April 3, 2023 Newsletter

Opportunities for the Community

Office of the Corrections Ombuds Community Public Meeting  April 28, 2023 @ 4:30-6:00 PM  Helen Sommers Building's Ground Floor Conference Room Zoom & TVW  We hope you will join us from 4:30-6:00 PM in the Ground Floor Conference Room of the Helen Sommers Building (106 11th Ave. SW, Olympia, WA 98501) to make connections between people and organizations working for positive change in corrections. Unable to join us in person?  Good news - we have two virtual ways to participate in our hybrid community meeting: Zoom & Streaming on TVW. The agenda is available now on the OCO website HERE.  Before April 21st, we will distribute links to the Zoom Meeting, TVW Streaming, presentation materials, and the OCO Community Meeting Rules.

GenPride presents Pillars of Pride

Tickets are available here. 

You can nominate an honoree here: https://genprideseattle.org/pop23-honoree/ (55+ years of age is one of the requirements, more info in link)

Also there are sponsorship options for businesses or organizations wanting to support this event: https://genprideseattle.org/sponsorship/

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

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 cutoffs:

Legislative Priority:

• SB 5114- Supporting adults with lived experience of sex trafficking. Companion bill
• HB 1151 - Mandating coverage for fertility services.
• SB 5204 - Mandating coverage for fertility services. Companion Bill

Affecting the community:

The Commission is tracking the following legislation that indirectly impacts the LGBTQ+ 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 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 5028- Revising the process for individuals to request name changes.
• 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. - Signed by the Governor
• SB 5186 - Requiring antidiscrimination clauses in public contracting
• 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 5462 - Promoting inclusive learning standards and instructional materials in public schools
• SB 5599 - Supporting youth and young adults seeking protected health care services.

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.