August 29, 2022 Newsletter

Connect with the Commission

MPV Virus – Washington State Department of Health Media Briefing

On Thursday, August 25, WA State LGBTQ Commission Director, J. Manny Santiago, participated of the DOH media briefing to talk about how MPV has affected the community. You can watch the TV Washington recording of the media briefing through this link.

For information on MPV, how to prevent the virus, where to find vaccines, and how to recognize the symptoms of the virus, please visit the DOH MPV page through this link.

Opportunities for the Community

Working Families Tax Credit - A New Tax Credit for Washington Workers

Starting in 2023, the Working Families Tax Credit is a new tax refund that helps Washington workers and their families get more money back at tax time. The refund returns a portion of sales tax paid each year and is modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit program. The purpose of the Working Families Tax Credit is to stimulate the local economy, promote racial equity, and support the financial stability and well-being of low-to-moderate income Washington residents and their families. This credit program is managed by the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR), the state’s tax administration agency. Find out more information about this program by visiting the Working Families Tax Credit page through this link.

Take Action! U.S. Department of Education Receiving Public Comments on Rulemaking

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Education (Department) proposes to amend the regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). The purpose of the proposed regulations is to better align the Title IX regulatory requirements with Title IX's nondiscrimination mandate, and to clarify the scope and application of Title IX and the obligation of all schools, including elementary schools, secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, and other recipients that receive Federal financial assistance from the Department (referred to below as recipients or schools) to provide an educational environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, including through responding to incidents of sex discrimination. The Department recognizes that schools vary in size, student populations, and administrative structure. The proposed regulations would enable all schools to meet their obligations to comply fully with Title IX while providing them appropriate discretion and flexibility to account for these variations. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 12, 2022. ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. The Department will not accept comments by fax or by email, or comments submitted after the comment period closes. To ensure that the Department does not receive duplicate copies, please submit your comments only once. Additionally, please include the Docket ID at the top of your comments. For more information and submit your comments, please visit this website.

Washington State BizFair – Save the Date!

HOLD THE DATE! 26th annual WASHINGTON STATE BizFair – Hybrid Event 8am – 5pm Saturday, September 24th, 2022 In-person attendance at Renton Technical College, Renton, WA Each fall, the small business ecosystem in WA comes together to put on BizFair, the longest running all government and non-profit run free small business fair in Washington state. It is an opportunity for thousands of current & aspiring small business owners to: BE INSPIRED by a keynote speaker that has successfully traversed the small business path and shares their story of perseverance. Last year it was Joe Fugere of Tutta Bella sharing his story of Resilience and Thriving. MEET with mentors, advisors, trainers, educators, fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs. LEARN from savvy business experts who will share their knowledge and real-life experiences. CONNECT with federal, state, and local government agencies for assistance related to business and/or getting contract opportunities. FIND OUT how non-profit organizations can help you with funding, legal support, and more. NETWORK with Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Authorities, and statewide Business Associations. BizFair 2022 will be a hybrid event with both in-person and virtual attendees having the same event experience. NO COST TO ATTEND – Registration coming soon, watch for updates at www.bizfair.org

RCF: Regional Contracting Forum SAVE THE DATE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 2022 REGIONAL CONTRACTING FORUM IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE ONLY MUCKLESHOOT EVENT CENTER, 2402 AUBURN WAY S, AUBURN CONNECTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND CONTRACTORS TO STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES, AND VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. DISADVANTAGED, MINORITY, SMALL, VETERAN, AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON. COVID precautions event-wide in effect per requirements of Washington State, County, and/or local jurisdiction requirements. In King County, proof of vaccination and masks are required at all times. Medical/religious exemptions are not allowed. A negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event can be used in lieu of religious/medical exemptions.

Interested in serving on Commissions and Boards?

Monthly Upcoming Appointment Opportunities

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.

Jobs Opportunities for LGBTQ Washingtonians

Check out the list of job opportunities for the community on our Careers Opportunities page by visiting this link.

We are excited to share job postings sent to the LGBTQ Commission. There are three requirements to be included on our page:

• The job needs to be able to be done in Washington State (virtual works)
• The business must have an inclusivity and/or equal opportunity statement
• The job posting must include a salary range.

 Please send any job opportunity to share with the community to our Program Manager, Tracey Carlos (she/her) to tracey.carlos@lgbtq.wa.gov

Have something you want to share in our newsletter?  Please send any submissions to Tracey Carlos, Program Manager, at tracey.carlos@lgbtq.wa.gov  

Deadline for all submissions is Thursdays by 12:00 PM Pacific Time.

Published Monday mornings.