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Meet the Commissioners
How To Become a Commissioner NaaSira Adeeba is a native form the great midwestern state of Ohio. NaaSira has resided in Seattle, Washington since July of 1979. As an active community member and parent, NaaSira has contributed time, leadership abilities and talents in the arts of social work. From:1981-1987 as an LRC peer counselor, an organizor and facilitator for the Women Of Color support group, as well as being an employer for Rainier National Bank. Additionally in the areas of Social Work, and, graduate Of Seattle Antioch University, NaaSira has worked with various Seattle nonprofit agencies as a counselor, counselling the homeless, abused youth, mothers, and women leaving abusive partner/relationships. As an original and active member of the 1993 organization, Sistah 2 Sistah, a coalition of POCAAN, NaaSira has served S2S as Co-Chair:1997-2004, and currently enjoys performing and playing the Djemba, with the group, Sista Drums. 
Nathan is probably cooking a feast with fresh herbs as you read this. The heavy perfume of a blooming orchid might mingle with the sharp scent of garlic before it passes through the tangled vines that frame the open window overlooking the bustle of Pike street. Whether fiercely biking up a staggering hill, or brushing through the aisles of a local coop--- Nathan is likely thinking about community organizing and structures of power and privilege along the way. Bravely reconciling a bachelors in Molecular Biology with the current pursuit of a Masters in Public Administration, Nathan applies a rich history of academic and practical experience toward nonprofit leadership, innovation, and LGBTQ empowerment. Nathan is currently a board member of the Pierce County AIDS Foundation, as well as Vice-chair of the United Communities AIDS Network Board. In previous years, Nathan has served a term as a Trustee of the Evergreen State College, as appointed by Governor Chris Gregoire, as well as two consecutive terms as Board President of Stonewall Youth, a thriving Queer Youth empowerment organization that has been transforming lives in Olympia for twenty years. Nathan brings trans identity to the commission, as well as youth, vision, and skill.
David W. Howenstine is a lawyer in private practice with the local law firm of Mills Meyers Swartling. As a Seattle native, David grew up in the Roosevelt neighborhood with extended family throughout the greater Seattle area. David graduated from Reed College with a B.A. in English and graduated from the University of Washington School of Law with high honors. During law school, David became increasingly engaged in LGBT civil rights issues: he was elected president of the LGBT student group, Outlaws; worked as an extern for Lambda Legal, contributing to high-profile LGBT impact litigation involving employment and medical discrimination, marriage equality, and harassment of youths and transgendered people; and published a law review article on equal protection principles. After law school, David served for three years as a law clerk for federal judges at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles and the U.S. District Court in Seattle before joining private practice. In his free time, David enjoys novels, trivia nights, exploring local coffee shops and farmers' markets, and spending time with family and friends.
Mitchell C Hunter has been working his way through the alphabet soup of our LGBTQ community as a member/leader for the last 30+ years. Austinite turned Seattlite, having moved here during the "L-Lesbian" phase, he has taken part in many of the area's social community groups and activities. While singing in the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Chorus, he learned from a fellow chorister about the possibility of transitioning his gender from Female to Male. For his "Q-Questioning" phase, he volunteered as a Graphic Designer and Marketing Manager for Gender Odyssey, FTM 2001. By 2002, he was on his own odyssey, stepping fully into his "T-Transgender" phase and later facilitating an FTM group which met at Ingersoll Gender Center. Currently in his "G-Gay" phase, he sings 2nd Tenor with the Seattle Men's Chorus and having sung his way from the Alto section to the Bass Section, proudly wears the label of polysectional. Recently, 2/2/12, Mitch celebrated his 10-year Maniversary honoring his journey from the first Androgel packet to his most recent T-shot last week.
Hill is a native of the Chicago-region where ye attended Northern Illinois University and received a B.A. double majoring in Political Science and Media Communication, with a minor in Gender Studies. As an undergrad, Hill served as President of Eir University's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender student organization, a Representative of the NIU Presidential Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and was a panelist on the NIU LGBT Speakers Bureau. In addition to being active on campus, Hill volunteered for Youth Outlook, a safe and supportive resource for LGBTQ adolescents.
Aric grew up in Nebraska and received his B.A. in Religion from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. In 2003 he moved to Seattle to work for Lifelong AIDS Alliance and has since worked for Seattle King County Public Health on a variety of research projects and community outreach testing and screening for HIV/STI. He completed his M.A. in Public Administration from Seattle University in 2009. His current academic work is focused on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity in the context of international human rights with a focus on Africa and the Middle East. Aric is currently coordinating HIV research projects out of the Harborview STD Clinic. One of his objectives for serving as a commissioner is to increase awareness of sexual, racial, gender, and identity diversity within the local community, at the national level, and internationally. In his free time Aric loves exploring music and cinema and is a bookworm.
Mac joined the LGBT commission in 2011 and is proud to be a voice for the transgendered community, as the only transgendered commissioner at this time. He is a facilitator for Ingersol Gender Center in Seattle, a member of the Seattle Men's Chorus and a board member for Seattle Counseling Center. Mac speaks on gender panels and is an educator and activist on gender, sexuality and LGBTQ rights and issues.
Ryan's upbringing was distinctly Southern, growing up in a small town in Northeast Louisiana in a Southern Baptist family. During his teenage years, he was fortunate to move to Dallas, a city with a lot more possibilities for tolerance and growth. There he came to terms with who he was and found the strength to come out and find acceptance with his religious family.
Sabina Neem is a social work clinician and community builder who is committed to social and economic justice; her approach is to engage with challenging systems in order to make change and voice informed praise and criticism. She has extensive experience as an administrator, supervisor, program coordinator, social worker, trainer, researcher, grant writer, and advocate for policy change. She is the Assistant Director at the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Seattle University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of two LGBTQ community-based organization; Zenyu Healing andTrikone Northwest.
Caila works for Lifelong AIDS Alliance as a HIV Case Manager. She volunteers with Out In Front, a LGBT Leadership Program, which with she is working on program development and implementation. Her prior work experience includes work at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania and volunteer and intern experience with the Alzheimer's Association.
Caila graduated from the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 with a Master's Degree in Social Work and previously attended Syracuse University where she studied Social Work and Psychology as an Undergraduate. Caila grew up on the East Coast in a small town North of Boston and currently resides in the Ravenna neighborhood. Caila spends her free time playing with her new puppy Bearnard, running, cooking, and exploring the area.
I grew up in Olympia, Washington, where I lived for 18 years. I moved to Tacoma, Washington after high school where I earned my bachelor's degree in social work at Pacific Lutheran University. During this time, I began my career protecting vulnerable children with the Division of Child & Family Services for the state. Upon graduation, I moved to Seattle in 2004 where I began working for the YMCA Family Services, where I still work today.
How to Become a CommissionerAnnouncement of VacanciesEach year a percentage of Commissioners' terms come up for renewal and sometimes those seats are vacated. The Seattle LGBT Commission currently has open seats and is actively recruiting for new commissioners. The Commission is especially interested in applicants who are women, transgendered, differently-abled, or of color. The Commission is also interested in working with individuals who have an interest in the following issues: lesbian health, domestic violence, aging, work place acceptance, and youth safety. The Commission is also interested in working with qualified volunteers who have an interest on specific Commission projects. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend at least one Commission meeting. Interested? View the recruitment flyer: Click Click here to view the recruitment flyer in "MS Word" format. You may contact us directly if you would like a paper version of the application sent to you, or if you have other questions. Click To read the "PDF" format application, you need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader software, which may be obtained free on the Internet at the Adobe web site.
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