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LWVWA DEI Policy
Discrimination or harassment of any kind will not be accepted within the League, including but not limited to race, socio-economic status, age, ability status, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, or marital status. The League is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging for all people. The League is an organization that respects and values the richness of our community and our members. The collective sum of our individual differences and life experiences represents not only our culture, but our reputation and the organization's mission and achievements as well.
Acknowledging our History
The League was founded in 1920—just months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment—by American suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt. While fighting for the 19th Amendment and lobbying Southern senators, she famously claimed, “White supremacy will be strengthened, not weakened, by women’s suffrage.” Even during the Civil Rights movement, the League was not as present as we should have been. It wasn’t until 1966 that we reached our first position to combat discrimination. Today, we invite all people, regardless of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, or race, to join us as we commit to righting the wrongs of our past and building a stronger, more inclusive democracy. To read the full statement: https://www.lwv.org/blog/facing-hard-truths-about-leagues-origin
Land Acknowledgement
The LWVWA acknowledges that the land known as the State of Washington is on the homelands of Native peoples who have lived here from time immemorial and who have long resiliently resisted the ongoing harms of colonialism. The LWVWA expresses its deepest respect for and gratitude towards these original and current caretakers of the region. While we honor the past, we will diligently work to listen to and amplify the voices of Indigenous people, to partner with tribes and Indigenous people on policy and other issues important to their welfare, to educate the public about tribal/treaty government and welfare issues and to respect the sovereignty of tribes and their rights to self-determination.Ongoing DEI Work & Support at LWVWA
The League’s DEI work continues to focus on building a more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming organization at every level. Sasha Bentley is currently the DEI Portfolio Lead and LWVWA Board Member. There is a monthly DEI Affinity Group for League members on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., providing space for members to connect, share experiences, and learn together.
Goals for the DEI Portfolio for 2026/2027 include implementing an organizational assessment and member survey to better understand where we are, identify strengths and opportunities, and establish priorities for the work ahead. The goal is to move beyond individual efforts and conversations toward embedding DEI into our policies, practices, leadership, and everyday operations so the work can continue and grow over time. As the DEI Portfolio lead, Sasha is also available to support local Leagues and members with questions, provide resources, or join a meeting to facilitate a conversation or explore a particular topic. Time is limited; she works full-time and is a mom but wants to support members. Other projects include continuing to build out the DEI resources available on this website, with the longer-term goal of developing a practical DEI handbook to support Leagues in carrying this work forward. We look forward to seeing all league members at the 2027 Convention, where we plan to host a workshop. Want to be involved? Reach out to Sasha.