Dear Community Members,
Promoting health and well-being requires more than addressing challenges — it calls for love in action. By accentuating the positive, fostering hope and growing the good, we ensure that everyone feels valued, cared for and recognized for their inherent beauty and worth. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once asked, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” At this moment, we are called to answer that question with empathy and action.
As part of our commitment to building a loving and inclusive community, we emphasize the importance of care for all, especially for those who face discrimination. In response to recent public comments in our community, as well as a national increase in opposition to our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth — also referred to as queer youth — we publicly affirm our unwavering support for them. We recognize the unique challenges queer youth endure, including cultural judgments that fail to honor, respect or ensure their safety. With this in mind, we wholeheartedly commit to creating environments free from judgment and discrimination — spaces where queer youth, and all young people, can thrive.
Clubs and events specifically welcoming queer youth are essential — not only to their well-being but to the health of our entire community. These groups aim to foster a supportive environment where members can be their authentic selves without fear of judgment. In addition to providing a safe space for queer youth, Gender & Sexuality Alliances also welcome allies — individuals who stand in solidarity with and support their peers in their journey of self-expression and identity. For our youth, such spaces are life-changing. They offer safety, affirmation and the freedom to thrive.
Outgoing U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy offered us hope in his Parting Prescription for America: “We are at our best not when we fear but when we love, not when we turn away but when we turn toward one another. This must be our compass as we set out to build community.” Inspired by these words, we pledge to stand together as a community united in love and care for all its members.
This is why we loudly, proudly and unflinchingly offer our support to queer youth. Hosting and facilitating LGBTQ+-friendly clubs and events does more than tell queer youth we love and accept them — it shows them, through our actions, we affirm their worth, provide them with safety and make it clear that they belong as they are.
As Orcas Island youth-focused community leaders, we call on you to stand with us as we stand with our queer youth. They are not just an important part of our community; they are vital and vibrant threads in the fabric of who we are. Their strength, resilience and diversity enrich us all. If you are reading this, we invite you to join us in leading with love. Together, we can foster a community where everyone, regardless of their identity, feels seen, valued and supported.
The signatures for this letter were collected in just a few days. We recognize that we may have missed some youth-focused community in this process. If you’d like to add your name, you can do so by using the QR code link provided. Additional names will be added to the letter as they come in. You can view the updated letter by scanning the QR code.
Signed collectively with love and solidarity,
Ady Kenady Walker, school board director, Orcas Island School District
Alfred Bentley
Allison O’Brien
Alice Hibberd, Washington certified teacher
Alison O’Toole
Alison Sanders, Coalition for Orcas Youth
Alyssa Burnett, licensed mental health counselor associate
Amber Paulsen, Kaleidoscope director
Angie Reed, young adult librarian
Dr. Anastasia Jones, naturopathic physician
Bethany Marie, communications director, Orcas Center
Bianca Cox
Bridget Broderick, OISD school board
Bryn Rueb, Orcas Island Children’s House
Carlie Rankin, elementary para educator
Camille Fleming MD, family physician Salish Sea Medical, Institute for Healthcare Improvement medical provider
Ms. Carla Shanks Morales, social and emotional learning teacher in the Public Elementary School
Dr. Cassandra Perryman
Chama Anderson, youth soccer coach
Chelsie Guilford
Cher Jefford, board member of Orcas Center
Chris Chord, Coalition of Orcas Youth, executive committee member
Chris Waage
C. Laflin
Cindy Sapp, OISD school nurse
Cindy Wolf, former San Juan County Council member
Claire Cawley
Claire Nollman
Colleen and Caleb Summers
Corey Wiscomb
Darren Dix, OISD band/mariachi/bucket drumming
David Affolter
Dimitri Stankevich, Orcas Center executive director
Elisabeth Alperin, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Watson Halsey, juvenile probation counselor
Emilie Robinson
Eric Webb, superintendent Orcas Island School District
Erin O’Dell, executive director Orcas Community Resource Center
Ethna Flanagan
Evan Buxbaum, pediatrician, Island Primary Care-Orcas
Fletcher I Dae, OI Pride co-founder/board member, EMT at OI Fire & Rescue
Funhouse Commons Board of Directors
Greg White, chairman Orcas Island School Board, Funhouse Disability program coordinator
Haley Cruz Winchell
Heidi Bruce
Ingrid Mattson
Jamey Moriarty, production assistant at Orcas Center
Janet Brownell
Jean Henigson
Jen Krauss
Jesse Fabrikant
Jim Bredouw
John Ehrmantraut, Orcas Senior Center Board chair
Julia Soes
Julie Pinardi
Julie Steimel
Justin Paulsen
Kamala McCullum, special education teacher
Kari McVeigh, retired school superintendent, San Juan County
Kari Van Gelder, teacher, Salmonberry School
Kate Long
Krista Bouchey
Kristi Kersten-Tenborg
Kyle Duncan Graham, program and facility director, Peach Pit
Kyle Freeman
Kyra Dyer
Lindsay Jennings, Orcas Island Community Foundation
Lorena Stankevich, director of special services, OISD
Lynda Sheldahl
Madden Surbaugh, OISD food services director
Maddie Olson, Funhouse youth development director
Maggie Vinson, director, Orcas Montessori School
Maia Vechey, Peach Pit co-founder
Mallory Balcomb
Mary Clure
Mary Wachter, Funhouse music facilitator
Maurice Austin
Meagan Gable, Peach Pit co-founder
Megan Greene, Orcas Island Middle School teacher
Megan Metcalf, development, communications & community outreach manager, OCRC
Megan Vock, OWL facilitator, IRHI teen rep program facilitator
Melinda Hallen
Melissa DeMaria
Michell Marshall
Natalie Miller-Nawn
Nicole Matisse, development director, Orcas Center
Nicole Spinogatti
Orcas Pride Board
Patricia Benton
Paula Gustafson
Paul Berry
Dr. Paul Freedman, founding head of school, Salmonberry School
Paul Steimel
Qasim Dino, OPAL communications director, OIHS paraeducator
Rachel Fletcher
Rebecca Parish
Rick Hughes
Robin Freeman
Ryan Carpenter, Funhouse executive director
Sadie Eichner
Sara Farish, Darvill’s Bookstore, OWL facilitator, IRHI volunteer
Sarah Davis, Funhouse office manager
Sarah Lyle, family physician, IRHI program coordinator
Sarah McKay, Funhouse program director
Shannon Wyss, Funhouse Rainbow Club volunteer and Orcas Island Pride Board
Sharman Ensminger
Sharon Ho
Sue Bauer
Susan Gaiser Gudgell
Susan Min
Susan Stoltz
Tam Lin, Orcas Island Pride Board
Teresa Tilton, Compass Health-Crisis Services
Thomas Pullano, M.D.
Tiffany Loney, Orcas Dance Collective
Trillium Swanson
Vicki O’Keefe, school librarian
Wally Gudgell
Yotam “Mr. Z” Zohar, Orcas Island Middle School teacher
Helpful resources:
Link to Trevor Project: www.thetrevorproject.org .
Human Rights Campaign resources for LGBTQ: www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-youth .
Updated letter here.
