March 6, 2023 Newsletter

Connect with the Commission

WA State LGBTQ Commission and Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Host Panel Conversation With LGBTQ Veterans

YOUR Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) joined the WA State LGBTQ Commission for a conversation on resources and support available for our LGBTQ Veterans and their families in the state. Robin Lang, LGBTQ+ Veterans Outreach Coordinator at the DVA and LGBTQ Commission Director Manny Santiago shared with a group of veterans and a representative of the VA Hospital System to address some of the biggest challenges our LGBTQ Veterans face.

The panel included Bridget Reposa, LGBTQ+ Registered Nurse Care Coordinator at Seattle Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Hospital, Pat McIntyre, Pat McIntyre a veteran from the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp, LGBTQ Commissioner Dustin Best a veteran of the US Navy and Veterans Chair at the Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and Dontae Payne, a veteran from the US Army and Senior Policy Advisor for Civil Rights and Racial Justice with the Office of the Governor. The panelists shared their own experience serving the armed forces and the challenges they and their respective communities face when navigating the systems of support for veterans. Bridget Reposa shared some of the resources the VA offers to support veterans and their families in the region, while Robin Lang shared stories of Washington veterans who felt affirmed and cared for by the DVA as her office helps them navigate resources and support. Commissioner Dustin Best highlighted the compounded challenges that Indigenous Two Spirit veterans face when trying to access services and support. He also spoke to the challenges facing Indigenous veterans who live in rural areas. Pat McIntyre spoke of the many challenges that women in general, and lesbian and bisexual women in particular, face in the armed forces. She explained the trauma of many servicewomen who have endured sexual harassment and assault, and the difficulties of trusting the systems of support after surviving such trauma. Finally, Dontae Payne shared his experience navigating the military while engaged to his now husband, and later as they became parents through adoption. He also pointed out the concerns that many same-sex families have when trying to receive services from agencies working with veterans and their families.  This panel conversation was recorded and is available for the LGBTQ Veteran community in Washington. You can access the recording through this link: https://youtu.be/emuHDhyTxOE We also encourage the public to share this resource with their networks and help us reach out to a broader audience throughout the state. Contact information for the panelists who work directly with LGBTQ Veterans is included in the description of the video.

Commissioner Steven Sawyer (King County) Visits The White House Representing LGBTQ+ Black Leaders From Washington

Commissioner Steven Sawyer (King County) who serves as Executive Director of POCAAN and PNW Black Pride, was invited to attend a special reception to honor over 40 outstanding out and proud Black LGBTQ community leaders from throughout the nation at the White House. Commissioner Sawyer writes: “It was truly an honor to represent POCAAN, PNW Black Pride and Seattle, Washington at the White House. The Administration briefed us on policies, and advances around racial equity, LGBTQIA+ equity and justice.” During his visit, Commissioner Sawyer and other leaders received reports from the Justice Department, the Department of Energy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Health and Human Services Department, and many other intergovernmental agencies. The WA State LGBTQ Commission recognizes the hard work of our appointed Commissioners advocating for LGBTQ Washingtonians at all levels of government. We are delighted to show some of the pictures Commissioner Sawyer shared with us from his recent visit to the White House.

Opportunities for the Community

National Convening on Building an Inclusive Human Services System

Join the Administration of Children and Families from the Department of Health and Human Services on March 28-29, 2023, for the National Convening on Building an Inclusive Human Services System. This two-day hybrid event will be the first federally-sponsored national conference solely devoted to creating an inclusive human services delivery system and will serve as the nation’s leading educational event for practitioners, advocates, and researchers within the field. Approximately 2,000 in-person and remote attendees are expected to participate. Registration is free, but will be required for virtual and in-person attendees.

To learn more about this convening, please visit this link. If you are interested in registering to attend the convening either in person or virtually, please visit this link.

Watch the video promotion for the convening through this link.

Spokane County – Save the Date for Eastern Washington University “Drag Show On Ice: A Fairy's Tale 2023”

Image: Logos: Right corner: Eagle Entertainment; SAN; Pride Center Left Corner: Eastern Washington University Eagle; Bottom right image of a ice castle with the back of person in a perple flowing dress, heals and long black air blowing in wind. Pink fairy silhouttes scattered around image. Text: DRAG ON ICE A Fairy's Tale Presented by Eagle Entertainment, PRIDE Center, Alumni Office, Spokane AIDS Network. Mark Your Calendars March 11, 2023 Time: 7pm-9pm Email csosa@ewu.edu regarding ticket information. Location: EWU University Recreation Center Ice Arena. Benefiting the Spokane AIDS Network

Join Eastern Washington University for their annual Drag Show, titled "Drag On Ice: A Fairy's Tale," sure to be a magical evening.

Saturday, March 11^th

7:00 – 9:00 pm

University Recreation Center

1007 Elm Street Cheney, WA 99004

Tickets for sale here: https://tinyurl.com/29j7k5fv

Save the Date for Say It Out Loud Conference!

Join us for the 22^nd annual Say It Out Loud Conference back in person on May 22, 2023!

The theme this year is "Let's Get Reel": Getting real about our communities, what data tells us, needs and inequities and how we're addressing them, use of evidence-based care, history and evolution of genderqueer, projects, and research of our youth coalitions. Not shying away from topics but elevating them to promote change.

LOCATION:

Davenport Grand

333 W Spokane Falls Boulevard

Spokane, WA 99201

REGISTRATION:

Stay Tuned! Opening mid-February $75

SPONSORSHIP:

Interested in sponsoring the 2023 SIOL Conference? CLICK HERE to learn more and contact us at contactus@sayingitoutloud.org

www.sayingitoutloud.org

Learning Opportunity: Moving from Affirmation to Action: Working with Trans, Non-binary and Gender Nonconforming Individuals

Friday March 17th, 2023 8:30 am - 2:45 pm (Pacific) Three consecutive workshop sessions with goals to increase affirming providers' capacity to offer gender affirming mental health care. This training requires a basic understanding of gender and will ask participants to further deconstruct the gender binary and explore the influence of Westernization, medicalization and white supremacy in our conceptualization of gender affirming care. Participants will also have the chance to learn more affirming language and practices that can be used in the therapy room. Priority will be given to clinicians who serve individuals with Apple Health (Medicaid). $50 Registration Fee Continuing Education Hours will be offered Stay tuned for more updates! Reach out to contactus@sayingitoutloud.org for questions

Save the Date: Two-Spirit Gathering in Spokane Falls

Image: Stylized sun, feather and water on yellow backgroup with QR Code, Spectrum Center logo, Spokane Pride logo Text: FREE Open to the public JUNE 9TH 2023. First date of Spokane Pride 1pm-8pm PST Riverfront Park @ The Lilac Bowl 507 N Howard St Spokane, WA 99201 QR Code link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2aCJDLLcb8jhqX9RXUhpVcroKFWnItOLCe2UzyoSXfUQHyQ/viewform

Legislative Session Updates

The LGBTQ Commission identifies legislative priorities annually and works with our Legislative Advisors and other legislators to advance bills that expand the rights of the community. 

The current bills being monitored for 2023 that made it through the first cutoff:

Legislative Priority:

• HB 1089 - Supporting adults with lived experience of sex trafficking.
• SB 5114 - Supporting adults with lived experience of sex trafficking. Companion bill
• HB 1151 - Mandating coverage for fertility services.

Affecting the community:

• HB 1028 - Supporting crime victims and witnesses by promoting victim-centered, trauma-informed responses in the legal system.
• HB 1155 - Addressing the collection, sharing, and selling of consumer health data.
• HB 1207 - Preventing and responding to harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in schools.
• HB 1239 - Establishing a simple and uniform system for complaints related to, and instituting a code of educator ethics for, conduct within or involving public elementary and secondary
• HB 1408 - 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.
• HB 1469 – Concerning access to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming
• HB 1474- Creating the covenant homeownership account and program to address the history of housing discrimination due to racially restrictive real estate covenants in 
• HB 1541 - Establishing the nothing about us without us act.
• SB 5008 - Providing parents and legal guardians access to instructional materials.
• SB 5009 - Requiring parental or legal guardian approval before a child participates in comprehensive sexual health education.
• SB 5024 - Establishing parents' bill of rights related to their child's public education.
• SB 5028 - Revising the process for individuals to request name changes.
• SB 5029 - Empowering school district boards of directors.
• SB 5142 - 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.
• SB 5186 - Requiring antidiscrimination clauses in public contracting
• SB 5230 - Concerning extended foster care services.
• SB 5237 - Establishing complaint procedures to address noncompliance with certain state education laws
• SB 5241 - Concerning material changes to the operations and governance structure of participants in the health care marketplace.
• SB 5242 - Prohibiting cost sharing for abortion.
• SB 5355 - Mandating instruction on sex trafficking prevention and identification for students in grades seven through 12
• SB 5441 - Promoting the adoption of school district curricula that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
• SB 5462 - Promoting inclusive learning standards and instructional materials in public schools
• SB 5489 - Concerning access to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming treatment in Washington state.
• SB 5599 - Supporting youth and young adults seeking protected health care services.
• SB 5651 - Concerning equity and environmental justice in the growth management act.
• SJR 8202 - Amending the Constitution to address reproductive freedom.
• You can find a full list of the bills we are watching in the 2023 session through this link.

The LGBTQ and ally community in Washington has several ways to be involved in advocating for issues that are important to us. Here are some tools you can use:

Washington State LGBTQ Legislative Caucus 

Contact Your Legislator

• Find Your Legislator: Enter your address to find your current legislative and congressional district.
• Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000 (TTY for Hearing Impaired 1-800-635-9993). Callers to the Hotline can leave a brief message for their district legislators, Governor or Lt. Governor on issues of concern or on questions they may have about bills or laws. For non-English speaking callers, the Hotline offers interpreter services for many languages.
• E-mail: Click a legislator’s name to go to the e-mail form for that legislator
• Visiting the Legislature: Information about directions, parking, Capitol Campus activities and events, and tours.

Bill Information

• Bill Information: Find out the latest information on a piece of legislation.
• Legislative Process: Learn how a bill becomes a law.
• How to Testify in Committee: Your opportunity to testify comes at the committee hearings. If you cannot appear before a committee, contact your legislator making your position on a bill known.
• TVW: Washington’s public affairs network, providing gavel-to-gavel coverage of Washington State Legislature sessions and coverage of the Washington State Supreme Court and public affairs events.

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.