The Washington State LGBTQ Commission is looking for an Executive Assistant to join our team.

What this job is about:

As the Executive Assistant, you will support the strategic priorities of the LGBTQ Commission by providing advanced administrative and executive support to the Executive Director. This involves handling multiple assignments and projects while meeting all priorities and deadlines, while remaining flexible and open to changing priorities.

This is a key administrative and dynamic position that calls for someone with advanced skills in administrative and operations support, time management and utilization, handling of confidential information, and multitasking. The ideal candidate demonstrates a clear commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. This position requires a high level of diplomacy and excellent communications skills to engage with a diverse group of stakeholders, including Governor’s staff, legislators, commissioners, national and international partners, and constituents.

You will thrive in this position if you enjoy:

Public service.

Having a positive, open, flexible, and curious attitude.

Being a team player while working independently and under minimum supervision.

Learning, growing, and innovating.

Supporting and engaging diverse groups of people to solve big and small problems, and improve state government processes and services.

Please note: The WA State LGBTQ Commission recognizes that minoritized workers – such as people of color, women, 2SLGBTQ people, veterans, people with disabilities, seniors, etc. – often forfeit opportunities because they might not have all the qualifications listed. At the WA State LGBTQ Commission, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may just be the needed candidate for this role.

For a full job description and instructions on how to apply, please visit this link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4114759/executive-assistant

The Washington State LGBTQ Commission will host its July public meeting on Friday, July 21^st from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. This meeting will take place at the Whitman College, located at 345 Boyer Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362. 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.

Washington State’s Department of Children Youth and Families, in collaboration with Kauffman and Associates Inc., is holding gathering sessions with external stakeholders to better understand the existing service landscape and unmet needs for six different populations of children, youth and families. We are holding a gathering session with Tribal Partners to discuss AI/AN populations. The five population gathering sessions we would like you to consider attending are:

1) Hispanic and Latino

2) Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI)

3) Black and African American

4) Immigrants and refugees

5) Non-English primary language/American Sign Language (ASL)/Sign language/limited English proficiency (LEP)/families using interpretive services

One gathering session will be held for each of these groups. Please note that we will also discuss LGBTQ+ population needs, particular to that group, at each gathering session.

The gathering sessions will be 90 minutes each and will be held virtually in August. They will be organized and moderated by consultants from Kauffman and Associates, Inc.

To register for individual Gathering Sessions, click on the Registration Link below:

Questions? Please contact Leigh Hayden, Kauffman and Associates Inc. at leigh.hayden@kauffmaninc.com.

Martha Shelley, who organized the first protest march in New York City after the 1969 Stonewall Riot and helped found the history-changing Gay Liberation Front, will read from her new memoir, We Set the Night on Fire (Chicago Review Press), in the Pink House of the Port Townsend Public Library, 1220 Lawrence St., at 6:30 on August 9^th. Discussion will follow.

The daughter of Jewish refugees and undocumented immigrants in New York City, Martha Shelley grew up during the Red Scare of the late 1940s and 1950s. After coming out at a time when homosexual acts were illegal, she became the public speaker for the New York chapter of the historic lesbian rights group, the Daughters of Bilitis.

Immediately after the beginnings of the Stonewall Riot on June 28, 1969, Shelley seized upon the history-making nature of the rebellion against police brutality and homophobia to organize the first post-Stonewall LGBTQ protest march. That march took place on July 27, 1969. At the same time, she joined with others to found the Gay Liberation Front. Some who were present at the meeting where GLF was born credit her with coining the name of the organization.

As autonomous Gay Liberation Front chapters began to spring up around the United States and abroad, Shelley coproduced the GLF newspaper, Come Out! and played a central role in the Lavender Menace action to confront homophobia in the women’s movement. A poet and novelist, she has authored numerous seminar essays on gay and feminist issues, including "Gay Is Good" and "Notes of a Radical Lesbian.”

Ever the organizer, even as she approaches 80, Shelley will lead a discussion following the book signing. She will ask, “With everything we fought for under attack, where do we go from here? What should be our priorities?” The evening promises to be equally enlightening and productive.

Books will be available for purchase and signing. Due to health concerns, masks are requested.

For those who cannot make the Port Townsend event, Shelley will also present a book reading / signing / discussion in Seattle at Elliott Bay Books, 1521 10^th Ave, on Tuesday August 8 at 7 pm.

Marginalized communities often face similar challenges, and it is crucial that we work together to address these challenges and find common solutions. We must recognize that our struggles are interconnected and that by fighting against one form of discrimination, we can make progress in addressing others.

At this event, we'll bring together groups from around the region to connect around this common goal. Guest organizations include: AgePRIDE, Lavender Rights Project, WA State LGBTQ Commission, WA State Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander-American Affairs, Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and more!

Mix & mingle and make brand new connections as you enjoy some delicious complimentary bites and a beverage.

Thursday, July 27, 2023 4:30pm - 6:30pm

Salesforce Roof Deck

Address: 744 N 34th Street, Seattle 98103

Street parking or the pay lots that surround the building in Fremont.

Access to the roof deck will be through the main front entrance of the building and through the elevators in the Main Lobby.

Gender neutral restrooms available.

For more information and registration, visit this link.

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.