Loud & Proud - 2SLGBTQIA+ People are Speaking Up
Musings of the Month
For many in the 2SLGBTQIA+ world, June is the month of PRIDE! And what an amazing month it was!
The numbers tell quite a story. In June, 2,300 Washington residents stepped up and were counted by completing the Washington LGBTQ+ Survey sponsored by the Washington LGBTQ Commission, an advisory board of 15 commissioners identifying as part of the state’s LGBTQ community who are public servants committed to advancing equity and fostering liberation for all 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
The Washington State University led research team and volunteers attended over 15 events across the state in June and July alone. Events included Yakima, Walla Walla, Spokane, and Tri-Cities Pride events as well as Everett Pride festival and Bellingham Pride parade. Survey team members and volunteers were also all over Seattle including Indiqueer Festival, Trans Pride, Pride Run & Walk, Mariners and Storm Pride nights, and the Seattle Gay Men’s Chorus Can’t Stop the Drag shows and of course Seattle Pride parade and festivals. Many folx took the survey at the events, which takes 15-20 minutes to complete. The enthusiastic, all queer and trans research team will work throughout the summer and into the fall and winter to reach their goal of collecting at least 10,000 responses by the end of January 2025.
The purpose of the survey is to capture the concerns and priorities of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and increase state officials’ understanding of the community’s needs and demographics so they can better invest in improving life for all Washingtonians. The survey data will help fill the data gap that exists because very little national census data on this population is available. Lead researcher and Washington State University Murrow College of Communication Assistant Professor Dr. Traci Gillig is proud to share that, “The government of Washington is actively trying to make this state a safe and welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people.”
Team data2insight is proud to be a partner in this work. Veronica Smith and her wife, Natalie Hamrick, have been out and about at most of the Western Washington events and they thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at the Kitsap Pride festival on July 20. They will be at Bainbridge Pride and Battleground Pride festivals on July 27 with Sankofa Consulting Research Associate Madhu Mathivanan, and Renton Pride in the Park on August 3. We are looking for volunteers to help us get the word out at Poulsbo Pride on September 24. If you are interested in helping us recruit more survey respondents, please email friedasmith@data2insight.com.
Please follow us @walgbtqsurvey on Instagram and Facebook and share with your network. Also, everything about the survey can be found at our website lgbtq.wa.gov/survey. If you or someone you know are 2SLGBTQIA+ and a Washington state resident, please complete the survey. This is a chance to raise your voice for your future and co-create a better Washington for us all!
July Resource Highlight
Celebrate Be Kind to Humankind Week August 25-31
Established in 1988, Be Kind to Humankind Week is an annual worldwide celebration of kindness from August 25th-31st. Lorraine Jara, from Toms River, New Jersey, founded this week in response to a very upsetting story in the newspaper about two young men, both in their 20’s, who were boating in her town’s waterways. They were in a small rowboat that overturned. The story went on to describe that while they clung to the overturned vessel two women in another boat pulled them out of the water. The women did not have a radio onboard to call land for help. Two other boats with radio antennas passed them by, refusing their calls for help. One passing boater reportedly said, “We don’t want to be bothered.” When finally rescued, one of the young men died.
Lorraine was devastated after reading this article and felt something had to be done in memory of the deceased young man. She phoned his family and asked permission to have a memorial erected in a park where he lived. Understandably they thanked her, but refused. They were too grief stricken to think about it. That's when she thought about Be Kind to Animals Week and decided it was time to have a Be Kind to Humankind Week. Lorraine wrote "People need people; it’s as simple as that. In order to have the power to make the world a better place, we must first change our attitudes for the better. We can create our own good news if we choose to do so!”
Be Kind to Humankind Challenge
August 25-31 is a week to honor all the great things - big and small - you can do to help others. Every day of the week has its own theme so no one is left out. Do your part to make your corner of the world a better place. Who says that one person can't make a difference? We know that you can!
Book Spotlight
Here I Am, I Am Me: An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health
This colorful graphic novel adventure through the brain demystifies and destigmatizes emotional and mental health for children through accessible language and lessons.
Join author-illustrator Cara Bean in Here I Am, I Am Me, as she takes readers on an illustrated journey to the center of the brain. Each of the 9 chapters in this therapist-recommended book explores a different aspect of mental health, from the brain and the mind, to feelings and emotions. By portraying complex neuroscience concepts with a cast of illustrated characters (that represent parts of the brain), the book explains what is really going on in the reader’s head in an accessible, approachable way that ultimately serves to empower the reader.
The book doesn’t talk down to its readers, and it doesn’t pretend that teens are immune to mental health struggles: Cara Bean masterfully discusses crucial topics like depression, substance use and addiction, and suicide, all while equipping readers with mindfulness tips, specific resources, and empathetic affirmations. Readers will learn to destigmatize the conversation around mental health by reframing their thinking, learning how to use conscious language, and helping themselves and others through mental health dilemmas.
#SelfCareCorner
Extreme Heat is Baking America’s Cities
Aryn Braun writes in the Economist about scenes in Phoenix, Arizona in July 2023: “The monsoon is late again. Without the almost biblical rains, there is nothing to break the heat during a long stretch of days above 43°C (109°F). The pavement is scalding. Hospital wards are filling with burn victims. Even the cacti seem crispy. Many people venture out only in the early morning, before the sun rises. The rest of the time they take refuge in air-conditioned rooms: the invention that makes life in the desert possible.”
“But what if the demand for electricity to power those air-conditioners had stretched the grid to the breaking point? A study published in Environmental Science and Technology journal suggests that a five-day heatwave in Phoenix, with a blackout, could kill more than 13,000 people and send more than half of the city’s residents to hospital.”
It is not only Phoenix that is facing above average summer temperatures, it is true for most regions in the northern hemisphere. The time is now to learn or review what we know about how to survive in extreme heat. Thanks to the American Red Cross for providing these extreme heat safety tips.
Please share with your friends and family!
What’s new @data2insight?
We are thrilled to announce that Jimena Castra has successfully completed a specialized certificate in Data Visualization from NYU’s School of Professional Studies. This program emphasizes equitable data visualization and graphic design, enhancing Jimena's ability to create compelling visual narratives that represent diverse perspectives. This dedication to producing meaningful and accessible reports aligns perfectly with our mission at data2insight.
Jimena has been an integral part of data2insight for over three years, excelling as our Marketing & Reporting Lead. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and graphic design, they has been instrumental in transforming complex data into clear, impactful visualizations as part of a variety of techincal reports.
We are excited about the innovative contributions Jimena continues to bring to data2insight and our clients. We look forward to her continued success.
