Who We Are Today
The Rainbow Center's mission is to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity by providing education, resources, information and opportunities for empowerment to individuals and organization with the south Puget Sound area. We find our activities falling into three general categories.
- Educate - to provide information to all individuals and groups about the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersexed, Questioning/Queer and Allied individuals community in an effort to eliminate harmful stereotypes.
- Advocate - to ensure that Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersexed, Questioning/Queer and Allied individuals receive the same basic human rights as all other citizens of pierce County, the State of Washington and the United States.
- Celebrate - to acknowledge pride in who we are as valuable creative members of a diverse population in this county, state, and country.
The Rainbow Center is a safe, accessible and welcoming community space for meetings, activities and events that strengthen the lives of people in our community. We support Greater Pierce County by providing a centralized source of information and referral for and about the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. We provide visibility to the history, culture and diversity of our communities.
We believe that having a unified voice strengthens the community as a whole by contributing to the richness of diversity found in the South Sound area. We support other like-minded organizations by nurturing their development and providing opportunities for networking across differences. We are passionate about supporting the entrepreneurship of people demonstrating the initiative and talent to develop new opportunities for service and support. We offer free meeting space, participation in and financial support for special events.
Staff
Executive Director: Michelle Douglas
Michelle comes to Tacoma from Delaware, the second smallest state. She has been a community activist, ceramic artist, bar owner and a non-profit manager, with many other jobs in between. To the Rainbow Center she brings a commitment to social justice and a deep desire to serve her community. Being the Executive Director of the Center is a dream come true and she looks forward to educating, advocating and celebrating with the Queer community.
Center Administrator: Laura Brewer
Biography coming soon.
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Board of Directors
Willie Painter, President
Willie Painter has called Tacoma his home for the past 6 years. Graduating from Pacific Lutheran University in 2006, Willie now has the pleasure of serving the students and community of Franklin Pierce School District as the District's Public Information Officer, managing the District's internal and external communications, community connections, sponsorships, and school safety. Willie constantly is on the lookout for new opportunities for the Rainbow Center to connect with new LGBTQAs or expanding relationships with LGBTQAs. Willie is committed to the idea that all people need to be treated equally, that all people need equitable access to services, and that LGBTQ people have every right to live happily and well just like anyone else. He enjoys going for jogs in stormy (and sunny!) weather, meeting up with friends and family with no other agenda than to enjoy each other's company, and spends much time engaged in a number of local LGBT-focused organizations: Rainbow Center, Queer Collective, Pride Foundation—Pierce County, Pride Foundation—Regional Outreach Committee.
Henry Waymack, Vice President
Henry Waymack was born and raised in Seattle Washington. While growing up, Henry was taught through example the importance of serving his community, by his parents, teachers, and members of his church community. He attended PLU from 2000-2005 where his desire to serve the community around him found a home in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community. He now has the honor of serving as Vice President for the Tacoma Rainbow Center Board of Directors. Besides serving on the board, Henry also volunteers his time to the Rainbow Center as a graphic designer and facilitator for Tacoma T-Men, a support and discussion group for transmen.
Marcie Osborn, Treasurer
Marcie is a Clinical Product Specialist at GE Healthcare specializing in nuclear medicine and marketing. Translation: medical, technical and out of town! She and her partner, Kim, have been active in many progressive organizations and campaigns over the past several years. Marcie began her involvement with the Rainbow Center as its first auctioneer of the Black and White Gayla in 2002. She was also the 2010 Gayla Committee Chair.
Marcie was raised LDS in California's bay area where most all of her family still resides. Marcie captains her tennis team, loves to play golf, and is a techno geek!
Terri Card, Secretary
Terri has lived and worked in the Pierce County area her entire life, and currently resides in Tacoma with her partner of 25 years. She holds both a Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling and a Masters in Health Administration and has worked in the mental health field for nearly 30 years. Terri currently holds the position of Vice President of Clinical Services with Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare, in Lakewood.
Terri was accepted into the 2010 American Leadership Forum (15). She believes strongly in the concept of "servant leadership" and is committed to helping our community and our planet become a better place. She is also crazy about animals, but only has three pets (one dog and two cats) due to the stabilizing and sane influence of her beloved partner.
Ellen Hardin, Member at Large
Ellen joined the board of the Rainbow Center in the fall of 2007. She has been involved in Nonprofit organizations for more than 25 years. She brings extensive experience in infrastructure development and support for the day to day operations of non-profits. Ellen is a geek and enjoys everything to do with technology and computers. She is an Internal Medicine Physician who works for Group Health Cooperative. She splits her time between doing diagnostics and working as a hospitalist. She also has an active interest in Transgender medicine.
Taryn Kloster, Member at Large
Born and raised in the Midwest, Taryn has always had a perpetual itch in her geographical shoes, bringing her from Iowa to Washington D.C., Minnesota, New York, and now Tacoma.
Taryn graduated in 2008 from Luther College with a BA in Political Science and in Women and Gender Studies. After succeeding in leadership roles for multiple organizations including Luther College Feminists and PRIDE, Taryn is now following her passion in grant writing. Fresh from her work on Capitol Hill for the National Organization for Women, she looks forward to cultivating relationships in her service on the RC Board.
Frank Leonzal, Member at Large
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Frank served in the US Navy for twelve years as a Cook before spending four years in warehouse management and then moving into transportation, in the public sector with King County and in the private sector.
When not working at his day job, Frank enjoys working with the communities in furthering Human Rights through Gay Pride Events. Addicted to toys, he maintains a continuously growing collection of Matchbox type cars, other assorted toys and HO scale trains.
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Advisory Board Members
Kim Burkes
Kim has worked with the Rainbow Center the board since 2001. A Mississippi native (with Cajun leanings), she relocated to Tacoma in 1996 with pit stops in Berkeley, Eugene, and Omaha. Kim has been a Nuclear Pharmacist for 20 years, but mostly enjoys karate, wine making, and cooking. She is also involved with the Pierce County Pride Foundation, Coalition for Marriage Equality, and a variety of other like-minded organizations.
S. Troy Christensen
Troy recently completed his sixth year with the Rainbow Center board, stepping down as co-chair. He works for Pierce County Human Services administering a variety of programs for people affected by mental illness and homelessness. Troy holds Master's Degrees in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, and Health Administration. He is involved in many social justice issues including ending homelessness, and equal rights for all minority classes.
L. Rachel Kaufman, MD, PhD
Rachel is a medical doctor with an extensive background in visual art. We're not sure how often these overlap, but her eye and organizational skills are invaluable at our art auctions. Rachel's charm is only occasionally upstaged by her frequent companion, Tribble, the world's most darling Welsh Corgi.
Maggie Webb, CPA
Maggie has served as a board member nearly since the Rainbow Center's beginning. Our community relies heavily on Maggie's tax acumen, making her a bit of glue that binds us better together.
Aimee Welch Champion
Aimee is passionate about community service and is appreciative of the opportunities she's had to work with a variety of organizations. After her work in Seattle/King County Public Health and as the RC's Executive Director, Aimee continues her private practice as an attorney working with Q-Law, Washington's LGBT bar association. She is a graduate of Seattle University's School of Law and the University of Nebraska's Schools of Public Administration (MPA) and Social Work (BSSW).
Aimee's interests include developing services and support networks for BRCA carriers, foster care reform, LGBT equality, reading, riding her motorcycle and gardening. But, most of all, she loves spending time with her family.
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