Inland Northwest and Spokane. Spokane and the Inland Northwest are great places to live. We treasure our slow paced quality of life and the many ways to play and recreate in the great outdoors. Like our straight counterparts, GLBTQ individuals and families are finding Spokane to be a beautiful city to raise their families.
Spokane's downtown core is going through a renaissance with a University District also being developed east of downtown. With these two major city projects a new influx of GLBTQ and open minded people are now making Spokane their home and helping to change the conservative reputation of the area.
The Vision for a Visible Gay Community for Spokane. The INBA has a finger on the pulse of change in Spokane and spearheaded the dialogue and momentum to create a Visible Gay Community for Spokane. A survey taken during 2004 PRIDE asked "How comfortable are you being a GLBTQ person in Spokane?" Of 295 surveys completed 47% felt comfortable, 40% somewhat comfortable, and 13% not comfortable. We also found that the respondents were 38% Gay, 38% Lesbian, 13% Allied, 8% BiWomen, 1% BiMen, Trans M>F, F>M. We're encouraged by our allied support and see this segment to be the greatest potential for growth and support. We can also assume that the Gay and Lesbian percentages would fluctuate a bit and the Bi/Trans numbers would also go up when applied to the entire GLBTQ community. A Gay District has not yet materialized but the city government is now more GLBT friendly and being an out GLBT individual or family is no longer a high risk situation within the city and downtown areas.
Gay Lesbian BiSexual Protection. November 1999. Spokane passed a Human Rights Ordinance that makes it illegal to discriminate in housing, public services and employment. This ordinance also includes Gay Men, Lesbians, and Bisexuals. Unfortunately the group spearheading the inclusion of GLBTQ people had to compromise and agreed to drop Transgenders in order to pass the ordinance. Human Rights groups are working to include Transgender people in the ordinance. There is also a movement for domestic partner benefits for city employees. The current city government is felt to be too conservative to support GLBTQ issues.
City Employees Domestic Partnership Benefits April 2005. The Spokane City Council approved granting full benefits to non-married straight and gay employees who are in committed domestic partnership. Many large employers in Spokane also offer thier employees Domestic Partnership Benefits.
Current GLBTQ Community. Spokane has an active grass roots gay community and this is what we currently have now:
Health, philanthropic, social, business and support organizations; a newspaper; gay/straight alliances in all high schools colleges and universities; a gay church and gay affirming churches; 2 night clubs; a GLBTQ Film Festival; and we’ve had an openly gay city councilman. Please visit our Links page to view Spokane's GLBTQ community organizations.
Business Alliances. The INBA has alliances with the Downtown Spokane Partnership, Chamber of Commerce, and Spokane Convention and Visitor's Bureau. We are one of Spokane's most visible and consistent bridge to the GLBTQ community. If you have any other questions about Spokane's GLBTQ community, please send us an email.
