LEP)/families using interpretive services

One gathering session will be held for each of these groups. Please note that we will also discuss LGBTQ+ population needs, particular to that group, at each gathering session.

The gathering sessions will be 90 minutes each and will be held virtually in August. They will be organized and moderated by consultants from Kauffman and Associates, Inc.

To register for individual Gathering Sessions, click on the Registration Link below:

Questions? Please contact Leigh Hayden, Kauffman and Associates Inc. at leigh.hayden@kauffmaninc.com.

Martha Shelley, who organized the first protest march in New York City after the 1969 Stonewall Riot and helped found the history-changing Gay Liberation Front, will read from her new memoir, We Set the Night on Fire (Chicago Review Press), in the Pink House of the Port Townsend Public Library, 1220 Lawrence St., at 6:30 on August 9^th. Discussion will follow.

The daughter of Jewish refugees and undocumented immigrants in New York City, Martha Shelley grew up during the Red Scare of the late 1940s and 1950s. After coming out at a time when homosexual acts were illegal, she became the public speaker for the New York chapter of the historic lesbian rights group, the Daughters of Bilitis.

Immediately after the beginnings of the Stonewall Riot on June 28, 1969, Shelley seized upon the history-making nature of the rebellion against police brutality and homophobia to organize the first post-Stonewall LGBTQ protest march. That march took place on July 27, 1969. At the same time, she joined with others to found the Gay Liberation Front. Some who were present at the meeting where GLF was born credit her with coining the name of the organization.

As autonomous Gay Liberation Front chapters began to spring up around the United States and abroad, Shelley coproduced the GLF newspaper, Come Out! and played a central role in the Lavender Menace action to confront homophobia in the women’s movement. A poet and novelist, she has authored numerous seminar essays on gay and feminist issues, including "Gay Is Good" and "Notes of a Radical Lesbian.”

Ever the organizer, even as she approaches 80, Shelley will lead a discussion following the book signing. She will ask, “With everything we fought for under attack, where do we go from here? What should be our priorities?” The evening promises to be equally enlightening and productive.

Books will be available for purchase and signing. Due to health concerns, masks are requested.

For those who cannot make the Port Townsend event, Shelley will also present a book reading / signing / discussion in Seattle at Elliott Bay Books, 1521 10^th Ave, on Tuesday August 8 at 7 pm.

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.