LGBT Community
Washington: A Blue State
Series 2008 in Seattle would bring what we believe is a noteworthy first for gay and lesbian softball: Championship games played in a city represented by an openly gay state legislator.
In total, Washington has five openly gay members of the Washington state legislature, including four from the Seattle area. In addition, two members of Seattle's gay and lesbian community serve on the City Council. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, King County Executive Ron Sims, and Gov. Christine Gregoire are all longtime allies on LGBT issues.
Washington has a history of progressive statewide politics. In 2007, Washington became one of a small but growing number of states to sign into law a statewide domestic-partnership law. Series 2008 represents the first time our championships have been contested in a state with such a law on the books.
The state of Washington - and especially the Seattle area - has a well-earned reputation as a "blue" state in no small part due to its large and visible gay population.
States with the Largest Gay Population, By Percentage:
- New Hampshire
- Washington
- Massachusetts
- Maine
- California
Metropolitan Areas with the Largest Gay Population, By Percentage:
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Boston
- Portland, Oregon
- Tampa
Congressional Districts with Largest Number of Gay Residents
- California 8th District (Rep. Nancy Pelosi - San Francisco)
- Washington 7th District (Rep. Jim McDermott - Seattle)
- California 45th District (Rep. Mary Bono - Palm Springs)
- New York 8th District (Rep. Jerry Nadler - New York)
- California 9th District (Rep. Barbara Lee - Oakland/Berkeley)
Source: The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law
