Community

Resisting State-Sanctioned Violence by Uplifting Black Trans Movements

What Trans Visibility Means to Lavender Rights Project

by Lavender Rights Project

On this Trans Day of Visibility, we are in the midst of a rapidly changing political environment that is growing more and more terrifying for trans and non-binary Communities of Color across Washington State. Every week, gender-diverse loved ones throughout the country are strategically being stripped of their civil rights, primarily by radical white supremacist fascists who believe that we should not exist. While much of the legislation is targeted squarely at children (and mostly transgender girls), the policies being implemented are designed to prevent trans communities across the board from accessing lifesaving gender-affirming care, any kind of safety in public spaces, and the right to be — and live as — our authentic selves. Even in the Pacific Northwest, which people believe is a safe haven for trans people, we are seeing a significant increase in violence aimed primarily at trans femmes. Our heightened visibility in this hostile climate is becoming more dangerous by the day, and it is directly affecting our lives in alarming tangible ways.

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News

Could It Happen Here? Train Safety Still a Risk Under Downtown Seattle

by Alex Garland

Seattle is a train town. Some might not hear the train’s horn or its rumble over the tracks, but it’s there, carrying our garbage, our food, and even the crude oil that still powers much of our lives. Walk out of Costco in SoDo, and you might see an oil train rumbling by; go to a Mariners or Seahawks game, and you might smell a hundred garbage cars on the rails. You might also cross the bridge over the tracks at Carkeek Park or wait as the crossing arms go down at Olympic Sculpture Park. With over 600 trains carrying hazardous materials running through our city every year, what keeps Seattle from experiencing a disaster like Lac Megantic, Quebec, or East Palestine, Ohio, or, most recently, on the Swinomish Reservation near Anacortes, Washington? So far, it’s been the work of rail safety experts and activists, safety-minded train crews, and a few federal safety regulations. 

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Voices

OPINION | This Women’s History Month Let’s Stop the Abuse-to-Prison Pipeline

by Ruba Ayub

March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on and unlearn our patriarchal and misogynist beliefs. It is also a time to take action to dismantle systems and ideas that perpetuate harm and violence against women, particularly Black and Brown women.

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News

Placement of Future CID Light Rail Station Sparks Heated Debate, Strains Relations

by Guy Oron

(This article was originally published on Real Change and has been reprinted under an agreement.)

Speculation over the location of a new light rail station in the Chinatown-International District (CID) neighborhood ignited a fierce debate over accessible transportation, displacement, and equity in regional government planning and decision-making. Some community advocates say that divisive online discourse about the various proposals may have caused lasting harm to progressive movements, with traditionally allied groups backing different sides of the increasingly polarized issue.

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Voices

OPINION | Washington Lawmakers Must Expand Dental Therapy for Underserved Communities

by Cheryl Berenson, R.N., M.S., M.P.H.

Since finishing my training as a family nurse practitioner in the early 1980s, I have cared for people, both young and old, who are struggling to access the health care they so desperately need, including dental care. While these access issues are at a crisis level right now, our state Legislature has the opportunity to make a real difference this legislative session.

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News

NEWS GLEAMS | City Council Passes Permanent Paid Sick and Safe Time for Gig Workers

A roundup of news and announcements we don’t want to get lost in the fast-churning news cycle!

curated by Vee Hua 華婷婷

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Arts & Culture

Seattle City of Literature Debuts Map With Dozens of South Ends Spots and Literary Heroes

by Amanda Ong

Last month Seattle City of Literature launched the Seattle Literary Map in print and digitally. The Literary Map is a guide to the people, places, businesses, and organizations that have made important contributions to Seattle’s literary scene. Seattle is one of only two UNESCO Cities of Literature in the United States. The Literary Map honors Seattle’s writers, poets, and literary places, while inspiring residents and tourists alike to learn about them. South Seattle residents will find a plethora of spots right in their neighborhood. The map is available at local bookstores, libraries, and other points of interest throughout the city. 

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Arts & Culture

Newly Elected Shermona Mitchell Comes Full Circle as Sound Theatre’s New Co-Artistic Director

by Victor Simoes

The Sound Theatre Company (STC) recently announced Shermona Mitchell would become its new co-artistic director. A multifaceted theater artist and the first Black woman to lead the Sound Theatre board, Mitchell assumed the new position in January. Working with the founder and the other co-artistic director of the STC, Teresa Thuman, Mitchell will support the company’s mission to uplift local actors, directors, and audiences while bringing attention to stories often silenced by systemic oppression.

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News

New Data Indicates That Washington’s Legislature Became More Representative

by Lauryn Bray

The Washington Community Alliance (WCA) recently released its annually updated interactive data set on the demographics of Washington’s local elected officials. The data set identifies each representative by name, position in office, race/ethnicity, and gender, as well as comparing the racial demographics of elected officials to those of the populations they serve. The new data indicates that Washington’s Legislature became more diverse after the 2022 midterm elections. However, legislative bodies are still unrepresentative, at 81% white and 57.1% male, compared to statewide demographics of 63.7% white. 

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Voices

OPINION | Tenants’ Voices Loudly Dissented During City of Seattle Small Landlord Stakeholder Process

by Kate Rubin

Housing is a basic human need and a fundamental right, yet for many renters, the dream of secure, stable, accessible, and affordable housing remains elusive. The imbalance of power between landlords and renters is glaring, and housing injustice disproportionately affects Black and Indigenous communities, with Black women facing greater risk of eviction than any other group. While Seattle and Washington State have taken steps to address this issue, renters and landlords will never have equal power.

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Amplifying the Authentic Narratives of South Seattle