For years, women who work at Washington state’s Capitol have quietly spoken among themselves about their experiences with sexual harassment. Veteran lobbyists and staff members warn women who are new to the job to be careful around certain male lawmakers. There is even a list in circulation. Despite the whispers and the rumors, women have been reluctant to come forward to tell their stories publicly.
But when the Harvey Weinstein story broke and the #MeToo movement launched, things changed. Women began to speak more openly about a culture where men in power acted at times inappropriately, at times unprofessionally, and at times illegally towards female staff, lobbyists and others who work in and around the Legislature.
On October 31, 2017, reporters Austin Jenkins and Walker Orenstein broke open the veil of secrecy around sexual harassment in Olympia (http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/women-washington-state-capitol-say-me-too). Other news outlets followed, and the result was a series of reforms promised by legislative leaders aimed at changing behavior at the Capitol and also providing a safer space for women to report harassment.
The handling of sexual harassment in the state Legislature will evolve following a new code of conduct that has already passed one chamber.The unanimous…
Leaders of the Washington state House Democratic Caucus are recommending that state Representative David Sawyer of Tacoma be suspended as chair of the…
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A fiery top Republican in the Washington Legislature is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations he sexually harassed students as a professor at Central…
Women who signed a “Stand With Us” anti-harassment letter to Washington legislative leaders in November say they want a “safe, neutral space” to formally…