In response to the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Control Board inspection actions in Seattle LGBTQ+ bars in late January, Seattle Metro Chamber President and CEO Rachel Smith issued the following statement:
“We appreciate the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Control Board’s decision to suspend enforcement of its lewd conduct rule and participation with Seattle’s Joint Enforcement Team. The Seattle Metro Chamber has a long history of promoting inclusion and diversity, specifically supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and we and our members have been concerned about what transpired recently. We have made our concerns known to the city of Seattle, the LCB, and the Governor’s Office, and as LCB Director Will Lukela said: ‘message received.’ We want to emphasize the need for local law enforcement and first responders to keep their focus on the public safety issues that are impacting the quality of life in our city.”