|
July 24, 2023 Newsletter
Connect with the Commission
Washington State LGBTQ Commission Celebrates Indigiqueer and Two-Spirit Pride With Puyallup Tribe of Indians
Tribal Council Member Annette Bryan speaking at Puyallup Tribe Pride
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians hosted its fourth Puyallup Tribe Pride celebration on Saturday, July 22 at the Chief Leschi School in Puyallup. Commission Director J. Manny Santiago was invited to share with the tribe on behalf of the LGBTQ Commission. The theme for this year’s celebration was “We Stand Together”, making reference to the importance of building community and the generous spirit of the Puyallup people, who have inhabited these lands since time immemorial. During the event, several local nonprofits, businesses, and tribal agencies had the opportunity to share with the participants about their goods and services. In addition to Director Santiago, the lineup of speakers included words from Tribal Council members Sylvia Miller, James Rideout, and Annette Bryan who was the first openly Two-Spirit person to be elected to the Tribal Council. After a blessing from a member of the Tribe and greetings from speakers, a lineup of drag artists performed for the audience.
|
Director J. Manny Santiago brings greetings to the Puyallup Tribe Pride.
The Puyallup Tribe is one of 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington, and it was one of the first Tribal communities to affirm their support for Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, and LGBTQ people in the state. In 2019 the Puyallup Tribe was only the second indigenous nation in the USA – after the Diné Nation of Arizona and New Mexico – to host a Pride celebration. Other indigenous nations within the state, such as the Nisqually Indian Tribe, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, the Lummi Nation, the Tulalip Tribes, and the Suquamish Tribe have also recognized and celebrated Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, and LGBTQ people. The WA State LGTBQ Commission also has representation from the Confederated Tribes of the Coleville Reservation with Commissioner Dustin Best, who serves on their Tribal Council.
Director Santiago (left) and Puyallup Tribe Council Member Annette Bryan share during Puyallup Tribe Pride.
Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer people have been part of the indigenous nations in the USA since time immemorial. Although colonization, Euro-centric cultural hegemony, and religious mores from outside indigenous communities have tried to erase their existence, Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer people continue to reclaim their space within their cultures and nations. This year, Spectrum Center in Spokane, which offers Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer programming, held the first Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Powwow in the Pacific Northwest as an opening celebration for Spokane Pride.
The WA State LGBTQ Commission is committed to strengthening its ties with indigenous communities throughout Washington and looks forward to continuing uplifting the needs of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Washingtonians from every nation and nationality, regardless of their federal recognition or whether they are indigenous people from outside the USA.
|
|
Opportunities for the Community
Department of Commerce Request for Proposals – LGBTQ+ Competency Trainer
Commerce is seeking proposals from qualified LGBTQ+ competency trainers who can provide expert training to Housing Division staff, grantees, and partners. The training will cover a range of topics related to LGBTQ+ identities, issues, and challenges, and should equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to support and serve LGBTQ+ individuals and communities in a sensitive, respectful, and inclusive manner.
|
July Power Connect: Fighting Hate Together
Join the GSBA and partners on Thursday July 27 at 4:30pm at the July Power Connect: Fighting Hate Together, in partnership with ADL Pacific Northwest. We believe that it is essential for marginalized groups to come together and fight against all forms of discrimination, including homophobia, antisemitism, transphobia, racism, ableism, ageism, and more. Each of these forms of discrimination perpetuates inequality and prevents individuals from living their lives with dignity and respect. By standing together and speaking out against hate, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
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.
|
|
|
Public Health Connects Speaker Series – Fact or Fiction: Navigating the social media rumor mill in a digital world.
Please join our next session of Public Health Connects (PHC) for this exciting conversation and relevant conversation. Please share with others!
Registration Link: Fact or Fiction? Navigating the social media rumor mill in a digital world. Tickets, Wed, Jul 26, 2023 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite
Public Health Connects is a speaker series developed by the Washington State Department of Health to advance health equity, spotlight innovative ideas, and foster collaborative partner engagement throughout the health and wellness system — and beyond. Together, we can create a future where everyone can live their healthiest lives.
Kate Starbird is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) and Director of the Emerging Capacities of Mass Participation (emCOMP) Laboratory. She is also adjunct faculty in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering and the Information School, and a data science fellow at the eScience Institute.
Kate is a co-founder of the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public, which formed in 2019 around a shared mission of resisting strategic misinformation, promoting an informed society, and strengthening democratic discourse. Kate's research is situated within human-computer interaction (HCI) and the emerging field of crisis informatics — the study of how information-communication technologies (ICTs) are used during crisis events. Her research examines how people use social media to seek, share, and make sense of information after natural disasters (such as earthquakes and hurricanes) and man-made crisis events (such as acts of terrorism and mass shooting events). More recently, her work has shifted to focus on the spread of disinformation in this context. Kate's research touches on broader questions about the intersection of technology and society—including the vast potential for online social platforms to empower people to work together to solve problems, as well as salient concerns related to abuse and manipulation of and through these platforms and the consequent erosion of trust information.
|
|
|
Invitation to participate in DCYF's Cultural Landscape Analysis Project
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.
|
|
|
Gay Liberation Pioneer Book Signing
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 9th. 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 10th Ave, on Tuesday August 8 at 7 pm.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|