Appointed by Gov. Christine Gregoire in 2007, Washington State Human Rights Commissioner Charlene Strong is a tireless advocate for equality.  Her work with the Washington State legislature on behalf of marriage equality is chronicled in her award-winning documentary, for my wife…

In 2011, Charlene was booked on a college tour visiting no less than 20 U.S. universities to speak to students, staff and special guests about the importance and immediacy of equality in our nation and worldwide.

In addition to her work as a public speaker, Charlene Strong is the co-editor of the largely popular LGBT online magazine The Seattle Lesbian. In just over one year alone, The Seattle Lesbian has reached more than one million readers globally. The magazine is currently undergoing expansion options into other markets.

An activist is usually inspired to illicit change within her community when a life-altering experience occurs. For Charlene, it was when her wife, Kate Fleming, perished in a flash flood in 2006. Charlene was denied the right to see her in the hospital. She realized then that she had two options: become a victim or fight for her life – quite literally. She inevitably chose the latter.

In 2010, her extremely personal fight led her to the White House to meet with President Barack Obama, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and the president of the SEIU, the largest nurses’ union in the nation.

Prior to her partner’s death, Charlene worked with the Human Society’s Pet Project, which provided HIV/AIDS patients with help and care for their pets. She designed and managed their veterinary clinic to insure pet care and wellness visits and implemented an intake committee to access candidate needs.  She also worked with the Archdiocese of Seattle on an LGBT task force dedicated to improving acceptance and understanding within the Archdiocese of LGBT parishioners.