November 7, 2022 Newsletter

Connect with the Commission

Notice of Public Meeting of the WA State LGBTQ Commission

The Washington State LGBTQ Commission will host its November public meeting on Friday, November 18th from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. This meeting will take place at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Conference Center, 17801 International Blvd., Seattle, WA 98158. 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.

United Against Hate: Identifying, Reporting, and Preventing Acts of Hate

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington in collaboration with the Washington State LGBTQ Commission invite the community to join us for "United Against Hate: Identifying, Reporting, and Preventing Acts of Hate", to take place on Tuesday, November 15 at 10:30 a.m. on the campus of the UW-Tacoma.

Please share this information with your networks. A virtual option is also available. For registration (in-person or virtual), to request interpreted services, or reasonable accommodations, please write USAWAW.Civil-Rights@usdoj.gov

United Against Hate: Identifying, Reporting, and Preventing Acts of Hate. Federal and local officials working with community members to discuss effective strategies to prevent and respoind to hate crimes and incidents. November Event Focus: Our LGBTQ+ Community, in partnership with the WA State LGBTQ Commission. Tuesday, November 15 am:30 a.m. UW Tacoma William W. Philip Hall, 1918 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, 98402 (Remote attendance available) To register and/or request interpreter services or reasonable accomodation, email USAWAW.Civil-Rights@usdoj.gov and indicate whether you will attend in person or remotely

Opportunities for the Community

It’s time to sign up! Register to confirm your participation and communicate any accommodations you need to fully participate in Governor Inslee’s Equity Summit.

Note: We have limited capacity for in-person attendance. Register as soon as possible to secure your place if you desire to participate in person.

Deadline to register: Tuesday, November 15th at 5:00pm (PST)

If you are unable to access the form in the above link, please email access@equity.wa.gov or call 360-790-2190 (Washington Relay 7-1-1) to register.

Accessibility: The Washington State Office of Equity is committed to hosting accessible events that promote belonging, justice, and dignity. 

To request communication services (interpreters, written information in other languages, or other services) or accommodations, please enter your request in the linked registration form or email access@equity.wa.gov. The Office of Equity strongly encourages participants to make requests by 5:00pm (PST) on Friday, November 4th to allow time to make the proper arrangements.

About this event: Theme: Working Together for Results Date: Wednesday, November 30th Time: 8:00am - 4:00pm (PST) Location: Greater Tacoma Convention Center (1500 Commerce St, Tacoma WA 98402) Why: The Governor's Executive Order 22-02, Achieving Equity in Washington State Government, directs agencies to advance equity and anti-racism in the following areas: Public Contracting, Public Employment, Public Education, and Public Services.  The purpose of this summit is to bring community and state government together to lay a strong foundation for achieving equity across Washington state government, now and for generations to come.

We look forward to connecting with you in November!

Take the 2022 US Trans Survey!

The U.S. Trans Survey is the largest survey of trans people, by trans people, in the United States. The USTS documents the lives and experiences of trans and nonbinary people ages 16+ in the U.S. and U.S. territories. USTS reports have been a vital resource, including the reports on the experiences of people of color and reports by state. In 2015, nearly 28,000 people took the USTS. A lot has happened since then – and it’s time to conduct the USTS again in 2022. Help us continue to be the largest, most diverse sample across all identities. Please spread the word to ensure that people of color, older people, those who live in rural areas, immigrants, Spanish speakers, those who are HIV+, and others hear about the survey. More than ever, it's important to ensure that trans voices will shape the future. To take the survey in English, please visit this link. Para tomar la encuesta en español, por favor visite este enlace.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS – Environmental Justice Community Participation Fund Grant

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is excited to announce the formation of an Environmental Justice Community Participation Fund Grant program. The aim of this program is to award a $400,000 pass-through grant to a statewide community-based environmental justice organization for the creation of an Environmental Justice Community Participation Fund. This Fund will be used to allocate smaller sub-grants to other community-based organizations around Washington State to support meaningful participation and engagement with the Environmental Justice Council and state agencies around the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act. The Request for Applications (RFA) for the Environmental Justice Community Participation Fund Grant is now available! We are accepting applications until 9pm PST on Friday, December 2nd and expect to announce a grantee by early 2023. RFA is available here: Environmental Justice Community Engagement | Washington State Department of Health We will also be holding a one-hour informational call from 6-7pm PST on Monday, November 7th over Zoom. This call will include a brief overview of the grant and application requirements, as well as time for question and answer. A recording of this call will be sent to all registrants and will be posted on the DOH Environmental Justice Community Engagement webpage within 2-3 days. Register for the informational call here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkcOygqTspGNdp1rJzV0zjWz8i3N5GSqVM If you are interested in receiving updates or have any questions, please contact Leah Wood (she/her) at leah.wood@doh.wa.gov.

The Washington State Women's Commission is hosting a Young Women's Listening Tour This Fall

About the Tour The Washington State Women's Commission is proud to host several Listening Sessions across the state to hear from young women, primarily ages 16-30, about what issues are most important to them. We are inviting young women across the state of Washington to share their concerns, priorities, insight, and the issues that are most important to them. The Women's Commission will use the information gathered from each Listening Session to create a report which will be shared with the Governor's Office and the Legislature. The Washington State Women's Commission is a non-partisan state government agency with a mission of "improving the life of every woman and girl by ensuring equitable opportunities and removing systemic barriers through engagement, advocacy, and public policy, while being inclusive of our diverse populations. Details of Specific Events

Where: Spokane | The Women's Club of Spokane When: Monday, November 7 Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm

Register

All Listening Sessions are free to attend, and we'll provide lunch (for mid-day sessions) or snacks (for evening sessions). Let us know you'll be attending one of our sessions by registering here.

Spread the Word!

The Women's Commission is committed to hearing from young women with diverse identities & lived experiences. Please consider sharing the opportunity with your network!

Accessibility Requests Or Other Questions?

Please email Leah White at leah.white@wswc.wa.gov.

Oasis Youth Center Leadership Summit 2022

Another great opportunity to be a part of the magic of Oasis is at the Leadership Summit. Whether this is your first time or your 10th, we know you don’t want to miss it. Join us on this multi-day transformational experience that brings queer youth, volunteers, staff, and community leaders together to develop skills and inspire change in our world. Here are some details so you can mark your calendars now. Tuesday, November 15th at Oasis Youth Center Wednesday, November 16th at Oasis Youth Center Thursday, November 17th at Oasis Youth Center Friday, November 18th at Oasis Youth Center Saturday, November 19th at Camp Seymour We will meet for 4 hours Tuesday-Friday and have one workshop, a meal together, and an ending activity each day. Participants must attend 2 workshops or activities to be eligible to join us on Saturday when we go to Camp Seymour for camp activities like ropes courses, archery, and more! Saturday will be a longer day to make sure we can fit in all the fun. Our theme this year is Growing Together in Pride, and we hope you will grow with us! Youth can register here for the retreat. Volunteers can register here.

Join Spectrum Spokane for a night of Indigiqueer joy!

BINGO NIGHT to follow film screening. Badass prizes from R.I.S.E. Indigenous, Spectrum Center, and more. About the Film: "Sean and Adrian, a Two-Spirit couple, are determined to rewrite the rules of Native American culture through their participation in the “Sweetheart Dance.” This celebratory contest is held at powwows across the country, primarily for heterosexual couples … until now." Register to attend through this link.

LGBTQ+ Scholarship Programs Accepting Applications

Pride Foundation Scholarships

Pride Foundation’s scholarship program supports LGBTQ+ students who are leaders—in their own lives, in their families, in their home communities, in their fields of study, in their workplaces, or in our movements for justice. 

We prioritize moving resources to LGBTQ+ students who need it most, so we especially focus our funding on those LGBTQ+ student leaders who have some or all of the following experiences and qualities:

• Demonstrate a commitment to advancing justice and the well-being of their communities, past, present, and future
• Have experienced family rejection and/or haven’t been able to access a larger community support system
• Face systemic barriers to educational access, and have been impacted by systemic discrimination and oppression. Specifically:
  • Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color
  • Trans, non-binary, gender diverse, gender non-conforming, and Two Spirit people
  • Immigrants
  • Disabled people/People with Disabilities, including people living with chronic illness, HIV, neurodivergence, and mental health challenges
  • People over 25, as non-traditionally aged students
  • People living rurally
  • People who have experienced or are experiencing housing instability or houselessness
  • People who have experienced or are experiencing poverty
  • Demonstrate financial need and don’t have access to familial or other financial supports
• The priorities above drive the funding for all of our scholarships. While most Pride Foundation Scholarships are open to all students, we also host a number of scholarship funds that have specific criteria, based on students’ majors, backgrounds, where they live, and more. For those scholarships, we will prioritize students who both meet the specific fund criteria and also the broader programmatic priorities above.

For more information visit this link.

GSBA Scholarship Fund

About the Fund

Awarding scholarships to LGBTQ+ and allied students who exhibit leadership potential, demonstrate strong academic abilities, and are actively involved in their schools and community.

Become a Scholar

GSBA awards educational scholarships to LGBTQ+ and cisgender/straight-ally students who are committed to making a difference in the world. Our scholarships range up to $13,000 annually and are meant to provide significant support as you pursue your educational goals.

For more information, visit this link.

It is that time of year again. Are you ready to vote?

Need to know what is on your ballot? Read the Voter Guide for 2022

Need to know what is on your ballot? Read the Voter's Guide for 2022. Click the image to go to the link. HTTPS://VOTER.VOTEWA.GOV/GENERICVOTERGUIDE.ASPX?E=877&C=99#/

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.

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.