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Seattle Office for Civil Rights

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Seattle Office for Civil Rights

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) works to advance civil rights and end barriers to equity. We do not ask about citizenship or immigration status.

We enforce laws against illegal discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and contracting within Seattle city limits. Our Vision: A city of liberated people where communities historically impacted by racism, oppression, and colonization hold power and thrive. Our Mission: To end structural racism and discrimination through accountable community relationships and anti-racist org

anizing, policy development, and civil rights enforcement. What We Do:
• We investigate discrimination in housing, employment, public places, and contracting.
• We coordinate the Race & Social Justice Initiative, a citywide effort to end institutional racism in City government and to achieve racial equity across our community.
• We offer free presentations to community groups and businesses.
• We staff four City of Seattle Commissions:
• Seattle Human Rights Commission
• Seattle Women’s Commission
• Seattle LGBTQ Commission
• Seattle Disability Commission

If you believe you have been discriminated against, please contact us at 206-684-4500. Our services are free and we will provide a language interpreter. Visit us at 810 Third Avenue, Suite 750 in downtown Seattle. For full information go to www.seattle.gov/civilrights. View the City’s policies at www.seattle.gov/digital.

08/28/2026

We’re hosting a free training for housing providers on Seattle’s Fair Housing laws!

Are you a housing provider? Join us on Saturday, September 12, from 1–3 PM at the Bitter Lake Community Center to learn the basics of fair housing and what the law requires.

Registration is required — save your spot at https://seattle.gov/civilrights/housing-rights/fair-housing

08/27/2026

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights mourns the passing of Emi Koyama, a beloved community leader, tireless activist, artist, and scholar whose work helped establish transfeminism as a movement and shape how people understood it.

Emi helped guide our work on gender justice and the criminal legal system. She shared her deep insights and expertise, challenged us to think differently, and helped strengthen our understanding of how systems of oppression shape people’s lives and experiences in the city. We will forever remember her for her vision and lifelong commitment to justice and liberation.

Read our tribute to Emi and learn more about her life, legacy, and contributions to our community in our blog at ocr.seattle.gov

Emi’s memorial service will take place on August 29. Find details on the next slide.

Photography by Chona Kasinger for Lux Magazine

08/25/2026

Every person has a rightful place in this city.

Click right to learn about the City’s new investments for 2SLGBTQIA communities or read the Seattle Office for Civil Rights’ blog at ocr.seattle.gov

07/24/2026

📣 We’re hiring!

Are you committed to advancing racial equity and protecting civil rights? Join the Seattle Office for Civil Rights as a Civil Rights Investigator.

In this role, you’ll help uphold civil rights by investigating discrimination complaints and civil rights violations, and support our mission with fair, equity‑focused work.

📆 Apply by July 28 at 4:00 PM Pacific Time at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle/jobs/5407572/civil-rights-investigator

06/19/2026

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free—over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s a celebration of liberation and joy, and a reminder that freedom delayed is freedom denied.

As the United States approaches its 250th year since adopting the Declaration of Independence, the call for true freedom remains just as urgent. From Texas to Delaware, our history shows the deep impact of delayed liberation and the ongoing systems that uphold anti‑Black racism.

Juneteenth invites us to reflect on this history, honor the resilience of Black communities, and recommit to closing the gap between freedom promised and freedom practiced.

05/12/2026

Everyone in our city deserves to live safely, openly, and free from discrimination and fear. We are deeply saddened by the tragic killing of a young transgender student at her off-campus student housing near the University of Washington. Our hearts are with her loved ones and the LGBTQ+ community. This is a pain and loss no person should endure, yet acts of violence—particularly against transgender women—have become all too familiar in our country.

We stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and reaffirm our commitment to upholding civil rights, protecting transgender communities, and building systems that ensure everyone in our city is safe, supported, and able to thrive.

Free mental health services for youth and young adults up to age 24 are available at seattle.gov/youthmentalhealth.

05/06/2026

🏡 We are hosting a training for housing providers about fair housing laws in Seattle. This training will provide a basic overview of different treatment, harassment, reasonable accommodations and modifications, service animals, retaliation, alternative source of income, first-in-time, and fair chance housing and eviction records. This is not an advanced class.

Basic Fair Housing Training for Housing Providers
Thursday, June 4 from 5pm-7pm
El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98144

Registration is required! To register, click the link in our bio or visit seattle.gov/fairhousing. If you don’t register and arrive at the training location, we will ask you to wait until it begins to see if we have space. If you can’t make it to this session, we plan on having others on September 12, and October 22 (dates are subject to change).

Contact Monica Beach at [email protected] or call (206) 684-4521 for questions about the training, reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, and language services.

04/28/2026

🏡 We are hosting a training for housing providers about fair housing laws in Seattle. This training will provide a basic overview of different treatment, harassment, reasonable accommodations and modifications, service animals, retaliation, alternative source of income, first-in-time, and fair chance housing and eviction records. This is not an advanced class.

Basic Fair Housing Training for Housing Providers
Saturday May 9, 10am-12pm
Van Asselt Community Center
2820 S. Myrtle St. Seattle WA, 98108

Registration is required! Register at www.seattle.gov/fairhousing. If you don’t register and arrive at the training location, we will ask you to wait until it begins to see if we have space. If you can’t make it to this session, we plan on having others on June 4, September 12, and October 22 (dates are subject to change).

Contact Monica Beach at [email protected] or call (206) 684-4521 for questions about the training, reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, and language services.

04/13/2026

On June 1, the Seattle LGBTQ Commission, Mayor Katie B. Wilson, members of Seattle City Council, Deaunte Damper, and the Gender Justice League will gather for the 14th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Flag Raising and Pride Month Proclamation. The afternoon will also include awards celebrating one individual and organization for their leadership and service to the LGBTQ+ community. 🌈

Join us as we reaffirm our commitment to building a welcoming and inclusive city for our LGBTQ+ community. Everyone is welcome to attend, and light refreshments will be served!

📅 Monday June 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM in the Bertha Knight Landes Room at Seattle City Hall on 600th 4th Avenue

An accessible route to the ceremony is available by elevator. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, language interpretation, and translation are available upon request.

More details coming soon!

03/27/2026

The City of Seattle Government and the Y Social Impact Center YMCA of Greater Seattle are excited to announce that the Get Engaged program is now accepting applications!

Get Engaged places individuals ages 18-29 on the City of Seattle’s boards and commissions. Get Engaged board members serve a one-year term as fully vested and voting members starting in September. Acting in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and City Council, board members help shape policy decisions, make recommendations, and provide citizen participation in city government. Since 2001, the Get Engaged program has been dedicated to cultivating the next generation of leaders and advocating for the influence of young voices in city affairs.

The Y Social Impact Center offers additional support and training at monthly cohort meetings where participants have an opportunity to discuss strategies, share ideas and collaborate.

🗓️ Applications for the 2026-2027 term will be accepted until Friday, April 24th at 11:59pm.

✨To apply: Complete the application at forms.office.com/r/qEB2xzpkV1 and send a resume & cover letter to [email protected]

💻 View participating boards and commissions at seattleymca.org/get-engaged-boards-commissions

✉️ For more information, contact Imani Bender at [email protected]

Address

Seattle, WA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 3pm
Tuesday	9am - 3pm
Wednesday	9am - 3pm
Thursday	9am - 3pm

Telephone

+12066844500

Website

http://www.seattle.gov/civilrights/

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