Who We Are

The Seattle LGBTQ Commission consists of 21 representative residents of Seattle appointed to serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor, City Council, Seattle Office for Civil Rights, and other Seattle City departments. Eight commissioners are appointed by the Mayor, eight appointments are made by the City Council, and the Commission appoints four members. Commissioners are appointed to a two year term of office and serve without pay. The 21st member joins the Commission each year through Get Engaged, a leadership development program for 18-29 year olds.

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights provides staff and support to the Commission.

Meet Our Commissioners

Nate Higby

Co-Chair
Appointed by: Mayor
Term: 5/1/2020 - 4/30/2022

Bio + -

Nate Higby (he/him/his) graduated with a degree in Sociology from Whitman College, Washington and works at Virginia Mason Medical Center where he does continuous improvement consulting and is an active member of the LGTQB staff committee. A life-long Pacific Northwesterner, Nate is passionate about social justice, especially dismantling systems of oppression. In particular, Nate has spent time advocating for both Disability and LGTBQrights. In 2018, Nate was able to participate in a civil rights pilgrimage in the South and heard firsthand from footsoldiers about the importance of civic engagement. Since then, Nate has been committed to serving the community by working with a variety of local organizations in Seattle, including Year Up, Common Purpose, Yesler Terrace's Youth Tutoring Program, and United Way. When not working or volunteering, Nate likes to
train for marathons and try new restaurants around Capitol Hill.

Headshot for Victor Loo.

Victor Loo

Member
Appointed by: Commission
Term: 11/1/2021 - 10/31/2023

Bio + -

Victor Loo (he/him) is a principal consultant, executive coach, strategist, national leader who addresses health disparities and leads with equity. He is 1 of the 25 national leaders in the SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions’ Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program, and 1 of the 15 national leaders in the National Council for Behavioral Health's Healthy Youth Leadership Institute. He represents US Department of Health & Human Services’ Region 10 -Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington on the National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health Steering Committee, and Washington State Commit to Change Steering Committee.Besides the compassion, passion and vision to serve Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, immigrants, and refugees, homeless, unhoused and unsheltered individuals; he is also an active community advocate/leader for the LGBTQ+ community and is Co-Chair with the City of Seattle LGBTQ Commission.

Photo of Andrew Ikechukwu Ashiofu.

Andrew Ikechukwu Ashiofu

Co-Chair
Appointed by: Commission
Term: 5/1/2022 - 4/30/2024

Bio + -

Andrew Ikechukwu Ashiofu is a second generation Nigerian-American born to Nigerian immigrant parents in Houston, Texas. As a toddler, he moved back to Nigeria where he grew up and after 20 years came back to the USA. He has lived in Seattle since 2016. He has a BSC in Microbiology. 

While in College he represented Nigeria at the Youth Employment Summit (a millennial development growth initiative). In Nigeria, he started a safe spiritual sanctuary called House of Rainbow for the LGBTQ community. Here in the US, he has worked with fellow LGBTQ+ Nigerians in establishing human rights advocacy and asylum aid for LGBTQ+ Immigrants seeking help. He is a member of DPHIU, the first Greek fraternity for gay men of color. Andrew is also a planning council member with the Seattle HIV/AIDS planning council and co-chair of the King County Democrat's DEI committee. He is an avid traveller, has been to 5 continents, and hopes to one day go to Antarctica.

Chief Seattle logo.

Brett Pepowski

Co-Chair
Appointed by: Mayor
Term: 5/1/2022 - 4/30/2024
Chief Seattle logo.

Steven Pray

Member
Appointed by: Mayor
Term: 11/1/2021 - 10/31/2023
Chief Seattle logo for the City of Seattle.

Lillian Williamson

Get Engaged Member
Appointed by: Mayor
Term: 9/1/2022 - 8/31/2023
Headshot of person with fair skin, short curled blonde hair, smile, and in a button shirt with blazer.

Ry Armstrong

Appointed by: Commission
Term: 5/1/2023 - 4/30/2025

Bio + -

Ry Armstrong (they // she // he) is an American, genderqueer artist who was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by nature and the arts. Their upbringing, which did contain both white and male-presenting privilege, was full of arts education and ultimately compelled them to follow a career in storytelling. Shortly after finishing an undergraduate degree in theatre arts, they moved from the Emerald City to the Big Apple and quickly became involved, as an actor, in productions Off-Broadway (Pete the Cat, Orphans & Outsiders) and in regional houses across the country. Complementary to their acting, their focus lies on their international creative endeavors of producing and writing new works of art to be experienced on the stage and screen. After finishing their graduate degree in International Relations, they took an interest in environmental activism as that issue is set to be the defining crisis of their lifetime. Most recently, Armstrong can most recently be seen in HBO's The Gilded Age.

Jackson Cooper

Appointed by: City Council
Term: 5/1/2022 - 4/30/2024

Alex Mielcarek

Appointed by: City Council
Term: 5/1/2022 - 4/30/2024

Seattle Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Commission

The Seattle Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Commission advises the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on issues affecting the LGBTQ community. The Commission recommends legislation, policy, programs and budget items to the Mayor, City Council, and City departments.