November 6, 2017 Stand With Us Over the last few weeks, people from every walk of life have stepped forward and created a broad public dialogue about what we’ve always known in our own workplaces: inappropriate, sexually harassing behavior and assault are pervasive. And sexually harassing behavior, manipulation and coercion cut across all industries and professions. As women serving and working in the legislative and political realm, we add our voices to the chorus of “enough.” We stand together to change a culture that, until now, has too often functioned to serve and support harassers’ power and privilege over protection of those who work with them. At some point in our lives, every one of us has experienced, witnessed, and counseled others through unwanted advances or a range of dehumanizing behavior – from innuendo to groping, from inappropriate comments and jokes to unwanted touching and assault. Our political world is one of explicit and implicit power differentials. We have no clear hierarchy like a more traditional workplace. We have no safe, neutral place to report our experiences. And there are currently few possibilities for meaningful consequences for inappropriate behavior. For some of us, speaking out about harassment means choosing between our personal safety and our professional futures or policy successes. We know that countless times, women have calculated the risk, remembered what happened to other women who spoke up and seen the lack of meaningful pathways for change. And too often, the safe choice has been to “deal with” these situations ourselves. The state legislature should be leading the way. We say we have a zero-tolerance policy. That needs to be real. Today, we challenge the leadership and members of both chambers and both parties to lead the way in our state by working together with us to change the culture from one which silently supports and perpetuates harassment to one which supports and preserves safety. We must all make a tangible commitment to end sexual harassment in all its forms in Olympia. Let’s make sure legislators, staff and lobbyists understand what sexual harassment is and how the inherent power disparities impact all of us. We need to make clear that we are all expected to intervene and stop harassment and coercive behavior. We must build a safe process for legislators, staff and lobbyists to report and relate our experiences, and create a range of meaningful consequences when lines are crossed. Today, we stand together and commit: you can come to us if you are in a position of risk. We will help. We will work to protect you. And we will continue to call on leadership to create and use both structures and individual influence to change this culture. Now is the time. Stand with us. Sincerely, Randi Abrams-Caras Kelly Adams Ella Andrews Senator Jan Angel Representative Sherry Appleton Danni Askini Senator Barbara Bailey Jessica Bateman Kelsey Beck Senator Randi Becker Rachel Berkson Liz Berry Simone Boe Becky Bogard Holly Bosch Chisa Marcy Bowers Brynn Brady Christine Brewer Senator Sharon Brown Katy Buck Carolyn Busch Representative Michelle Caldier Samantha Casne Senator Maralyn Chase Sarah Cherin Donna Christensen Janet Chung Senator Annette Cleveland Representative Judy Clibborn Representative Eileen Cody Pam Crone Adair Dammann Ellicott Dandy Senator Jeannie Darneille Olgy Diaz Lynne Dodson Representative Beth Doglio Representative Laurie Dolan Liz Elwart Robin Engle Stephanie Ervin Ame Esterline Jen Estroff Sydney Forrester Jessica Fortescue Jessica Frahs Representative Noel Frame Peggen Frank Katie Garrow Naomi Goodman Julia Gorton Elissa Goss Lindsey Grad Samantha Grad Nicole Grant Lori Grassi Representative Mia Gregerson Alia Griffing Joanna Grist Erin Haick Ryan Hall Diane Hand McDaniel Tiffany Hankins Monisha Harrell Kristina Hermach Lauren Hipp Rebecca Hodson Hellman Renee Hopkins Maggie Humphreys Maha Jahshan Shweta Jayawardhan Sara Jaynes Representative Laurie Jinkins Lonnie Johns-Brown Melissa Johnson Rebecca Johnson Representative Ruth Kagi Senator Karen Keiser Aisling Kerins Samantha Kersul Representative Christine Kilduff Representative Shelley Kloba Katie Kolan Senator Patty Kuderer Tara Lee Maria Leininger Hannah Lidman Mindi Lindquist Beth Lindsay Laurie Lippold Kristina Logsdon Randy Loomans Representative Kristine Lytton Mara Machulsky Eden Mack Treasure Mackley Lisa MacLean Representative Nicole Macri Mellani McAleenan Representative Joan McBride Tiffany McGuyer Raven McShane Mina Mercer Heather Moore Carey Morris Teresa Mosqueda Jennifer Muhm Debora Munguia Briahna Murray Sharon Ness Tracy Newman Courtney Normand Representative Tina Orwall Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self Casey Osborn-Hinman Max Patashnik Stacy Pederson Allison Pence Tina Podlodowski Gabriela Quintana Wendy Rader-Konafalski Representative Kristine Reeves Lisa Rennie Senator Ann Rivers Elaine Rose Representative June Robinson Senator Christine Rolfes Majken Ryherd Representative Cindy Ryu Senator Rebecca Saldaña Nancy Sapiro Aiko Schaefer Tricia Schroeder Erin Schultz Patty Seib Representative Tana Senn Senator Shelly Short April Sims Representative Vandana Slatter Elizabeth Smith Jaime Smith Melanie Smith Melanie J. Smith Representative Melanie Stambaugh Gail Stone Representative Monica Stonier Mary Strow Cheryl Swab Representative Gael Tarleton Carrie Tellefson Adrienne Thompson Terry Tilton Lani Todd Teresita Torres Yasmin Trudeau Emma Tupper Amber Ulvenes Janet Varon Dawn Vyvyan Senator Judy Warnick Marilyn Watkins Jasmin Weaver Senator Lisa Wellman Misha Werschkul Kelly Wicker Brenda Wiest Senator Lynda Wilson Lily Wilson-Codega Christina Wong Representative Sharon Wylie Anita Yandle Lucinda Young Lara Zarowsky Jennifer Ziegler Jerri Zimmerman Wood