On Friday, March 15^th, the Washington State LGBTQ Commission gathered for their second public meeting of the year at Everett City Hall in Everett, Washington. Commissioners engaged in a variety of discussions including a recap of the 2023 legislative session led by Senator Marko Liias (Co-Chair of the LGBTQ Caucus) and Senator Claire Wilson (LGBTQ Commission Legislative Advisor), an update from the WSU Research Team on the LGBTQ Comprehensive Survey, plans for pride in 2024 around Washington and more! Meeting minutes are available by request one week after the meeting by request through our contact form here.

Two community groups came to present for our Commissioners from Snohomish County, Everett Pride and Cocoon House. Everett Pride, a nonprofit organization that strives to build a safe, fun, connected community for LGBTQ+ people of all ages in the City of Everett, Washington, came to discuss their plan for the Everett Pride Block Party on June 15^th (save the date!) and their efforts to build LGBTQ+ community in Everett. Everett Pride is still looking for sponsors – if you are a business that might be interested visit this link! Cocoon House offers short- and long-term housing, street outreach, and prevention services aimed at strengthening families through a continuum of programs designed to prevent and end youth homelessness. Cocoon House gave a presentation on the services they offer and shared the impact of their work in Snohomish County. Here is a link to a video they shared with Commissioners during their presentation that highlights a couple stories from people who have utilized their services. We want to thank these groups for coming to our meeting to share about the work they do for their communities and invite you to support and engage with these organizations.

The Commission would like to sincerely thank the members of the public that came to the meeting! Having input from the public is the best way for us to do our job effectively and to truly understand the struggles the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is facing in Washington. Please continue to speak up and let your voice be heard on the issues that matter to you, we are listening and advocating for you.

Interested in attending a future Commission public meeting? Our next meeting will be on May 17^th in Yakima, Washington. More details will be available soon!

Today the Washington State LGBTQ Commission is launching the application for the LGBTQ Youth Advisory Council! The Commission believes it to be very important to make ourselves available to youth that might have questions or need assistance with their application. We are looking to collaborate with organizations across the state that work with 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to hold application parties where interested youth can stop in and chat with Commissioners or Commission staff about the LGBTQ Youth Council, the LGBTQ Commission, and any other questions they may have.

If your organization would be interested in helping the Commission host an application party in your area, please contact Sam Fennell – Samuel.Fennell@lgbtq.wa.gov for more details! We are looking forward to working with youth organizations across Washington to reach as many 2SLGBTQIA+ youth as possible. 

Pride season is just around the corner! The WA State LGBTQ Commission wants to keep an updated calendar of Pride events throughout the state. We have created this form, which you can use to let us know about any event your agency or community group is planning for Pride this year. You can also use the QR code in the image. Feel free to share this link and QR code with agencies around your area who are planning events to celebrate and honor our community.

The LGBTQ Commission reserves the right to publish the information of the event, and here are some guidelines we will follow in making our decision on what events will be published:

• Events that go against the mission, vision, and values of the LGBTQ Commission will not be publish on the calendar.
• Only community events will be accepted for publication. No commercial events at bars, clubs, restaurants, or paid venues will be accepted for publication. (It’s OK if a community event has an entrance fee.)
• Political, partisan, and religious events will not be accepted for publication.
• Acceptance for publication of an event on the Commission’s calendar does not constitute endorsement, support, or sponsorship of such event on the part of the Commission, its staff, Commissioners, or affiliated agencies.

Are you interested in having a Washington State LGBTQ Commissioner or staff member speak at your pride event this year? State LGBTQ Commissioners are appointed by the Governor to improve the state's interface with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and are responsible for advising the Governor, executive branch agencies, and the legislature on polices related to 2SLGBTQIA+ people. If you would like to have a Commissioner come speak at your pride event please reach out to us through this contact form!

The mission of the Washington State LGBTQ Commission is to improve the state’s interface with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, and intersex community, identify the needs of its members, and ensuring that there is an effective means of advocating for LGBTQ equity in all aspects of state government. We accomplish this work by listening and engaging our community throughout the state with the support of 15 members, appointed by the Governor, to serve for a three-year term as Commissioners.

If you are a resident of Washington, over 18 years old, and who identifies within the LGBTQ and Two Spirit community, you qualify to serve as a Commissioner! We are looking for people who understand the challenges facing the LGBTQ in Washington today, who are interested in shaping policy to support LGBTQ Washingtonians, and who can really commit to being present to advocate with and for the community. The WA State LGBTQ Commission offers stipends for qualified, appointed Commissioners according to the “Community Compensation Guidelines” adopted by the Office of Equity and found here. Everyone is welcome to apply, and LGBTQ Washingtonians with expertise or lived experience in these areas are particularly encouraged to apply:

• Rural communities and cities and towns outside of the I-5 corridor
• Older LGBTQ people
• LGBTQ and Two-Spirit members of Tribal Nations
• Disabled and neurodivergent LGBTQ people
• Active military servicepeople, veterans, or spouses
• Small business owners and entrepreneurs
• LGBTQ people of mixed, Desi, Black, Latina/o/x, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander racial and ethnic identities

If you are interested in being considered to serve as an appointed Commissioner, please fill out the application form found on the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions here. You can also nominate others to be considered. If you have applied in the past, were not selected, but want to be considered again, please fill out a new application.

Oasis Youth Center has teamed up with coordinators John Cummings and Mark Nelson to launch our 2nd Annual Name Change Clinic. This clinic empowers Pierce County citizens and ensures equal access to the Justice System by removing barriers to getting legal name changes in Pierce County. Oasis Youth Center is ecstatic to host a Name Change Clinic for members of the LGBTQ+ community of all ages!

Participants must RSVP in advance. Participants are REQUIRED to attend Saturday, March 30th, which will run from 10am-1pm.The final day of the clinic will be Friday, April 12th where participants will be going to the courthouse to finalize their name change! Time is to be announced for this day. There will be an opportunity to work with the legal team present during those days to determine eligibility for a fee waiver. If you are not eligible for the fee waiver and you do not have the resources to pay these fees (~$320), please let an Oasis staff member know. Youth under the age of 18 can attend but will need consent from BOTH parents to grant consent on an official form. The Name Change Clinic will be located at Oasis Youth Center, 2215 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Oasis Youth Center at (253) 671-2838 or oasis@oasisyouthcenter.org. Interested folks must RSVP in advance with this link (or the QR code on the flyer).

Job-seekers, aspiring trade-workers, and community-members!

Please join us at Peer Seattle for the Trans & Gender Nonconforming Trade Career Fair on March 31st from 5pm to 8pm at 1520 Bellevue Ave, Ste 100, Seattle, WA. This event welcomes all, with a special focus on the trans and gender nonconforming community, providing a chance to connect with representatives from Seattle-based trade unions, including Iron Workers, Carpenters, Plumbers, Electricians, and Sheet Metal Workers, as well as additional community partners and employers.

Please feel free to reach out to Peer Seattle's Supported Employment Specialist, Rosa (rosalita@peerseattle.org) with any questions regarding the event.

Save The Dates!

The Say It Out Loud (SIOL) Conference began in 2001 to provide space for education, networking, and sharing knowledge to improve care and support for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, families, and our communities. All are welcome. Attendees have included professionals serving all ages and populations, non-profit agencies who serve 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and families, behavioral and mental health, substance use, child welfare, education, criminal justice, etc. Interpreter Services and Captioning Provided.

Dates: May 19 - 20, 2024

Location: Yakima Convention Center - 10 N 8th Street, Yakima, WA 98901

Registration ($100) opens in February!

Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the 2024 SIOL Conference? Email us at contactus@sayingitoutloud.org

Interested in speaking at this year's conference? Call for Proposals now open!

For more information on call for proposals click here.

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.