Advocacy

Advocacy for Policy and Systems

LGBTQIA+ communities navigate layered systems of harm, including homophobia, transphobia, racism, displacement, housing instability, and healthcare inequity. These realities shape daily life and long-term well-being. They are shaped by policy decisions.

We work alongside community partners, leaders, and elected officials to build collective power and advance policies that expand economic opportunity, protect our communities, and direct resources where they are most needed.

Through civic education, coordinated advocacy, and leadership development, we support LGBTQIA+ people in actively participating in the decisions that affect our lives.

Advocacy Programs

  • Civic Engagement Cohort

  • Queer the Vote

  • 2026 Legislative Priorities

Civic Engagement Cohort

The Civic Leadership Cohort comprises LGBTQIA+ grassroots leaders from underrepresented communities. We provide stipends to ensure accessibility and equity. We cover eight topics: queer movement history, government systems, policy tools, organizing, testimony, media strategy, and voter engagement, with support from guest experts and community partners.

The cohort strengthened the region’s civic infrastructure, expanded the pipeline of LGBTQIA+ leaders, and built a foundation for long-term advocacy in housing justice, LGBTQIA+ protections, and economic equity.

Queer the Vote

Queer the Vote is a community-centered civic engagement initiative that creates welcoming spaces for LGBTQIA+ community members to connect directly with candidates, learn about issues impacting our communities, and participate in the democratic process. Through community gatherings and civic events, we provide opportunities for dialogue, education, and collective action. These events bring together LGBTQIA+ organizations, community leaders, and residents to ask questions, discuss key political moments, and engage with candidates and policymakers. By combining culture, community, and civic engagement, Queer the Vote helps ensure LGBTQIA+ voices are informed, connected, and actively shaping the future of our communities.

2026 Legislative Priorities

Trans & Queer Liberation

We defend the right of transgender students to participate in school sports without fear of retaliation, harassment, or forced outing. We fight to uphold and strengthen the Safety Act, ensuring schools are safe, inclusive, and affirming spaces where trans and queer students can belong and thrive.

Housing Justice

We fight against the criminalization of unhoused people and push for policies that protect queer and trans people, especially youth, elders, and disabled community members, from punishment for living outside. Housing justice means dignity, safety, and the right to exist without harassment, displacement, or policing.

Worker Rights & Economic Justice

We are committed to ending violence, stigma, and criminalization against people in the sex trade while advancing worker protections for all, including immigrant and undocumented workers. Queer and trans workers deserve safe working conditions, fair wages, and freedom from exploitation and surveillance across all forms of labor.

Democracy & Civic Power

We support passing ranked-choice voting in Washington State and advancing fair, accessible voting practices that expand participation among queer, trans, immigrant, and marginalized communities, no matter where they live in Washington State. A just democracy is one where every vote counts, and no one is excluded through suppression, intimidation, or systemic barriers.

Surveillance & Privacy

We oppose surveillance practices that disproportionately target queer, trans, immigrant, unhoused, and criminalized communities. Our legislative priorities center on protecting personal data, limiting government and institutional surveillance, and ensuring people can access services, housing, education, and civic life without fear of monitoring, retaliation, or harm.

Legislation We’re Tracking

Trans Rights in Washington (initiatives anti-trans)

Past Legislative Efforts

2025

2024