By Hannah Saunders
The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) announced $550,000 in new funding for the city’s 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, which adds on to the $300,000 in emergency funding approved by the Seattle City Council earlier this month for the Queer community. This funding comes after months of LGBTQIA+ advocates in the city demanding that the mayor declare an internal Trans refugee crisis and protect the community.
SOCR said the funding will make Seattle a safer and more welcoming city for LGBTQIA+ people, who are being attacked at the federal and state levels through legislation. This new investment follows the recommendations of the Trans and Queer Community Stabilization Interdepartmental Team, which suddenly came to a close earlier this month.
Under this new $550,000 investment, $450,000 will go towards rapid relief funding for local, Queer organizations to support immediate stabilization needs, such as housing. The other $100,000 will be dedicated towards community resources and services, and small material relief, like ORCA cards.
“We are currently developing recipient eligibility criteria and designing the selection process with input from communities and will share more information in the coming weeks. At this time, no funding has been awarded. We will also pursue additional funding to support 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in 2027 and beyond,” according to the SOCR.
Building on Councilmember Rinck’s previous funding
At the August 11 Seattle City Council meeting, members unanimously passed $300,000 in funding to assist with emergency shelter, food, employment support, and other essential services, as previously reported by TtS. One community member referred to it as “peanut money,” since it is “such a small amount of money for this City.”
Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck authored this emergency funding, and emphasized how she will “work to live up to our promise of being a welcoming city.”
Traction’s executive director, Michael Woodward, also highlighted the need for additional funding, despite the passage of the $300,000 being a historic vote, with Seattle leading the nation.
Seattle is expected to continue to experience an influx of Transgender and Queer people fleeing from red and purple states to this city, with many LGBTQIA+ residents already struggling to make ends meet and some experiencing homelessness.
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