Rainbow Center
Through education, advocacy, and celebration, Rainbow Center expands resources and safe space for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, two-spirit, and allied (LGBTQ2SA) community.
Through education, advocacy, and celebration, Rainbow Center expands resources and safe space for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, two-spirit, and allied (LGBTQ2SA) community.
Dear Rainbow Center Community,
As the first three members of the new Rainbow Center Board of Directors, we want to connect with you and be as transparent as possible as we move forward together. Transparency, diversity, and trauma-informed leadership are among our top priorities, and we’re excited to share our initial goals with you.
While we’re still getting our footing, we’re already hard at work. You’ve likely seen our recent newsletter (https://www.facebook.com/rainbowcntr), which highlighted two immediate tasks: recruiting additional board members and finding the right Executive Director to lead us into the future.
Beyond that, we’ve identified four key priorities:
1. Healing and Unity
We recognize there are divisions within our community regarding the Rainbow Center, and
we’re committed to fostering healing and bridging those divides. To start, we’ll be hosting a
series of community conversations in the coming months. These discussions will focus on how we can move forward as an organization and as a community, prioritizing those who rely on our services most.
2. Supporting Vulnerable Communities
We are deeply committed to creating a clear strategy for supporting those most impacted by
systemic inequalities—particularly Trans individuals and Queer Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging will be guiding principles in this work.
3. Advocacy for Change
Advocacy is a cornerstone of what we do, and we’re committed to resuming both individual
and legislative advocacy efforts as quickly as possible.
4. Building a Stronger Foundation
To ensure the Rainbow Center’s services are not disrupted again, we’ll work with the
community to establish systems that strengthen our operations for the long term. We recognize the importance of rebuilding trust within our community and acknowledge that this will take time, effort, and accountability. We are committed to doing the necessary work to restore and strengthen our connection with you. We value your voice and look forward to hearing your thoughts on these priorities.
Thank you for your patience and support as we work together to build a brighter future.
Warm regards,
Troy Christensen – Board President
Jessica Leslie – Board Vice President
Ryan Zilker – Board Treasurer
As we begin our gatherings, we respectfully acknowledge that our events take place on occupied Coast Salish land and that our Center is located on the lands of the Puyallup Tribe. We pay respect to Coast Salish Elders past and present and extend that respect to their descendants and to all Indigenous people.
To acknowledge this land is to recognize its longer history and our place in that history- including the recognition that this land was not freely ceded to the settlers who claimed it and attempted to wipe out entire cultures; it is to recognize these lands and waters and their significance for the peoples who lived and continue to live in this region, whose practices and spiritualities were and are tied to the land and the water, and whose lives continue to enrich and develop in relationship to the land, waters and other inhabitants today.
