📢BIG WIN: According to reporting from NPR, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is no longer going through with a proposed rule that would have conditioned Medicare and Medicaid funding to require hospitals to ban gender-affirming care. 🙅 (cont.)

Washington State LGBTQ Commission Executive Director Lisa Keating had an amazing time at the Wenatchee @applesox Pride Night! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ This was the first ever Pride Night by a professional team in North Central Washington. ⚾️🌈(cont.)

Washington residents: Share your thoughts on key questions shaping the future of K–12 student behavioral health supports across Washington. The 1st Community Sounding Board questionnaire for the Policy Codesign for K–12 School Behavioral Health project is open now. Responses due by Friday, May 29.

📢It's almost time for Washington's annual pride flag raising!📢 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️Join @governorferguson.bsky.social, the Washington State LGBTQ Commission, and the Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network as we raise the intersex-inclusive progress pride flag at the Capitol Campus! (cont.)

We know this ruling is deeply concerning for 2SLGBTQIA+ Washingtonians. Here are some things to know: ❌This case was NOT about whether these practices are safe or legal❌ The medical consensus is clear: Conversion therapy is harmful, unethical and it puts young people at risk⚠️ (cont.)

This past Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued its decision in a case about how conversion therapy can be regulated. The Court ruled these harmful and debunked practices can be "protected speech" under the first amendment and sent the case back down to the lower court to be revisited. (cont.)

🏳️‍⚧️The Washington State LGBTQ Commission is proud to share this year's Transgender Day of Visibility Proclamation signed by @govferguson 🏳️‍⚧️Now more than ever, it is critically important for the state to uplift and support our transgender and gender nonconforming community.🫂 (cont.)

‼️REMINDER! Today starting at 12pm! 🕛Join us in Seattle or online for the first day of our public meeting. 🤝Today, our commissioners will be hearing from the Lieutenant Governor about the work his office has done around housing, as well as from the Governor's Policy Office and... (cont.)

📢REMINDER! TODAY AT 6PM! 📢In anticipation of our March public meeting this week, the Washington State LGBTQ Commission and Estelita's Library are hosting a 2SLGBTQIA+ Housing Panel on March 25th! 🏡🏢🏘️

📥Check your inbox, the Commission's March 2026 newsletter is here! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧ Head to the link in our bio to read this month's issue! 🔗(cont.)

🌈The Washington State LGBTQ Commission currently has applications open for our LGBTQ Youth Advisory Council! 🌈 We are seeking 2SLGBTQIA+ youth ages 14-25 from all across the state to apply for this exciting and unique opportunity to influence public policy and advocate for your community! 🏛️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈(cont.)

📢Interested in hearing about what the LGBTQ Commission is working on? Want to provide a public comment to the LGBTQ Commission? Come to our March public meeting in Seattle, Washington!🏙️ Hear from state agency leadership and staff around Washington's response to 2SLGBTQIA+ housing concerns.🏘️🏢🏡(cont.)

👋Commissioner Omni Romero (they/them/elle - Tri-Cities, WA) here to share about Senate Bill 6081: Protecting Washingtonians from invasion of privacy, including the unauthorized disclosure of sex designation information and historic sex designation changes in official government records. 🗃️🔐

📢To kick off their Community Connection Sessions, the WA State LGBTQ Commission’s International Committee invites you to join discussions for 2SLGBTQIA+ people across generations! 📢 (cont.)

@atg.wa.gov Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown announced this week that he is suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for forcing states to comply with transgender discrimination to receive federal funding.

‼️TOMORROW! Join the Washington State LGBTQ Commission for our first public meeting of the year! This meeting is focused on 2SLGBTQIA+ healthcare. Hear from state agency leadership and staff around Washington's response to 2SLGBTQIA+ healthcare concerns, including from HCA Director Ryan Moran.⚕️

📥Check your inbox, the Commission's January 2026 newsletter is here! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧This month is focused on the upcoming legislative session. From messages from our Legislative Priorities Committee and Legislative Advisors to a profile on one of the Commission's policy advisors in the Governor's office, (cont.)

📢Interested in hearing about what the LGBTQ Commission is working on? Want to provide a public comment to the LGBTQ Commission? Come to our January public meeting in Olympia, Washington!🏛️

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 landmark case that legalized marriage equality nationwide. Here in Washington, same-sex marriage was legalized in 2012. (cont.)

Today, Washington honors the transgender lives we have lost to hate-crimes and violence. Our state continues to work to be a place where every trans person can live safely and without fear. @governorferguson.bsky.social

[REPOST] You're invited to a series of community listening sessions hosted by Washington State's Immigration Sub-cabinet. The next listening session is TOMORROW, November 20th from 6-8pm, and another session will occur on November 21st from 6-8pm. (cont.)

Our Operations & Policy Manager, Sam Fennell, just presented at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Conference 2025 Fall Research Conference! The session focused on federal rollbacks to LGBTQI+ data protections and what this means for community safety. (cont.)

Washington has one of the longest lifespans in the country and is home to an increasingly diverse aging population. Washington was recognized as an Age- and Dementia-Friendly state by AARP and Dementia Friendly America (DFA) in 2024. (Cont.)

On Veterans Day, we recognize those who've served our country, including the many 2SLGBTQIA+ veterans who have served with strength, determination, and pride. Scroll for resources from @wdva.bsky.social and check out lgbtq.wa.gov/veterans for more information.

The Washington State LGBTQ+ Commission is extremely grateful that the Supreme Court has denied a formal request to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges. Washington state has been, and will continue to be, a leader in the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights.

Seeing the recent news SCOTUS released regarding the ability for transgender and non-binary people to obtain passports with the correct gender marker, the Commission is working with the Governor’s office and our state agency partners to further understand the impacts (cont.)

November is Transgender Awareness Month, and this November we want to remind transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming Washingtonians that this state is here for you.

Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown is leading a coalition of states to protect transgender youth in sports. To read the full statement from AG Brown or read the amicus brief, head to the link in our bio.

Important News to Share: A Seattle-based federal judge quashed a subpoena from the DOJ that would have resulted in a gender-affirming care provider in Washington being forced to turn over sensitive information around patients receiving gender-affirming care and providers.

On October 18th from 1-3pm, join the Washington State LGBTQ+ Commission's Youth Advisory Council for a townhall centered around K-12 education! Come have a snack, share your questions and concerns regarding K-12 education, and hear from a diverse lineup of speakers.