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September 2024 Newsletter
A Note from the Director
Lisa Keating
Dear Community,
Back to school season is here! I want to tell all of our 2SLGBTQIA students, K12 and college, that you are valued and you are loved. To our queer adults raising beautiful scholars, you too are valued and loved. Finally, to our queer educators and staff, thank you! Thank you for your dedication to students and to the education of current and future generations. I know that there is a mix of excitement, anxiousness, and uncertainty every school year. My hope is that each one of you find a place you are welcomed, respected, and honored for all of who you are. May this school year come with opportunities for you to build community and showcase the many talents you possess.
Please look to our resources for students, families, and educators below and keep an eye out on our social media channels for pro-tips, information, and ways to improve school climates. Be sure to book mark the commission's website for quick access to important information, too.
The transition from summer to fall is a chance to get out your layers, enjoy the leaves change, and adjust to a different cadence of life. Thank you for contributions to our community as a whole, whether in big or small ways. They all add up and make a difference!
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A Note from the Commission
Commission Staff
On August 23rd and 24th, the LGBTQ Commission hosted their fourth public meeting of the year. Commissioners gathered virtually and in-person in Olympia to discuss important issues impacting LGBTQ+ people around the state and were able to welcome three new Commissioners for their first meeting – Commissioners Amasai Jeke, Mark Rosén, and Darlin Lozano Blanco. At this meeting, Commissioners received reports from state agencies, including the Department of Corrections regarding treatment and care for transgender and gender non-conforming inmates and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction on ongoing efforts to implement ESB 5462 – Inclusive Learning Standards and Instructional Materials. Commissioners also received an update from the Washington State LGBTQ Survey Team on their efforts conducting Washington's first statewide LGBTQ+ Survey. This jam-packed meeting also included a time for Commissioners to restructure and reform their committees. The following new committees were formed: the Communications and Community Outreach Committee, the Legislative Priorities Committee, and the Intergenerationality Committee. As these new committees begin their work, stay tuned for engagement opportunities! We want to thank all of our Commissioners, especially our new appointments, for their engagement and preparation for this meeting. We look forward to welcoming two more Commissioners at our next public meeting when their appointments are finalized. Meeting minutes are available on our website here.
Please note: The LGBTQ Commission has made the decision to switch from weekly newsletters to monthly newsletters. This decision was made with the desire to increase our daily and weekly footprint on our social media channels which you can follow below. We hope you enjoy the longer newsletters that this format allows us to provide.
Back to School!
It's that time of year again! All across Washington students are getting ready to start, or have already started school. As a Commission, we wanted to identify and share some resources for students and educators regarding the safety and affirmation of LGBTQ+ students. Here are some great guides, toolkits, and other resources to keep in mind as you head back to school:
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI):
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Gender Diverse Youth Sport Inclusivity Tookit by Gender Diversity and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) - One of the first of it's kind, this toolkit prepares k-12 schools on Washington's inclusive sport practices and gives strategies on how to optimize gender inclusion. This toolkit has been endorsed by OL Reign, the Seattle Kraken, the Seattle Mariners, the Seattle Seahawks, the Seattle Sounders, and the Seattle Storm.
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For Students:
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For Educators
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LGBTQ Youth Organizations:
Know of more resources and organizations we should know about? Contact us!
Attention 2SLGBTQIA+ Washingtonians! The WA LGBTQ+ Survey is LIVE!
The Washington State LGBTQ+ Survey is now LIVE!
This first-of-its-kind statewide survey aims to understand the characteristics and experiences of LGBTQ+ people in the state of Washington. The research is funded by the Washington LGBTQ Commission and is being designed for LGBTQ+ Washingtonians by LGBTQ+ Washingtonians by a queer research team at Washington State University. The LGBTQ Commission will use the findings to inform their policy recommendations to the Office of the Governor and the Washington State Legislature. Survey participants will be eligible for raffle drawings.
For more information and frequently asked questions, visit https://lgbtq.wa.gov/survey.
Follow our survey team’s social media! @walgbtqsurvey on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X
Happy Pride!
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Upcoming Community Opportunities
OSPI Seeking Public Comment on Learning Standards
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Periodically, the state is required to review and revise the state’s learning standards, which define what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. Following a year-long process of working with teachers, school and district leaders, and community partners, drafts of revised standards in English language arts, math, and science are now available.
A recorded webinar will be made available on the Learning Standards Review webpage. Educators, students, families, and community members are encouraged to review the drafts in English language arts, math, and science, and provide their comments to OSPI through an online survey available from August 16 through September 13. We appreciate your partnership in supporting additional engagement and feedback to the revised learning standards.
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Inaugural GSBA Economic Development Conference
Be part of history at GSBA's inaugural Economic Development Conference in Seattle, where cross-community connections pave the way for shared prosperity.
GSBA proudly presents its inaugural Economic Development Conference, the first of its kind in Seattle! This premier event is dedicated to advancing supplier diversity and fostering equitable opportunities for all businesses, and best of all, it's FREE for participants this year.
The 2024 GSBA Economic Development Conference is THE signature event for business owners and professionals committed to advancing supplier diversity and creating equitable opportunities for all businesses.
This two-day event will connect certified small businesses with corporate and government entities in order to explore opportunities to do business together.
Day One, in person, includes learning opportunities, networking over breakfast and lunch, and an LGBTBE Pitch Competition where the winner will receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2024 NGLCC Conference (conference fee, hotel and airfare) courtesy of Wells Fargo.
***To qualify for the pitch competition, you must be a GSBA member and LGBTQ Certified or in process of certification.***
Day Two, also in person, features roundtable and one-on-one matchmaking, where you can explore opportunities with Corporate Procurement Partners and Government Agencies! Day two will also feature an all-day vendor pop-up showcasing businesses and services.
📅 Save the date! September 9 - 10, 2024
📍 Amazon "Arizona" Building, directions
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Opportunity for Bisexual Health Research
MultiCare’s team of BIPOC and queer researchers is leading paid conversations to explore bisexual Women of Color’s experiences across perinatal healthcare (healthcare during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum). Sharing your story can help advance health equity and reproductive justice for our community! All folks who participate will be compensated $50.
To learn more or sign up to participate, complete the interest form at https://redcap.link/ThriveInterview or reach out to Deana Williams at HealthEquityResearch@multicare.org.
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Interested in serving on Commissions and Boards? |
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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.
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Job 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 Executive Assistant, Sawyer Tuttle (they/them), sawyer.tuttle@lgbtq.wa.gov.
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Have something you want to share in our newsletter? Please send any submissions to Sawyer Tuttle, Executive Assistant and Communications Coordinator, at sawyer.tuttle@lgbtq.wa.gov
Deadline for all submissions is the last Tuesday of the Month at 12:00 Pacific Time.
Published the first Wednesday of every month going forward
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