Ms 90

JINKINS, Laurie, papers, 10.5 linear ft.

ABSTRACT: Laurie A. Jinkins, a member of the bar, is a human rights advocate and political activist in the state of Washington whose collection reflects her involvement and leadership roles in many statewide and Pierce County area organizations, task forces, and citizen’s groups, including Hands Off Washington, Tacoma Hate Crimes Task Force, a state Task Force on Gay and Lesbian Concerns, and the YWCA of Tacoma / Pierce County.

BACKGROUND: A native of Wisconsin, Laurie A. Jinkins earned her bachelors and masters degrees in business from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She came to Washington and received her law degree from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. After being admitted to the bar in 1990, Jinkins served as Assistant Governmental Affairs Liaison for the Tacoma Public School District. A year later, she was named an Assistant Attorney General, based out of Tacoma. Since that time she has served in several different legal capacities for state agencies, including staff attorney with the Department of Health. Because of her human rights interests, strong position on equality for everyone, gay-lesbian issues, and legal training, she quickly became involved in regional and statewide issues during the 1990s.

Jinkins served as chair of the City of Tacoma’s Hate Crimes Task Force (1991-1993). She was involved in the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment (1991-1996) and was on the planning committee of that organization’s 1993 annual conference, “Can We All Get Along?” Jinkins was on the board of several regional groups, including the YWCA of Tacoma / Pierce County (1992-1996), where she had a term as president of the board. She also was a member of the state of Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services’ Task Force on Gay and Lesbian Concerns (circa 1991-1994). It appears as though Jinkins was often an official representative from the state Attorney General’s office to conferences, conventions, and public meetings regarding human rights issues, and, in particular, the state’s gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender (GLBT) community. She was often asked to conduct legal research on human rights issues for the Attorney General’s office and the organizations in which she was involved. Jinkins was a frequent public speaker and conference presenter on hate crimes, human rights, and GLBT issues.

Jinkins may be known best for her involvement with the statewide organization Washington Citizens for Fairness / Hands Off Washington (WCF/HOW). WCF/HOW was established in 1992 in an effort to create a broad-based coalition supporting the basic rights of all people and to oppose any efforts to legislate discrimination. During Jinkin’s time on the board of directors and executive committee, it evolved into a statewide grassroots and lobbying organization established to ensure basic human rights being denied individuals based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. In 1994 WCF/HOW helped stop two statewide discrimination initiatives, 608 and 610, proposed by the Citizens Alliance of Washington from qualifying for the ballot. Again in 1995, two similar initiatives, 166 and 167, were filed by the radical and religious right. WCF/HOW responded by launching a non-binding petition that allowed voters to express support of basic rights for all and opposition to discriminatory initiatives. That campaign was very successful and the opposition’s initiatives both failed to gather enough signatures to make it on the ballot. WCF/HOW worked to stop the passage of an anti-gay marriage bill in the 1997 Washington state legislature, gathering support to prevent a veto override and to stop a September ballot measure.

Based on their success in fighting off discriminatory measures, WCF/HOW launched a people’s initiative (I-677) to prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in 1997. Over 180,000 registered voters from across the state signed the initiative, but the effort failed in the November election (42% to 58%). Although disappointing to the GLBT community, it was recognized that the effort helped to educate thousands of Washington citizens about anti-gay discrimination. Jinkins, a strong, outspoken proponent for I-677, was the president of the WCF/HOW during that campaign.

As a resident of Pierce County, Jinkins was involved in the activities of the Pierce County Coalition Council, a regional affiliate of the WCF/HOW organization, and its efforts to keep local citizenry active and aware of the political and discriminatory issues that affected basic human rights and, in particular, the GLBT community. Jinkins also served as the leader of representatives from various south Puget Sound coalition councils and as a liaison back to the state headquarters of the WCF/HOW based out of Seattle.

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection’s strength is in the records of the WCF/HOW and related organizations that show the development and carrying out of various strategies designed to prevent anti-GLBT individuals and organizations from promoting their anti-discriminatory agendas in Washington. Because Jinkins was an active member of executive committees, steering committees, conference planning committees, and other bodies that helped make decisions regarding human rights and GLBT issues, the records contain more than the usual inter-organizational memos and public mailings.

The WCF/HOW executive and board meeting minutes and agendas (1993-1997) provide good insight into the workings of a grassroots organization that tried hard to maintain contact with sympathetic constituents, members, and kindred organizations throughout the entire state of Washington. Minutes and agendas are filed together because the agenda, plus background materials for the meeting, often help understand the more cryptic meeting minutes. The WCF/HOW director’s reports are often included in the same file, again providing more background that may have affected decision making.

This collection includes papers from the South Sound Region Coalition Council (1993-1996) and a more extensive documentation of the work of one of the WCF/HOW regional sub-groups, the Pierce County Coalition Council (1993-1996). The latter record group provides a good picture of WCF/HOW statewide policy and directives being carried out at the local level. Because of the many communications between the state office and the local coalition council, both record groups should be examined carefully together to understand that relationship. Correspondence, as well as memos, are filed together in the general files since most of the official correspondence relates specifically to topics being addressed chronologically throughout the year.

While the WCF/HOW addressed many issues, including its own organizational structure and effectiveness, the major focus, year to year, was on the various initiatives and pieces of legislation that the anti-GLBT organizations and individuals constantly tried to orchestrate. Of major concern during the early to mid-1990s were the anti-gay political attacks organized by Lon Mabon and the Citizens Alliance of Washington, plus other like-minded individuals and organizations, both from Washington and outside the region. The WCF/HOW effort in fighting initiatives 608 and 610 in 1994 and initiatives 166 and 167 are well documented, including strategy development, fundraising campaigns, grassroots organizing, and monitoring (surveys and polls). Particularly well documented is WCF/HOW’s own initiative 677 in 1997 to prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. During that campaign, many stories of Washington citizens who were fired from their jobs because of sexual orientation were collected to help educate the general public about the existence of anti-gay discrimination. Some of those stories can be found in the Faces Project file.

The collection contains substantial material related to Mabon’s earlier efforts in Oregon, where his Citizens Alliance of Oregon initiated anti-gay legislation. The collection also contains a significant amount of “Opposition” background research and information on other regional and national individuals and organizations determined not to allow GLBT people what they considered “special” or undeserved rights. This material lends itself to the study of extreme or religious right activities in Washington in the 1990s. Additional information in the collection relates to laws, ordinances, briefs and legal findings related to human rights issues, both in Washington and other states, particularly dating from the late 1980s and early 1990s. Much of this stems from Jinkins’ training in legal research and her understanding that in order to counter your opponents you must first get to know who they are and understand their positions and motives.

Other substantial record groups within the collection, mostly because of Jinkins’ interest or involvement, include the City of Tacoma’s Hate Crimes Task Force (minutes and agendas, correspondence, and reports, 1991-1994); Committee to Protect Tacoma Human Rights (1990-1991); Pierce County AIDS Foundation (1991-1997); and the state of Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services’ Task Force on Gay and Lesbian Concerns (1991-1994). Jinkins’ position on the board of the local YWCA resulted in a large amount of material on the YWCA of Tacoma / Pierce County, including correspondence, executive committee minutes, board of directors’ meeting minutes, and committee files primarily for the years 1992-1997. Another group of records reflects Jinkins’ association with the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment (1991-1996), including her files as the chair of the planning committee for the 1993 annual conference. Her professional affiliation with the Washington Women Lawyers groups, both statewide and with the Pierce County Chapter, also is documented.

The remaining parts of the collection consist of files Jinkins kept regarding various topics in which she was interested (most often human rights, hate crimes, and GLBT issues); other regional affinity groups; and a collection of similarly related articles, reports, and publications. Of special note is an article on the history of GLBT political activity in the state of Washington from the 1960s up to 1993.

The collection as a whole provides good insight into the anti-gay movement in Washington during the 1990s and the people and organizations that rallied together statewide to counter that threat through community awareness programs and political action.

INCLUSIVE DATES: 1984 - 1999

RESTRICTIONS: None

VOLUME: 10.5 linear feet

ACCESSION #: 1998.102

FILE LISTING:

BOX 1: Jinkins-Biographical; Public Presentations (1991 – 1997);

WCF/HOW Executive Committee; WCF/HOW Board of

Directors; WCF/HOW Correspondence (1993 – 1997);

WCF/HOW papers (1993 – 1997); WCF/HOW

Policies & Procedures; WCF/HOW Employee Handbook (1996)

1. Jinkins, Laurie - Biographical

2. Jinkins, Laurie – Paper. “Law & Society” 1988

3. Jinkins, Laurie – Public Presentations 1991 - 1994

4. Jinkins, Laurie - Public Presentations 1995 - 1997

5. WCF / HOW – Executive Committee – Minutes and Agendas 1993

6. WCF / HOW – Executive Committee – Minutes and Agendas 1994

7. WCF / HOW – Executive Committee – Minutes and Agendas 1995

8. WCF / HOW – Executive Committee – Minutes and Agendas 1996

9 WCF / HOW – Executive Committee – Minutes and Agendas 1997

10. WCF / HOW – Board of Directors – Minutes and Agendas 1993

11. WCF / HOW – Board of Directors – Minutes and Agendas 1994

12. WCF / HOW – Board of Directors – Minutes and Agendas 1995

13. WCF / HOW – Board of Directors – Minutes and Agendas 1996

14. WCF / HOW – Board of Directors – Minutes and agendas 1997

15. WCF / HOW – Correspondence 1993 - 1997

16. WCF / HOW 1993

17. WCF / HOW 1994

18. WCF / HOW 1995

19. WCF / HOW Jan – June 1996

20. WCF / HOW July – Dec 1996

21. WCF / HOW 1996 - 1997

22. WCF / HOW Jan – April 1997

23. WCF / HOW May – Dec 1997

24. Equality Washington / HOW 1997 - 1999

25. Privacy Fund / HOW – Political Action Committee 1996

26. Privacy Fund / HOW – Political Action Committee – Minutes and

Agendas – Board 1996 - 1997

27. WCF / HOW – Name Change Proposal 1997

28. WCF / HOW – Policies and Procedures 1993 – 1994

29. WCF / HOW – Employee Handbook Oct. 1996

BOX 2: WCF/HOW Initiatives 608 & 610; Initiatives 166 & 167;

Initiative 677; WCF/HOW Legislation (MB1443); WCF/HOW

Budget & Finances; WCF/HOW Campaigns (1993-1995);

Faces Project; WCF/HOW Fundraising (1993-1996);

Bookseller’s Council; WCF/HOW Mailing Lists

1. WCF / HOW – Initiatives 608 and 610 1994 – 1995

2. WCF / HOW – Initiatives 166 and 167 1995

3. WCF / HOW – Initiatives 166 and 167 – HOW Campaign

Overview, 1995 – 1996

4. Equality Washington / HOW – Initiative 677 – Campaign

Jan – June 1997

5. Equality Washington / HOW – Initiative 677 – Campaign July – Dec 1997

6. Equality Washington / HOW – Initiative 677 – Campaign 1988

7. Equality Washington / HOW – Initiative 677 – Campaign Literature 1997

8. Equality Washington / HOW – Initiative 677 – Opinion Survey, Statewide

(Sept. 1997)

9. Equality Washington / HOW – Initiative 677 – House Party Packet 1997

10. WCF / HOW – Initiative 677 – Volunteer and Supporter Lists 1997

11. WCF / HOW – Legislation – MB1443, Adding Sexual Orientation to

State’s Law Against Discrimination 1993 – 1994

12. WCF / HOW – Legislation, Proposed. 1993 – 1994 – Legal Opinions,

Briefs, and Case Law

13. WCF / HOW – Legislation – Same Sex Marriage 1997

14. WCF / HOW – Legislative Session – 1996 1995 – 1996

15. WCF / HOW – Legislative Lobby Day (Olympia, WA) 1997

16. WCF / HOW – Treasurer Handbook

17. WCF / HOW – Budget Committee 1993

18. WCF / HOW – Budget and Finances 1993

19. WCF / HOW – Budget and Finances 1994

20. WCF / HOW – Budget and Finances 1995

21. WCF / HOW – Budget and Finances 1996

22. WCF / HOW – Budget and Finances – Coalition Reports Jan 1996

23. WCF / HOW – Budget and Finances 1997

24. WCF / HOW – Campaign Strategy Summary (November 30, 1993)

25. WCF / HOW – Campaign Fundraising Plan 1993 – 1994

26. WCF / HOW – Campaign Endorsements (Sampling) 1993 – 1994

27. WCF / HOW – Campaign School 1994

28. WCF / HOW – Campaign School 1995

29. WCF / HOW – Education Fund 1994

30. WCF / HOW – Education and Research Fund – Reports 1994

31. WCF / HOW – Faces Project 1997

32. WCF / HOW – Fundraising 1993

33. WCF / HOW – Fundraising 1994

34. WCF / HOW – Fundraising 1995

35. WCF / HOW – Fundraising 1996 – 1997

36. WCF / HOW – Fundraising – House Party Program 1993 – 1994

37. WCF / HOW – Fundraising – Lists 1994 – 1996

38. WCF / HOW – Grants and Grant Writing 1993 – 1996

39. WCF / HOW – Bookseller’s Council

40. WCF / HOW – Mailing Lists 1993 – 1995

41. WCF / HOW – Media Efforts 1993

BOX 3: WCF/HOW & Northwest Coalition Against Malicious

Harassment; WCF/HOW Surveys & Polls (1993-1996);

WCF/HOW Workshops & Conferences; WCF/HOW

Bulletins, Brochures, Comic Book (“Hands Off!”);

Press Clippings (1993-1997); WCF/HOW Coalition Councils;

WCF/HOW Pierce County Coalition Council

1. WCF / HOW – Northwest Coalition against Malicious Harassment –

Cooperation 1993 – 1996

2. WCF / HOW – Opinion Poll Proposals and Results 1993 – 1995

3. WCF / HOW – Position and Background Papers 1993 – 1994

4. WCF / HOW – Strategy Plan Summary 1995 – 1996

5. WCF / HOW – Summary Report of HOW Think-tank c1993 / 1994

6. WCF / HOW – Surveys and Polls 1993 – 1994

7. WCF / HOW – Surveys and Polls 1996 – 1997

8. WCF / HOW – Survey, Statewide (Dec. 1996)

9. WCF / HOW – Workshop. “Oregon Speak Out Project” (Seattle)

Aug 14–15, 1993

10. WCF / HOW – Attendee Material from Victory Fund’s

“Leadership Training for Initiative Campaigns” (Washington, D.C.)

Feb 4-6, 1994

11. WCF / HOW – “Summary of Home Work for Victory Fund” 1993

12. WCF / HOW – Speaker Bureau Resource Manual 1994

13. WCF / HOW – Conference – State Training (Yakima) June 19, 1993

14. WCF / HOW – Conference – State Organizing Conference (Ellensburg) August 20, 1994

15. WCF / HOW – Conference – “Mapping our Journey” – Planning Committee

1995 – 1996

16. WCF / HOW – Conference – “Mapping our Journey” – (Wenatchee. WA)

May 10-12, 1996

16. WCF / HOW – Conference – “Mapping our Journey” – Evaluation 1996

17. Equality Washington / HOW – Conference - “Mapping our Journey II –

Building Alliances Across Communities” (Olympia, 1997)

18. WCF / HOW – Brochures and Other Printed Material 1993 – 1994

19. WCF / HOW – Bulletin 1993 – 1996

20. WCF / HOW – Bulletin 1993 – 1996

21. WCF / HOW – Comic Book, “Hands Off!” (Seattle, 1994)

22. WCF / HOW – Press Clippings 1993

23. WCF / HOW – Press Clippings 1994

24. WCF / HOW – Press Clippings 1995

25. WCF / HOW – Press Clippings 1996

26. WCF / HOW – Press Clippings 1997

27. WCF / HOW – Coalition Councils 1992 – 1995

28. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council –

Steering Team Minutes 1994 – 1995

29. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council –

Correspondence 1993 – 1994

30. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council 1993

31. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council 1994

32. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council 1995

33. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council 1996

34. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council – Budget

and Finances 1993 – 1995

35. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council – Data Base Manual

36. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council – Endorsement, Volunteer

and Support Forms (Samples) 1993 – 1994

37. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council – PDC Income Summary

(Samples) 1994 – 1995

38. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council – Volunteer List (57 pp)

1994

39. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council – Mailing and Contact Lists

1993 – 1994

40. WCF / HOW – Pierce County Coalition Council – Newsletter 1993 – 1995

BOX 4: WCF/HOW Coalition Councils (South Sound, Bainbridge,

Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Clallum, South King, Thurston,

Whatcom); Tacoma (City of) Human Rights Commission;

Hate Crimes Task Force; Hate Crimes Legislation; Hate Crimes

(laws & ordinances, speaker’s file, reports, hate flyers, clippings, et al)

1. WCF / HOW – South Sound Region Coalition Council 1993 – 1994

2. WCF / HOW – South Sound Region Coalition Council 1995

3. WCF / HOW – South Sound Regional Coalition Council – Monthly

Reports Feb 1993 – Feb 1996

4. WCF / HOW – Bainbridge Island Coalition Council

5. WCF / HOW – Clallum County Coalition 1995

6. WCF / HOW – Grays Harbor Coalition Council 1994

7. WCF / HOW – Kitsap County Coalition Council 1993 – 1995

8. WCF / HOW – South King County Coalition – Newsletter 1995

9. WCF / HOW – Thurston County Coalition 1993 – 1995

10. WCF / HOW – Thurston County Coalition – Newsletter 1994 – 1995

11. WCF / HOW – Whatcom County Coalition Council – Newsletter 1994

12. WCF / HOW – Coalition Summits 1995

13. Tacoma, City of – Human Rights Commission

14. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma - Minutes and Agendas 1991

15. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma – Minutes and Agendas 1992

16. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma – Correspondence

March – December 1991

17. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma – Correspondence

January – March 1992

18. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma – Correspondence

April 1992 – April 1993

19. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma – Committee

Reports 1991 – 1992

20. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma – Membership of

Task Force 1991 – 1992

21. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma

22. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma. City Resolutions and

Ordinances 1981 – 1991

23. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma Hate Crimes Incident

Reports 1991 – 1992

24. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma. Institute for the Healing

Of Racism 1992

25. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma. Report: Hate Crimes – A

Regional Response. Tacoma Police [1991]

. 26. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma. Tacoma School District

1986 – 1992

27. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma. Final Report Dec 1992

28. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma. Response to Report

1993 – 1994

29. Hate Crimes Task Force – City of Tacoma. Clippings (1991 – 1992)

and Media Lists

30. Hate Crimes – Legislation – State of Washington – Malicious

Harassment 1981 – 1992

31. Hate Crimes – Legislation – State of Washington (HM 1569) 1993

32. Hate Crimes – Legislation – State of Washington – Malicious

Harassment (HB 1567 & HB 1569) Legal Opinions 1993

33. Hate Crimes – Laws, Ordinances and Policies – Examples 1984 – 1991

34. Hate Crimes – Malicious Harassment – Briefs and Case Law

35. Hate Crimes – Speaker’s File – Jinkins 1984 – 1994

36. Hate Crimes – Training Course. “Investigating and Prosecuting Crimes

Motivated by Hate” Seattle, Sept 29-30, 1994

37. Hate Crimes – Report. “Hate / Bias Crime Report July-December 1991”.

Washington Assoc. of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. [1992]

38. Hate Crimes – Report. “Hate / Bias Crime Report January-December 1992”

Washington Assoc. of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. [1993]

39. Hate Crimes – Hate Flyers and Publications

40. Hate Crimes – Clippings 1991 – 1992

41. Hate Crimes – Handbook. A Prosecutor’s Guide to Hate Crime, Jack O’Malley, Cook County State’s Attorney, Illinois 1994

BOX 5: Hate Crimes (Articles; Klanwatch Project); Northwest Coalition Against

Malicious Harassment (Conferences; Manual); Committee to Protect Tacoma Human Rights; Pierce County AIDS Foundation; Washington Women Lawyers

1. Hate Crimes – Article. Page & Hunnicutt, “Freedom for the Thought that

We Hate: A Policy Analysis…”, Journal of College and University

(Vol 21, No 1) 1994

2. Hate Crimes – Articles – Miscellaneous 1987 – 1991

3. Hate Crimes – Klanwatch Project (Alabama) 1989 – 1990

4. Hate Crimes – Miscellaneous 1991 – 1993

5. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment 1991 – 1996

6. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment – 1992 Annual

Conference “To Find Common Ground” Oct 23-25, 1992

7. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment –

Conference, 1992 – Evaluations

8. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment –

Conference, 1993 (Tacoma)

9. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment – 1993 Annual

Conference “Can We All Get Along?” Oct 22-24, 1993

10. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment – 1993 Annual

Conference. “Can We All Get Along?” Oct 22-24, 1993 – Planning Committee 1992 – March 1993

11. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment – 1993 Annual

Conference “Can We All Get Along?” Oct 22-24, 1993 –

Planning Committee April – Oct 1993

12. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment – 1993 Annual

Conference. “Can We All Get Along?” Oct 22-24, 1993 –

Conference Budget

13. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment – 1994 Annual

Conference “Embracing Diversity” Oct 27-29. 1994

14. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment – 1996 Annual

Conference – “Facing the Threats: Organizing for Justice in the Northwest” October 18-20, 1996

15. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment – Manual.

Organizing Against Bigotry: Washington (Seattle), nd

16. Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment – Newsletter,

“Northwest Beacon” 1991 – 1995

17. Committee to Protect Human Rights (Tacoma, WA) 1990 – 1991

18. Committee to Protect Tacoma Human Rights – Finances 1989 – 1991

19. Committee to Protect Tacoma Human Rights – C3 Forms Files 1990

20. Committee to Protect Tacoma Human Rights – C4 Forms Files 1990

21. Committee to Protect Tacoma Human Rights – Proposition 1 – Information and Press Clippings 1990

22. Committee to Protect Tacoma Human Rights – Miscellaneous 1990

23. Pierce County AIDS Foundation 1991 – 1997

24. Pierce County AIDS Foundation – Speaker’s Bureau Training Sept. 1991

25. Pierce County HIV / AIDS Advisory Group 1993 – 1994

26. Pierce County CDC Community HIV Prevention Plan (Tacoma, WA)

July 1994

27. Pierce County Coalition Against I-200 1998

28. Municipal League of Tacoma – Pierce County – Candidate Evaluation

Committee

29. Time Dollars of Tacoma – Steering Committee 1998

30. Washington Women Lawyers – Board Meeting – Agendas 1992

31. Washington Women Lawyers – Correspondence, Memos, and Miscellany

1992 – 1993

32. Washington Women Lawyers – Board Retreat for 1992 – 1993

33. Washington Women Lawyers – Long Term Planning Committee 1993

34.