Friend,

Pride began as a protest in June 1969 -- and in June 2020, this Pride Month, the fight continues.

More than five decades later, LGBTQ+ Americans are still fighting for their rights and, tragically, their lives. The Trump administration has gone to great lengths to target LGBTQ+ Americans and their health care, housing, and employment rights -- just last week, the administration announced a rollback of health care protections for transgender patients.

Here in Washington state, we're fighting back: Right after the Trump administration announced their abhorrent and bigoted rollback, we responded by announcing a rule that would counteract Trump's dangerous one. Thanks to a new law I signed, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler will be enacting an emergency rule to protect transgender Washingtonians' access to health care. It specifically prohibits discrimination by insurers -- because discrimination has no home in our state.

I'm recommitting to the fight for LGBTQ+ people in Washington and across the country. Will you join me and show your support for the LGBTQ+ community by adding your name right now?

We are seeing some progress across the country -- including this week's Supreme Court decision protecting many LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination in the workplace. This monumental decision ends generations of employment discrimination that far too many Americans have experienced firsthand -- but we know there is more we must do.

That's why I was proud to appoint 15 people to serve on Washington's new LGBTQ+ Commission this winter. This incredibly diverse group will identify the needs of the LGBTQ+ community and advocate for equity and inclusion in all aspects of state government. And I was thrilled to appoint Washington's first two openly LGBTQ+ judges to our state supreme court in my tenure as governor -- it's one more important step toward building a justice system that works for all.

That's in addition to signing the Nikki Kuhnhausen Act, a law that prevents individuals from using the "gay panic defense" -- blaming a victim's gender identity or sexual orientation to justify violence. Nikki was only 18 when a man she met on social media found out she was transgender and murdered her.

While the Trump administration is failing us in Washington, D.C., I will continue to fight for LGBTQ+ rights here in Washington state. But I need you to commit to that work with me: Add your name to join me in standing up for LGBTQ+ Americans this Pride Month and every month.

Very truly yours,

Jay