Out In Front Participants Spend Day with Legislators

Participants in Out In Front, Seattle’s first LGBT Leadership Training Program, learned the ins and outs of the political process from Washington’s LGBT Senators, Representatives and lobbyists at a special training session at the state capitol on March 27th. Through Steering Committee member Senator Ed Murray’s support of Advocacy Day, the class gained hands-on experience with creating effective public policy.

Out In Front launched Seattle’s first leadership training program specifically for our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer communities in January. After thorough research and intergenerational collaboration, a class of sixteen promising leaders has begun learning what it takes to be an inclusive, relevant, inspiring and accountable leader.

The class includes participants with a variety of backgrounds. Cody Pherigo, a Peer Advisory Committee member for SHIFT: A Peer Recovery Network, who is forming a new sober support group for trans-masculine individuals. In addition, JT Thompson owns the business, Sweet Posie Catering, and is active in his faith community, Liberation Ministries. Genessa Krasnow, a creative strategist, recently acted as Artistic Director of the Dalai Lama’s “Seeds of Compassion” event and Erick Seelbach is Director of Prevention, Education, and Public Policy at Lifelong AIDS Alliance.
Other participants are: Broch Bender, Donna Dover, Steve Gibbs, Adam Kuglin, Tyler Juel, Keith McDaniel, Kyler Powell, Chad Ryan, Thomas Schmitt, Jennifer Theissing, Brett Turrell and Evan Hunter Wright.
The 2009 training series kicked off on February 18th at Starbucks International Headquarters with an orientation and reception. The pilot program consists of five sessions including an overnight retreat, one-on-one mentoring, a team project and a graduation celebration.
The first classroom session was hosted by Antioch University on February 28th. The day focused on defining leadership and LGBT community history. Tony Krebs gave a presentation based on his partner Gary Atkin’s landmark book, Gay Seattle. The training also included a review of local LGBT rights activism from the long-time activist Charlie Brydon. The class gave outstanding reviews of the session. One participant, Brett Turrell, a manager at Metropolitan Market and volunteer with Camp Ten Trees, expressed, “what’s most exciting, is that this program is being proactive in passing along knowledge and skills to the next generation of LGBTQ leaders”.
Throughout the program, each Out In Front participant is paired with a community leader including State Representative Jaime Pedersen, Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Sue Eastgaard, Director of the Youth Suicide Prevention Program and Lisa Hjorten, CEO of Informia.
Other mentors are: Tim Bradbury, former King County Superior Court Judge; Kevin Carothers, Starbucks; Elaine DuCharme, Attorney at Law; John Farris, SAAS Marketing; Gary Fuller, Nyhus Communications; Audrey Haberman, Pride Foundation; David Jayo, REI; Ann McGettigan, Seattle Counseling Service; Tina Podlodowski, Big Brothers, Big Sisters; David Richart, Lifelong AIDS Alliance; Fred Swanson, Gay City; Connie Watts, Equal Rights Washington; and David Wertheimer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

In addition to leadership, history and advocacy, Out In Front’s Pilot Program will cover cultural competency, community collaborations, non-profit board functions and organizational sustainability. This 2009 pilot program also includes a process to measure the results of a limited curriculum. Out In Front has plans to launch an enhanced nine-month program.