As with all elections, the SGN believes it is vital to uplift the voices of marginalized, disenfranchised, and oppressed people across the nation. The best way to ensure that Queer and Trans rights are preserved in Washington and throughout the country is to elect strong LGBTQ+ leaders and allies.
US President
The choice is easy: Kamala Harris. As the ACLU says, "The Biden-Harris administration has a strong record of protecting and expanding the freedom of LGBTQ people at a time when those freedoms have faced an unprecedented assault- For four years, President Trump and his administration left no stone unturned in their effort to attack the right of LGBTQ people to live and work as who we are. We fully expect a second Trump administration to go further, weaponizing federal law to override state level protections and mandate discrimination by schools and health care providers nationwide- While there remains work to be done to protect the LGBTQ community, we have seen significant progress under the Biden-Harris administration in undoing the anti-Trans and anti-LGBTQ policies of Donald Trump's administration."
US Senate
The Seattle Gay News is proud to endorse Sen. Maria Cantwell for her fifth term in the US Senate. Since 2000, Cantwell has been a firm ally of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2010, she supported the repeal of the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, and in 2012 she was influential in getting the Matthew Shephard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act Passed in Congress. Cantwell is running on a platform of defending human rights and combating prejudice. If reelect-ed, she has committed to supporting measures to expand federal nondiscrimination protections, ban federal contractors from engaging in employment discrimination, end law enforcement's use of racial and religious profiling, and secure programs and positions that advance the rights of LGBTQ people around the world.
Washington Governor
Bob Ferguson is running to become Washington's next governor. As attorney general, he has worked relentlessly to protect the civil rights of Washington's citizens. He also formed the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division, which has become the strongest such division in the country. He stood in front of the Washington State Supreme Court to argue for the rights of same-sex couples during the Arlene Flowers v. Washington State case in 2022 and was essential in securing a victory for the LGBTQ+ community as free-market consumers. The Seattle Gay News is thrilled to endorse Ferguson as the next governor of Washington State.
Washington State Lands Commissioner
Dave Upthegrove is a staunch advocate for conservation. Before his political career, he was a student environmental activist at the University of Colorado. As a representative in the state House and chair of the House Environment Committee, Upthegrove fought to reduce carbon emissions and toxins, and to effectively clean up oil spills throughout the state. He has also worked to double funding for salmon recovery and reforms to restore the region's many rivers. If elected, Upthegrove will be the first LGBTQ+ statewide executive officeholder in the state of Washington.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Over the last four years, we have watched as LGBTQ+ issues have become central to culture wars perpetuated by the far right. It is disheartening to see some of the most contentious battles over LGBTQ+ rights spring up in schools across the country. Now, more than ever, it is vital to support candidates who support the rights of students to learn about the world around them, to see them-selves reflected in their literature, and most importantly to feel safe when they go to school.
Therefore, the SGN is proud to endorse Chris Reykdal, a candidate who is com-mitted to protecting Queer and Trans students in Washington state. Reykdal will fight for the right of students to use their chosen names and pronouns in the classroom, and to include LGBTQ+ history and gender-affirming sexual education. Reykdal is also a strong advocate for Title IX laws, which protect gender-inclusive bathroom access.
Additionally, his platform is dedicated to protecting all students from gun violence by calling the issue out as a public health crisis and working with the Department of Health to educate students and families about safe storage and age-appropriate access to firearms.
Pierce County Council District 3
A candidate running for the Pierce County Council is using hateful rhetoric and dangerous assumptions about the LGBTQ+ community. Incumbent Pierce County Councilmember Amy Cruver refused to attend any meetings in person during July as part of her protest of the Pride flag, which hung in the council chambers.
"Life is full of distractions and disruptions, and it's also full of memories and experiences that can deter emotions or feelings associated with tangible items," she said to FOX 13 News in July. "I just found myself at odds with my responsibility to focus on the people's business while in chambers, and being distracted with the memories and thoughts that the flag creates in my mind."
Cruver explained that though she did not understand the deep meaning behind the flag flown in the chambers, she had no intent on educating herself, even though many of those she represents identify with the flag. "The one that is being used in chambers is the - Intersex Progress Pride, and I don't even know what that is. I don't feel compelled to learn that," she said.
Concentration and critical thinking are essential skills for any council member who represents their constituents. For this reason, the Seattle Gay News is proudly endorsing John Linboe for Pierce County Council District 3.
Pierce County Executive
Ryan Mello is a Tacoma resident who has used his influence to aid conservation efforts in our beautiful state. As executive director of the Pierce Conservation District, Mello helped to improve water quality and habitat restoration, which in turn expanded sustainable agricultural practices in the county. Mello served for nearly 10 years as the first openly Gay man on the Taco-ma City Council and now works as chair of the Pierce County Council for District 4. As Pierce County Executive, he plans on increasing jobs in Pierce County by keeping property taxes low for families on fixed incomes and investing city resources in improvements to infrastructure. He also plans to address safety concerns by providing law enforcement and safety officers with holistic resources to better assess situations they are called to address.
A civic duty and honor
Voting is a civic duty and an honor. Many of our rights as LGBTQ+ people have been secured through legislative votes, and through the representatives at all levels we elect into office. We highly recommend voters do their research, choose the candidate that they believe is best to lead their community - be it city, county, or state - and take part in what is surely to be another historic election. Your vote is your voice - don't let it be silenced.
The SGN editorial board members include Renee Raketty (publisher), Matt Nagle (edi-tor), Lindsey Anderson (staff writer), and rotating members of the SGN staff.
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