In honor of October being 2SLGBTQIA History Month, the Washington State LGBTQ Commission is proud to announce the launch of the Washington State LGBTQ History Timeline on our website. This timeline explores LGBTQ historical events and milestones and captures some of the most important developments in LGBTQ rights in our state’s history. We invite you to read through the timeline here.

The Commission finds it critical to acknowledge that this timeline is nowhere near complete and that there is plenty more to be added. Seattle and other communities in Western Washington are heavily represented on the timeline due to the availability of information regarding LGBTQ advocacy in those places, but we know that LGBTQ people have existed everywhere, forever. As a Commission, we are committed to serving LGBTQ people across the entire state and wish to include more history on LGBTQ communities beyond the I-5 corridor. If you are aware of any historical events, or other information from anywhere in the state, we are in the process of creating a submission form so that this page can be updated with community input. This form will be live on our website soon. We are excited to collaborate with our communities across the state to showcase Washington’s vivid LGBTQ past!

Serve, Learn, and Lead in Olympia!

Each January, beginning in 1955, the Washington State Legislature welcomes around 70 passionate, inquisitive, and hardworking students to serve as non-partisan, full time legislative staff in Olympia.

In addition to earning academic credit and a monthly stipend of $2400, interns engage as a part of a team, helping solve real world problems for the citizens of Washington. These interactions provide one of a kind insights into the events and legislation that impact our state every day.

Some intern responsibilities include tracking legislation, attending committee hearings and legislative meetings, corresponding with constituents, lobbyists, and state agencies, drafting letters, resolutions, talking points, press releases and newsletters, participating in intern classes, workshops, and policy exercises, and more.

Are you ready to embrace the challenge? Visit our website for eligibility requirements and to apply! Applications are accepted until October 27^th. 

Calling all queer poem writers of Washington State and adjacent tribal lands!

As part of my term as the Washington State Poet Laureate, I’m putting together an anthology of poems from queer writers of all stripes across the state. I want to hear from people trying out poetry for the first time, as well as regular writers and widely published poets. I want to include work by folks across spectrums of sexual orientation, gender, and sexuality in general (ace/aro family, I’m looking at you—send me work!), and from across the full breadth of our state.

Poems can be on any topic. This anthology takes the stance that all art made by queer artists is queer art, whether it draws explicit attention to an identity or not. Send me your love poems, the poem you wrote on the bus or in the park, poems where you wrestle with yourself, poems where you love existing, poems that take a metaphor and run with it, tribute poems, grief poems, ecstatic poems, sleepy poems, poems that barely know what they are or what they’re becoming, I want it all. Traditional and experimental work are both welcomed.

The final anthology will be published online and made available as a free resource. I’ll organize poems in a tagged and searchable format (like a database), making sure the tags are correct to the poem and its author. There is no payment available but chosen writers will appear in a publicized, widely available anthology and may get opportunities for readings and events following the anthology’s launch.

I hope to hear from you soon! And please pass this call around!

Best,

Arianne True

Submissions are due Friday, December 15^th, 2023. Click here for more info and to submit.

The Washington State Department of Commerce in collaboration with ArtsWA recently announced COVID Impacts Recovery Grants. These small, one-time grants to Washington businesses in the arts, heritage, and science sectors will provide funding for recovery from pandemic economic impacts. For-profit and non-profit businesses are eligible – grant funding is limited to $5,000 per application. Applications are accepted until 5 PM, November 1, 2023.

Happy National Coming Out Day and kick off to the Pride Foundation Scholarship season! We’ve been watching the leaves change color and recovering from our first colds of the school season, and that means it is finally time – the Pride Foundation 2024 scholarship application is now open.

The Pride Foundation’s scholarships fund LGBTQ+ students who are leaders – in their own lives, in their families, in their home communities, in their field of study, in their workplace, or in our movements for justice. The Pride Foundation’s program provides resources to students who need to most, regardless of school, major, or GPA.

Since awarding their first scholarship in 1992, Pride Foundation has awarded over $8.5 million to 2,452 students in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Through the incredible generosity of our community, Pride Foundation has more than 60 scholarship funds – but students only need to complete one application.

Applications are due Friday, January 5, 2024, and any LGBTQ+ student who is a resident of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington state is eligible to apply. You can find out more details about the basic requirements, process, and application here.

Help us make sure every student in our region knows about the opportunity for support – please help spread the word to students in your networks – or apply yourself!

Entre Hermanos invites you to celebrate their 32-year anniversary at the Día De Muertos Gala! Honoring beloved ancestors and continuing the fight for LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights! Since 1991 Entre Hermans has promoted the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Latinos in Washington State through medical case management, legal services, civic engagement, and community building. The event will have artist performances, a live auction, prizes, and much more! All event proceeds of this Gala benefit the health and well-being of the Latino LGBTQ+ Community.

Date: October 28^th, 2023

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Seattle Renaissance Hotel

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.

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.

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.