RAIN BOW (Belonging, Openness, and Wellbeing)
Following the very popular listening session in February 2025, focused on experiences of LGBTQ+ state employee’s related to recent federal changes, including how that affects folx’ ability to do their jobs and feel safe to be their authentic selves at work, the subcommittee identified the need for RAIN’s Safe Places subcommittee change to providing ongoing listening sessions – another type of safe place.
RAIN BOW held our first listening session in June 2025, currently hosting listening sessions creating a schedule of listening sessions at least every other month. We will host more frequent listening sessions in November, December, and January, to provide support and hold space for folx during the holidays, as well as new starts for the new year.
Best Practices
Throughout our state agencies, great work is being done to create safe and inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ employees and the customers we serve. This committee serves to gather these efforts and provide an avenue for valuable ideas, insights, policies and practices to be disseminated in a way that all staff and our customers can benefit from them.
Work products
- RAIN Transitioning in the Workplace Toolkit [PDF]
- RAIN Adding Pronouns to Your Signature Line FAQ [PDF]
- RAIN Recommendation for Use of Pronouns in Communications [PDF]
- RAIN Recommendation Including Gender X options on Forms [PDF]
- RAIN Recommendation Inclusive Bathroom Signage [PDF]
- RAIN 2025 Pride Month Toolkit [PDF]
- RAIN Inclusive Introductions and Visual Descriptions for Meetings and Events [PDF]
Training
RAIN provides trainings to Washington state agencies and institutions of higher learning to promote LGBTQ+ inclusivity and best practices in the workplace. Visit the Trainings page to view and register for upcoming offerings of the 'Supporting Transgender and Nonbinary Customers' training. More trainings are under development!
Outreach and Communications
Our membership is as diverse as the people of Washington we serve, so it is crucial that we find effective opportunities to both intake these unique perspectives and provide communications that celebrate the great work being done on behalf of state employees and the customers we all serve.
You may regularly find RAIN members at community events promoting the many benefits of state service, providing educational workshops and panels at agencies, or interfacing with local organizations and service providers.
This committee also publishes a quarterly newsletter, which you can find on our Resources page.