LGBTQ Non-Government Organizations in Washington

Equal Rights Washington serves the Seattle, WA community and beyond as Washington's dedicated statewide organization advancing dignity, safety, and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Washingtonians. Founded in 2004 with a specific mission to secure anti-discrimination protections that had been blocked for nearly three decades, ERW has grown into a multi-faceted organization deeply rooted in the values of persistence, coalition-building, and community empowerment. The organization's history reflects a commitment to transformative change: from securing the Anderson-Murray Anti-Discrimination law in 2006 to building the Washington United for Marriage coalition that successfully mobilized over 400 political and religious organizations to win marriage equality at the ballot box. ERW's unique strength lies in its ability to bring diverse communities together around shared values of equality and justice. With independent boards of directors leading each of its three organizational components, ERW maintains accountability to the communities it serves while operating with strategic flexibility across advocacy, education, and political engagement. The organization continues to be deeply embedded in Washington's LGBTQ community, understanding that lasting social change requires sustained effort, authentic relationships, and unwavering dedication to the principle that all people deserve full equality and respect regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Founded in 1981, PFLAG Tacoma represents a grassroots movement of ordinary people who have personally grappled with the emotional, societal, and political complexities surrounding homosexuality and gender identity. Based in Tacoma, Washington, this volunteer organization emerged from a small gathering of parents and friends in a local church and has evolved into a meaningful force for change within the community. The chapter's 1996 affiliation with PFLAG National expanded its reach while maintaining its commitment to local support and advocacy. At its heart, PFLAG Tacoma serves families, friends, and allies of LGBTQ and gender non-conforming people with genuine understanding and compassion. The organization recognizes that many individuals lack guidance when learning that a loved one is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, and it steps in to provide the emotional support and education that families desperately need. Operating as a secular nonprofit not affiliated with any religious organization, PFLAG Tacoma meets regularly to offer safe spaces where people can process their feelings, learn from others in similar situations, and discover that they are not alone. Through its dedication to fostering a safer world for LGBTQ individuals and their families, PFLAG Tacoma continues its decades-long mission of building community acceptance and challenging misinformation about LGBT families throughout the Tacoma area.

Founded in 1973, PFLAG Bellingham Whatcom County represents a commitment to building bridges between the LGBTQ community and broader society through support, understanding, and love. The organization brings together members of the Whatcom LGBTQ+ community—both out and otherwise—along with their families, friends, and allies across the entire spectrum of gender and sexual minorities, united in supporting one another on their journeys. At its heart, PFLAG Bellingham Whatcom County envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed. The chapter's mission centers on keeping families together while empowering all children—straight, cisgender, and LGBTQ alike—to lead happy and productive lives. By emphasizing education, understanding, acceptance, and support above all else, the organization creates a haven of unity and acceptance through community collaboration. Serving Bellingham and throughout Whatcom County, PFLAG provides a critical foundation for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity. The chapter works to help society become healthier and more respectful of human diversity while providing tangible support to those coping with an adverse environment. Whether through monthly community meetings, advocacy for equal civil rights, or educational outreach to local organizations, PFLAG Bellingham Whatcom County demonstrates that together, the community is strong. As one of the nation's 400 PFLAG chapters, this local organization embodies the principle that love and acceptance create the foundation for lasting change.