The Washington State LGBTQ Commission hosted a discussion with Dr. Umair Shah, WA State Secretary of Health, to address some of the most common misconceptions regarding MPV (Monkeypox virus.) MPV is a virus that can affect anyone. However, the LGBTQ community, in particular MSM (men who have sex with me) and MSM of color have been disproportionately impacted due to several factors. This has led to myths, misinformation, and stigmatization.

The WA State LGBTQ Commission recorded a video conversation with Dr. Shah to address some of the most common myths and misinformation regarding MPV. Executive Director J. Manny Santiago, along with Commissioners Ranulfo Molina (Skagit County) and Dustin Best (Okanogan County and Confederate Tribes of the Colville Reservation), and Donny Guerrero, Senior Outreach Specialist with Molina Healthcare raised concerns and questions from the community. This video is another tool available to our communities to address MPV. The Commission invites the community to use it as needed to share with your networks and ensure that everyone has access to reliable and correct information on this important health topic. The recording can be found through this link on the Commission’s YouTube channel.

The WA State Department of Health has also set up a phone line to answer questions from the public. If you have questions about MPV – from symptoms, to treatment, or vaccines – please call 1-833-829-4357 or visit www.doh.wa.gov/monkeypox. Information is available in several languages as well as for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

The Washington State LGBTQ Commission will host its September public meeting on Friday, September 16^th from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm in Clark County. This will be an in-person only public meeting, free and open to the public. The location for this meeting is the City of Vancouver Water Resources Education Center 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661. No live streaming will be provided for this meeting. Members of the public who wish to attend in person are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and are required to wear a face covering at all times during the meeting, except when actively eating or drinking. Public comments are accepted both electronically prior to the meeting or in person by signing up with Commission staff.

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.

On Sunday September 4, 2022 our community lost two unforgettable activists, Sandy Williams and her partner Patt Hicks. Our hearts go out to their family and friends. Sandy Williams was the founder of both The Carl Maxey Center and Black Lens newspaper, the only Black newspaper in Eastern Washington. She was also involved with the establishing of the Pride Center at Eastern Washington University. Patt Hicks, a retired teacher from Southern California, had traveled to Spokane as part of a plan to travel around the country in her retirement. She reconnected with Sandy and never left Spokane. Their plan to marry in 2020 was put on hold by the pandemic.

In 2019 Sandy was the Grand Marshall of the Spokane Pride Parade and was awarded the 2022 Pride Champion in June. She was scheduled to publicly receive the honor in October. She also served two terms as Commissioner for the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs. Their loss has reverberated throughout the community around Washington State. Their lives were an inspiration to those around them. May their memory inspire a new generation of social activists committed to liberation and transformation.

Though vaccination against monkeypox virus (MPV) is not currently recommended for everyone, doses are available for those who may be at higher risk of infection. The Snohomish Health District is working to connect individuals who meet the criteria for vaccination with providers in the county who can vaccinate them. Snohomish County residents can learn more about monkeypox and vaccination criteria at www.snohd.org/monkeypox. If they believe they may be eligible for vaccination, they can check their eligibility and get connected to a provider by filling out a short online form. The information in the form is accessed by a public health professional who then provides contact information directly to one of our partner healthcare providers for follow-up. Those with limited or no internet access can get assistance filling out the form over the phone by calling the Snohomish Health District’s call center at 425-339-5278 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Join the US Department of Health & Human Services and Pride Foundation for a virtual convening on LGBTQ+ health, hosted by the Pride Foundation and facilitated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Region 10.

You’ll be joined by other LGBTQ+ leaders, organizations, and service providers from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington; HHS regional and national leadership, and Pride Foundation staff. Together, we will listen, share, and learn more about how HHS funding, policies and initiatives impact the LGBTQ+ community.

Pride Foundation is proud to play a convening role in this gathering to help connect LGBTQ+ organizations with the services and offerings of HHS.

Our goals for this convening are to:

• Create a 2-way channel of communication between local organizations and HHS
• Share information with you and build the collective knowledge base about HHS funding, policies, and initiatives that impact LGBTQ+ communities
• Hear questions, concerns, priorities, and recommendations about how HHS can better support LGBTQ+ people and communities
• Build and strengthen relationships between HHS and organizations, and between stakeholders across the region

What we’ll talk about: Monkeypox (MPV), mental health and wellness, LGBTQ+ youth and older adult health, access to care, gender affirming care, and more.

Registration is required. Please visit this link to register.

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.

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 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.