seattle now herstory

 

Founded in 1970, the Seattle-King County Chapter was the 36th chapter of NOW chartered in the United States.

The founders’ intent was to work “peacefully and within the system, through the courts, through all of the constitutional means available to effect the changes that our system has channels for.” 


In 1972 our then president, Elaine Day Latourell,
expanded upon that intent by stating:

“NOW is dedicated to working within the system and when that doesn’t work, to raising hell.”

Through picketing, protesting, lobbying, awareness campaigns, and intersectional coalition building, we have been raising a little hell ever since.

 

historical highlights

 

1970’s

 

  • Founded in 1973

  • Helped establish the Seattle Women’s Commission (which later established the Seattle Office of Women’s Rights)

  • Seattle NOW members founded the Washington Women’s Political Caucus

  • Successfully lobbied for sex to be included in anti-discrimination laws, and for other legal rights for women.

 

1980’s

  • Seattle NOW was instrumental in helping to remove the marital exemption for rape in the first and second degree (the third degree exemption would not be lifted until 2013).

 

1990’s

  • Led the campaign to investigate credible claims of sexual assault against then Senator Brock Adams, setting a precedent for Senate Ethics investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct 

  • Seattle NOW was one founding organization of the Puget Sound Women’s Peace Camp, protesting the manufacture of cruise missiles by Boeing, and successfully kept a US Naval battle group from being stationed at Pier 91 in downtown Seattle.

 

2000’s

  • Successfully campaigned the WA State Patrol and State Crime Lab to fund and process DNA from cold cases, which led to several convictions of violent crimes.

  • In 2007 we co-hosted the Women of Color and Allies Summit which focused on issues of immigration, and peace and justice in the Puget Sound region

  • Showed solidarity with the labor-led movement in 2008 to shut down every port along the West Coast in protest of the Iraq War

  • Partnered with sisters in South Africa to lobby Amazon to stop marketing video games that revolve around or incentivize violence against women.

  • Continued legislative advocacy in service of equal rights for ALL!

 

2010’s

  • Continued supporting labor organizers in action, including supporting Swedish Hospital nurses in their 3 day strike for improved hospital staffing 

  • Moved our office to the SEIU 6 local union hall - where we remain today

  • Lobbied the successful passage of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and The Working Connections Childcare Act (WCCC)

  • Lobbied the successful passage of the WA Same Sex Marriage Act and WA State Reproductive Parity Act 

  • In 2017 we established our Annual Shero Awards - where we honor powerful, change-making women in our community

 

2020’s

  • Join us to write this chapter of our Herstory together.