On Tuesday, September 19th, Executive Director of the Commission, J. Manny Santiago, visited with LGBTQ entrepreneurs during the Supplier Diversity Forum hosted by the GSBA in Seattle. As the largest LGBTQ chamber of commerce in the nation, the GSBA “represents small business, corporate, and nonprofit members who share the values of promoting equality and diversity in the workplace.” The Supplier Diversity Forum offered an opportunity for LGBTQ and ally entrepreneurs to learn valuable skills, connect with other entrepreneurs, and hear from community partners on advancing opportunities for minority-owned businesses.

During a fireside chat with Toraya Miller, Director of Training and Consulting for GSBA, Director Santiago shared about the LGBTQ Commission’s role in advocating for supplier diversity and plans to expand the state’s certification categories to include LGBTQ-owned businesses. The entrepreneurs in attendance were enthusiastic about supporting this initiative, eager to share their own stories and interested in how expanding certification can help their businesses thrive.

Additionally, director Santiago and executive assistant Sawyer Tuttle met with representatives from other local LGBTQ organizations to hear their concerns and strategize for the next legislative session. The staff of the Commission met with members of QLaw, Lavender Rights Project, and Entre Hermanos. As community groups get ready for advocacy in 2024, these regular check-ins and conversations with grassroots organizations will help in bringing a unified LGBTQ voice to Olympia.

October is LGBTQ History Month, a time to celebrate milestones in civil rights and the work of those who made them possible. The Washington State LGBTQ Commission and Legacy Washington, authors of Love, Equally: The Journey to Marriage Equality, invite you a panel discussion commemorating ten years of same-sex marriage in Washington. Our panelists will reflect on how marriage equality was won, share lessons learned from the movement, and demonstrate how those lessons are applied to today’s battles for civil rights in the LGBTQ community.

Date: October 9, 2023
Time: Noon – 1:30 pm
Location: Columbia Room Legislative Building, Olympia
Also check out the Love Equally Online Exhibit!

The Office of Equity has contracted with RTI International, a non-profit research organization, to conduct a study of Washington State Patrol related to workforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The purpose of this study is to develop agency-specific strategies for pro-equity anti-racism practices, policies and procedures that improve agency programs and services and reduce disparities across the agency. As part of this initiative, RTI will conduct in-person and virtual community listening sessions to solicit feedback from groups that are underrepresented in the WSP workforce. We hope someone from your organization will consider participating!

Please know that your participation in the listening session is confidential no information or thoughts you share will be directly attributed to you in any reports received by WSP or the Washington Office of Equity. RTI will produce a report that provides only aggregated summary results of the listening sessions, and statements will not be directly attributed to specific participants. Participation is voluntary and will last about 90 minutes. To thank you for taking the time to participate in the listening session, in-person sessions will provide complimentary refreshments and snacks. If it is requested, childcare will also be provided for the duration of the listening session. All participants, in-person and virtual, will be compensated for their time.

 Listening sessions will be held at the times and dates below. If you are interested in participating in a listening session, please access the registration form at WSP DEI Community Listening Sessions Registration Form.

1. September 25: Yakima, Central WA University, room TBD. 4:00-6:00pm.
2. October 2: Spokane, Equity & Community Inclusion Center (at the Resource Center of Spokane County) (tentative). 4:00-6:00pm.
3. October 9: Bremerton, location TBD. 4:00-6:00pm.

We value your perspective and input and look forward to using the results of this survey to improve DEI strategies in the Washington State Patrol. If you have questions about the Community Listening Session or overarching project, please contact RTI International (wspcommunity@rti.org).

MultiCare Health Systems invite bisexual women of color in Washington state to consider joining their THRIVE Community Steering Committee.

Joining the THRIVE Community Steering Committee involves:

• Committing to a two-year term that includes participating in eight meetings per year. 
• Co-creating approaches to improve bisexual Women of Color’s representation in maternal health research, so no one gets left behind.
• Contributing to the development of an anti-racist, bisexual-affirming maternal health toolkit for maternal health providers and birth workers.

To make meeting attendance easiest for a wide group of people, MultiCare Health Systems will hold all meetings virtually. Our team can help identify community spaces with free computers and WIFI access as needed. Members will be provided $75 as compensation after every meeting attended.

Those interested in becoming THRIVE Community Steering Committee members and/or learning more can reach out to Deana Williams, the study lead, at deana.williams@multicare.org or complete the intake form at https://redcap.link/JoinThrive.

September 28-30, 2023

Greater Tacoma Convention Center and Partially Virtual

This conference brings together community organizations and advocates alongside legal professionals to develop a shared vision and learning space to demand justice from legal systems. The conference theme, Shifting Justice Towards Accountability and Trust, is a pledge by those working within the legal system to be accountable to and build trust with the communities with whom we aim to partner. In the end, we hope conference attendees and presenters will walk away with a shared belief that we can effect change, recognizing our own power, and validating the leadership of the community. Learn more here.

This will be our first-ever hybrid conference. The in-person option will be at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center and we will stream some of the sessions for remote participants. When you register you will be asked to select in-person or virtual participation.

📢 Attention Virtual Attendees: Sort the agenda by the tag “Virtual” so you can see your options. There will be the opportunities to schedule your own virtual meetups so you can network and connect outside of sessions with fellow online attendees. 

November 7^th, 2023

8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Venue TBD, South Seattle Metro Area

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Anti-Defamation League’s Pacific Northwest Office are presenting the 2023 Public Safety Summit on Hate Crimes. KCPAO invites law enforcement and community partners to share ideas and feedback so we may provide an improved response to individuals and communities impacted by hate crimes. Coffee and lunch will be provided. Kindly RSVP to sarah.cranfill@kingcounty.gov.

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.