Past Work

Lobbied for the Equal Benefits Ordinance - Creating a Contracting Requirement
The law requires, whenever possible, that the City contract for public works, consultant services, or purchasing goods and services with businesses that do not discriminate in the provision of benefits between employees with spouses and employees with domestic partners.

Created a New Protected Class, Gender Identity
Seattle amended the non-discrimination ordinance to create a new protected class, gender identity. This change was made to make the language more accurate, more inclusive and more easily administered. Seattle's discrimination ordinances provide protection in housing, employment, public accommodations and contracting.

Added a Private Right of Action to City's Employment Discrimination Ordinance
This new provision allows a LBGTQ person to file an employment discrimination case in court based on sexual orientation or gender identity. State non-discrimination laws do not cover sexual minorities.

Led the effort for successful passage of the City's Domestic Partner Registration

Obtained $60,000 a year in 2001 and 2002 for The Rainbow Train Project
Rainbow Train provides professional sensitivity training to health and social service providers of all levels about the needs of elderly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) patients.

Obtained $25,000 a year in 2001 and 2002 for Sappho Health Services
Sappho provides sensitive and appropriate health care to the city's sexual minority women's community.

Other Funding Obtained

• $170,000 for support of Hepatitis A/B Education and Outreach Campaign (1999/2000)
• $10,000 for support for programs and projects related to same-sex domestic violence including:
• Transgender Domestic Violence Workshop (10/00)
• Same-Sex Domestic Violence Poster Education and Outreach Campaign (2000)
• Same-Sex Domestic Violence Symposium (10/98)
• $50,000 for sexual minority health care items (99/00)
• $20,000 for a lesbian health education and resource project
• $22,000 for Seattle Public School support of sexual minority youth and education of youth, teachers, and parents.

Worked with The Seattle Police Department

• Facilitated acquisition of software by Seattle Police Department to track bias crimes committed against sexual minorities.
• Collaborated with a community group to develop, produce, and distribute a bias crime wallet card (3000 distributed) and poster. Funding for these activities was provided by the Seattle Police Department and a grant from the City's Department of Neighborhoods.
• Coordinated (on-going) Basic Law Enforcement Academy training regarding sexual minority issues for new police officers.
• Collaborated with the Seattle Police Department to develop and implement an on-going diversity training program for new police officers.
• Organized a community roundtable with the Seattle Police Department to prevent bias crimes against sexual minorities.

Community Project:

• Facilitated the AIDS Ad-hoc Committee, encouraging discussion between diverse AIDS activists, providers and organizations.
• Conducted the first major survey of Seattle's sexual minority community, in collaboration with the Office for Women's Rights and the Lesbian Resource Center.
• Conducted (in 1996 and 1997) surveys of sexual minority community members to determine community priorities.