Background
In 2016, Governor Inslee established Directive 16-11 to create a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace for LGBTQ employees and customers. Several agencies have led the way in this work, and the RAIN Best Practices subcommittee has developed an agency award to recognize those entities. In developing nomination questions and scoring criteria, the RAIN Best Practices subcommittee has evaluated award nomination processes created by others, including the Agency of the Year Award given by the Veterans Employee Resource Group (VERG). They used research to create the nomination form and their process. The RAIN Outstanding Agency Award shines a spotlight on agencies that have worked diligently to make Washington State an Employer of Choice for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Purpose of the Award
This award has been created by RAIN to recognize state agencies (or specific programs within the agency) who have created/improved the safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ employees. This award is specifically to recognize the impact on employees and is not a reflection of the services provided by agencies to their constituents (it is our belief if there is a positive impact on employees, service delivery will also be positively impacted). Furthermore, an award received is meant to highlight the efforts of the agency, it is not an all-encompassing compliment of the agency. We all have work to do, the award is about effort, not perfection. As programs receive the RAIN Outstanding Agency Award, they will be recognized for the hard work they are doing on behalf of their employees. Agencies will look to you as a role model and resource to assist in the creation of their initiatives to improve the LGBTQ+ employee experience.
Congratulations to the 2024 winners and nominees!
Award recipients:
- Employment Security Department (ESD)
- Office of the Corrections Ombuds (OCO)
- Washington State Parks
Cami Feek, Commissioner, accepting the RAIN Outstanding Agency Award on behalf of Employment Security Division
(Left to right): Finn Shinnick, Heather Bates, Elizabeth Kingsbury, and Stella Spracklin accepting the RAIN Outstanding Agency Award on behalf of the Office of the Corrections Ombuds
(Left to right): Gabriella Arwen, Montse Walker My, and Natasha House accepting the RAIN Outstanding Agency Award on behalf of WA State Parks
Opening Remarks & Speakers:
RAIN's 2024 Executive Sponsor, Laura Watson (she/her), Executive Director of the Department of Ecology, gives opening remarks and a welcome
Guest speaker Nikki Brueggeman (she/her), from the Department of Services for the Blind, discusses 'What Oral Histories Reveal About Queer Spokane'
Guest speaker Erica Kay-Webster (she/her) discusses queer history, including events from the Stonewall Uprising
RAIN Agency Awards Poster
2024 RAIN Agency Awards Poster [PDF]
2024 RAIN Agency Awards Agenda [PDF]
Past Agency Awards
- 2023
-
Congratulations to the 2023 winners and nominees!
Winners:
Image
Washington Office of Corrections Ombuds
Image
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Image
Washington Department of Licensing
Nominees:
- Employment Security Department
- Health Care Authority
- Department of Natural Resources
- Office of the Insurance Commissioner
- Department of Ecology
Every year, Washington state employees nominate agencies that have led the way in work to help create a safe and inclusive environment for LGTBQ+ employees. Nominations highlight specific changes in policies, practices, and culture that each agency has done to promote LGTBQ+ awareness and inclusivity. These awards are so special because the nominations come from employees within the agency that appreciate and recognize the work being done agency wide. We celebrate and thank all the nominated agencies for the work they are doing!
- 2022
-
Congratulations to the 2022 winners and nominees!
Winners:
- Eastern Washington University - Student Affairs
- Department of Social and Health Services - Economic Services Administration
- Department of Enterprise Services - Buildings and Grounds
Award Ceremony:
Poster
Image
Agenda
Image
Speakers:
- Jasper and Taja Blackhorn (RAIN Co-Chairs)
- Manny Santiago (RAIN Executive Sponsor - Executive Director, LGBTQ+ Commission)
- Megan Matthews (Executive Director, Office of Equity
- Winning Agency Acceptance Speeches
Image
- 2021
-
Congratulations to the 2021 winners and nominees!
Winners:
- Department of Children, Youth, and Families
- Department of Social and Health Services - Developmental Disabilities Administration - Rainier School
- Employment Security Department
Nominees:
- Department of Health
- Department of Services for the Blind - Orientation and Training Program
- Department of Enterprise Services - WA Enterprise Services
- Department of Licensing
- Department of Ecology
The 2021 Agency Awards Ceremony was on Oct. 21, 2021, during our October general membership meeting.