Laurie Jinkins, First Lesbian to be Speaker of the Washington State House of Representives
What is your pride and joy in life?
I feel lucky because there are so many things I’m proud of. My community and legislative caucus have been incredibly supportive in helping all Washingtonians, and I’m proud to have been part of that. Personally, I’m most proud of the 35 years my wife and I have spent together, through many ups and downs. Our shared commitment to advancing our community has strengthened our family. I’m also incredibly proud of our son, who continues to challenge us every day to do better.
What do you feel thankful for about our community?
I’m thankful for the wide diversity of experiences and approaches that members of our community bring to any table we sit at. We challenge each other, have no fear of hard work, and are absolutely committed to leaving the world better than we found it. All this, and no community is better at having fun than ours!
Who inspires you to make a difference in the world?
My wife and son.
What are the dreams you still want to accomplish?
There are too many dreams to list them all, but one thing I’ve learned during my time in the legislature is that the better we do at bringing diverse voices to the table, the better our solutions become for everyone. I dream of a time when it’s a foregone conclusion that those voices must be present before we move toward a solution, rather than having to fight to include them.
What hopes do you want to see come true for the younger generations?
For me, it’s most important to listen to the voices of the younger generation and understand what they want. From my perspective, ensuring that younger people can fully express who they are, without fear, in an environment of welcome and belonging would be great.
How do you stay grateful for what you have?
As long as I’m able to keep doing the things I love, I’m always grateful for the opportunity, even if it sometimes takes too long to accomplish them. I’m motivated and driven when working on things I love.
What encourages you to make tomorrow better than today?
Seeing all the great things people are doing, along with recognizing the needs in our communities.
What is one thing you are proud of yourself for?
My wife, Laura, and I have been together a long time. We came out when it was legal to fire someone for being LGBTQ and couldn’t imagine marriage equality as a reality. All of these things, and so much more, have changed in our lifetime. I’m proud of the small parts we’ve played in advancing the LGBTQ community. Additionally, I was surprised when I was elected as the first woman and lesbian Speaker of the Washington House of Representatives to hear from so many people how inspired they were. I’m proud to have broken that ceiling—proud to have been the first and even more proud that I will not be the last!
