Announcements

Seattle LGBT Commission
Eleazar Juarez-Diaz , Chair and Tiffany Nelson, interim Co-Chair

April 18, 2011

City of Seattle
Office for Civil Rights
10 3rd Avenue Suite 750
Seattle, WA 98104-1627

Dear Community Members:

The Seattle LGBT Commission has been working on a new project to assess the state of the LGBTQ community in Seattle and evaluate the needs of our community. The first step in this endeavor was last year's launch of an online survey, "Snapshot Seattle" from late May through mid-July 2010. Nearly 1,600 people participated in the survey, which focused on housing, education, health, public safety and community involvement.

This preliminary report is a summary of the data in the survey. It is intended to be a starting point for further conversation about what the survey data shows, how well it reflects the experiences of the LGBTQ community, and what next steps should be taken.

While we had a tremendous level of participation in the survey, we recognize that no survey could ever represent the entire LGBTQ population. There are still many members of our community that have not shared their opinions. As the second phase of this assessment project, the Commission is conducting further outreach to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, community leaders, stakeholders and groups underrepresented in the survey (including seniors, homeless individuals, transgender individuals, and people of color). Through in-person interviews and community forums, we will seek feedback on the actual data and recommendations on how the issues identified in the report can be addressed.

In June, the Commission will compile this feedback and create a full report to the Mayor and City Council providing the data from the survey, the results of our outreach, and recommendations for action. Our hope is that you read this preliminary report, take time to reflect on the results, and let us know your insights and recommendations so they can be included in the final report.

We thank you for your time and thoughtfulness in engaging in this process. The Commission believes this assessment can be valuable for future policy and funding decisions for the City as well as nonprofits and other organizations working with LGBTQ people. Your participation will make the assessment richer and therefore more effective in helping improve the lives of LGBTQ people in Seattle.

Best regards,

Seattle LGBT Commission Seattle Office for Civil Rights

Snapshot Seattle Preliminary Report - cover letter

Snapshot Seattle Preliminary Report