Dear Community,

Over four years ago, Governor Inslee signed Senator Claire Wilson’s legislation establishing the WA State LGBTQ Commission. This was a momentous event for our community, as 2SLGBTQIA Washingtonians had been advocating for years to establish a formal way of having our collective voices included in the policymaking process beyond the Legislature. When the time came, the Inslee administration showed the rest of the country how democracy works by including the 2SLGBTQIA community in every step of the process, including seeking feedback on the job description for the position of Executive Director and on the candidates that sought to fill this position. Through this process, I had the honor and privilege of being appointed to the Governor’s Cabinet and to work with Commissioners, staff, and you – the community, in establishing this small, but mighty agency.

Recently, after much consideration and having accomplished most of the goals I had for this work, I informed the Governor of my decision to step down from the role of Executive Director of the WA State LGBTQ Commission effective January 31st, 2024. Today, I wanted to share with you, our community and supporters, this decision.

Those of you who are familiar with my advocacy work within the Washington 2SLGBTQIA community know that my commitment to this work is sincere and unwavering. Upon moving to Washington over a decade ago, I shared my testimony of surviving “conversion therapy” with the state Legislature, and actively worked to ban the practice for minors in our state. Today, Washington is one of a few states in the nation that bans the practice, even though this decision was challenged by religious extremists as recent as last year. (The US Supreme Court thankfully upheld the state’s ban on the practice.) When former Governor Gregoire proposed expanding marriage equality to same-sex couples in the state, I was invited to be one of the spokespeople for this cause. It was an honor to share with others the reasons why marriage equality was so important for all of us, especially those of us with intersectional identities beyond being part of the 2SLGBTQIA community. I brought these and other experiences of activism, community organizing, and communal education to this role while also leaning into policymaking, legislative advocacy, and nurturing community partnerships.

However, the most important experience, and the one I will cherish with all my heart, is having met so many of you! It has been an honor to be in community with you, to learn with and from you, and to collectively strategize on how to best address the compounding challenges that our community still faces. I am extremely proud of being part of this wonderfully diverse 2SLGBTQIA community in Washington!

When I was asked to take on this role, I set four goals to focus on for the first few years of the agency. Here is a summary of those goals and where we are as an agency:

Educate the 2SLGBTQIA community on our rights in Washington: Even during the COVID pandemic, the Commission was able to host virtual and some in-person town halls, community forums, and educational panels on several issues. We continue regularly updating our community on the new laws and expansion of protections for our community through a strong presence on social media and a regular newsletter.   

Conduct a comprehensive survey of the 2SLGBTQIA community in the state: Recently the Commission received funding and signed a contract with researchers from Washington State University to conduct this survey. Dr. Traci Gillig and her team expect to start collecting data this Spring, with a full report due the summer of 2025. This data will help the Commission make better informed proposals to the Governor’s Office and the Legislature on 2SLGBTQIA issues.

Certification for 2SLGBTQIA-owned businesses: Economic and business opportunities are often a challenge for members of our community, especially for certain sections such as transgender, gender-expansive, and QTIPOC community members. Until now, Washington has not recognized 2SLGBTQIA-owned businesses as minority-owned. However, this is soon to change as the Commission and the Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprises, under the leadership of my colleague Director Lekha Fernandes moves forward this legislative session to include this certification for 2SLGBTQIA-owned businesses. Both Lekha and Governor Inslee have been champions in advancing this work, as the Governor included this project as a priority for his supplemental budget.

Highlight the needs of Intersex Washingtonians: Often, the needs of the intersex community are ignored in 2SLGBTQIA spaces. I had a goal of uplifting this community in any way I could. Although we are still working on this area, Washington was the first, and so far, the only state to raise the Intersex-inclusive Progress Rainbow Flag on our Capitol Campus, recognizing this community. Also, our team at the Commission is engaged in conversations with legislators on addressing the intersex community through legislative action. At this time, we do not know what the outcome of these conversations will be; however, I am delighted to know that we have interest from the Legislature in addressing the needs of an often-overlooked member of our 2SLGBTQIA collective.

The work continues. The Commissioners and staff at the WA State LGBTQ Commission continue to work with you to keep our community safe and thriving.

What is next for me? I will stay in service to our community, as I join the executive team at the Washington Health Benefits Exchange as Chief of Equity and Community Partnerships. I look forward to continuing partnering with many of you in this new role.

In service and solidarity,