Vancouver Mayor Pro Tem Ty Stober was the guest speaker for the Fall Queer Luncheon on October 10 in the Penguin Student Lounge. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The luncheon is designed to create community for students who identify as queer and allies.

Stober is one of seven councilmembers for the city of Vancouver. He is Mayor Pro Tem, which means he serves as mayor in the mayor’s absence. He has served on city council for eight years.

Stober is also gay. He told the group that only 0.23% of elected officials nationwide identify themselves as LGBTQ.

“Our voices are radically underheard in politics,” he said, noting that he is the only LGTBQ elected official in a geographic area that includes six Washington counties. “I am standing here today so that students can see that representation in government is possible.”

Stober grew up in Canby, Ore., a conservative small town in Clackamas County. He was closeted in high school.

“I wanted so badly to fit in that I put on as good an act as I could of being straight,” he said. “I lived in constant fear that I’d slip up and be exposed.”

He graduated from Canby Union High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. He earned his MBA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I was very, very closeted when I was in college,” he said.

After grad school he was working in Baltimore when he met the man who would become his husband. They have been together for 20 years.

Stober first got involved in politics in 2009, when as a citizen, he canvassed for passing Referendum 71, which legalized domestic partnership in Washington. It was the first statewide referendum in the U.S. that extended to LGBT people the rights and responsibility of domestic partnership.

In 2012 he chaired the organization that backed Referendum 74, which legalized gay marriage. It became law in 2012. He has been a Vancouver councilmember since 2015.

Stober encouraged Clark College students to get involved with local politics. There are opportunities to attend city council meetings in person or online. People also can send an email to all the councilors. Learn more about Vancouver City Council meetings here.

“If you don’t feel safe in our community as an LGBTQ person or as a person of color, come speak at city council,” he said.

Stober invited people to start by getting involved in Vancouver by providing public comment to a variety of community projects in an online community forum, BeHeardVancouver.

“You need to tell us what you want,” Stober said. “If you want affordable housing, say, ‘I want affordable housing.’ If politics interest you, reach out to me.”

Stober has a two-decade career in sales, marketing and operations, with leadership experience in medium-sized, publicly traded and entrepreneurial organizations. He last served as an energy efficiency program manager for an organization supporting all utilities in the Northwest.

Upcoming DEI events:

• Students with Disability Luncheon, Tuesday, Oct. 24 at noon in PUB 161
• Students of Color luncheon, Tuesday, Nov. 7 at noon in PUB 161

To learn more, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s website.

Ty Stober, Council Seat 5

Current Assignments and Certifications

• National League of Cities: Vice Chair – Race, Equity and Leadership Council
• National League of Cities: Board of Directors and Board Policy Committee
• National League of Cities: First Vice President, LGBTQ+ Local Officials
• National League of Cities: First Tier Suburbs Council – Past Chair
• C-TRAN Board of Directors
• Vancouver Strategic Planning Executive Steering Group
• Vancouver Fire and Police Pension Boards
• Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (alternate)
• Metro Policy Advisory Committee (alternate)
• SW Regional Transportation Council (alternate)
• Association of Washington Cities Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership
• National League of Cities University Bronze Certificate
• Community Involvement
• NAACP, Member

Photo: Susan Parrish/Clark College

An attentive crowd of 80 students, faculty, and staff gathered for the Spring Queer Luncheon on June 8 during Pride Month. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

A panel representing Clark students, faculty, and staff shared their journey toward discovery of their queer identity, their search for building community, and their challenges including feeling safe and navigating family relationships. The panel was moderated by student Sonia Talero Pachon. Panelists were:

• Student Matty Quinn
• Student Serenity Raewyn
• Alyssa Voyles, Director of Employee Equity, Outreach & Engagement
• Professor Christina Smith

Here is some of the panel’s discussion:

What was your journey toward discovering your queer identity?

“By the time I was 5 or 6, I knew.”

“Society tells us what’s acceptable. Parents have opinions. But I can re-embrace who I am. I feel a lot of us are constantly evolving.”

“I was in a toxic relationship because I was uncomfortable with who I was.”

What are some of the ways you have found to build community and support within the LGBTIQ+ community? And within Clark College?

“In the college’s Queer Agenda, we are about creating a safe space where people could be themselves and make friends.”

“It was through the amazing people at the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion where I started to find community.”

“I spent a lot of time in the Diversity Center, connecting with others. That’s when you find the most genuine people. You find the commonalities.”

“Community doesn’t just have to be in a physical space. I may not have a large in-person community, but I have developed a community online.”

What are some of the challenges you’ve had?

“Being part of the community, but still not feeling completely welcome.”

“I want to feel not just comfortable, but safe. I felt safer in Portland but moved to Vancouver. I don’t go out to eat in Vancouver.”

What are some ways you have found to advocate for the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community?

“For me, it’s showing up for others in the way I didn’t have.”

“I’m visible to my students.”

“My advocacy doesn’t necessarily come from standing with a sign that says Black Lives Matter or Love is Love—although I have done that—but it’s relationships. How we treat each other.”

What advice would you give your younger self or other people about being part of the LGBTIQ+ community?

“I have a good friend who in his late 30s attempted suicide several times. He decided in his 40s to live authentically. It is never too late to be yourself.”

“Find queer content you can identify with.”

“For Pride Month, let’s focus less on ‘Love is love’ and more on ‘Trans people are dying.’”

“I’ve always been the weird kid who didn’t have friends. I never went to any school dances. Don’t wait for an invitation that’s not going to come. Just go. Do the thing.”

“You have to walk through your own life. Find a way that’s comfortable for you.”

To learn more, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s website.

Photo: Clark College/Susan Parrish