• Everyday
    • Education
    • Neighborhood Notes
  • Sports
    • College Sports
    • South Puget Sound Community College
    • High School Sports
    • Black Hills High School
    • Capital High School
    • North Thurston High School
    • Northwest Christian High School
    • Olympia High School
    • Pope John Paul II High School
    • Rainier High School
    • River Ridge High School
    • Rochester High School
    • Tenino High School
    • Timberline High School
    • Tumwater High School
    • Yelm High School
    • Rec League
    • Semi-Pro Sports
  • Food & Art
    • Artist Profiles
    • Food Shopping
    • Local Farmers
    • Music
    • Restaurants
  • Community Channels
    • Around the House
      • Home Inspection Services
      • Insurance
        • Insurance Agent – Melanie Bakala
      • Real Estate Agents in Thurston County Covering Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm and beyond
    • Business Networking
      • Chamber
        • Chamber of Commerce
      • Economic Development Council
      • Rotary
        • Gateway Rotary
    • Community Talker
      • Instagram Article Feed
    • Health and Wellness
      • Hospital + Medical Center
      • Physical Therapy
    • Media Partners
      • Thurston Community Media
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
    • Movies
    • Olympia Farmers Market
    • City, County and Government Information
      • People in Public Service
      • City of Lacey, Washington
      • City of Olympia, Washington
      • City of Tumwater, Washington
      • City of Yelm, Washington
      • City, County and Port Meetings
      • Port of Olympia
      • Thurston County Washington
    • Senior Life
      • Cemetery Products
      • In-Home Care
      • Senior Services for South Sound
    • Services
      • Auto Repair
      • Pet Emergency
    • South Puget Sound Community College
  • Featured Businesses
    • Around The House
    • Health Care
    • Local Retail Shops
    • Services
    • Women in Business
  • History
  • Photos
    • Community Events
    • Local Attractions
    • Sporting Events
  • Non-Profits
  • LocalTalk
  • Activities
    • Dogs & Pets
    • Family & Kids
    • Indoor
    • Outdoor
    • Gardening
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Running
    • Parks and Beaches
    • Thrifty Thurston
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
  • Day Trips
Search
Thursday, August 11, 2022
  • About
    • Story
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • How our Olympia advertising works
    • Launch a Campaign
    • Grow your Audience
    • Measure the Results
    • Company News
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • Articles
    • List an Event
  • I5 Traffic Cameras
ThurstonTalk
  • Everyday
    • AllEducationNeighborhood Notes
      1910 Delphi School, Delphi Road west of Black Lake, as it appears today.

      Thurston County History: What Was It Like for Kids Growing Up…

      Olympia Balloon Artist Creates Balloon Fantasy for Give Kids The World…

      Jason Bragg sitting in a chair

      Casey Family Programs honors Jason Bragg with 2022 Casey Excellence for…

      A 200 KWac solar array installed on the roof of Olympia High School

      Puget Sound Energy Removes Barriers to Accessing Solar Power with Community…

  • Sports
    • AllCollege SportsSouth Puget Sound Community CollegeHigh School SportsBlack Hills High SchoolCapital High SchoolNorth Thurston High SchoolNorthwest Christian High SchoolOlympia High SchoolPope John Paul II High SchoolRainier High SchoolRiver Ridge High SchoolRochester High SchoolTenino High SchoolTimberline High SchoolTumwater High SchoolYelm High SchoolRec LeagueSemi-Pro Sports
      North Thurston's Alexis Meyer posing on the volleyball court

      North Thurston Three-Sport Standout Alexis Meyer Looks to Build on Sophomore…

      girls playing rugby in Olympia

      Girls Rugby Set for Fall Season as Popularity in Sport Continues…

      Oly Town FC women's outdoor soccer team photo

      Oly Town FC Women’s Outdoor Soccer Win NWPL Championship

      Oly Town FC playing soccer

      Oly Town Artesians Registers First Win in United Soccer League

  • Food & Art
    • AllArtist ProfilesFood ShoppingLocal FarmersMusicRestaurants
      bottle of gin on the table at Cynara's in Olympia

      Adventures in Gin at Olympia’s Cynara Restaurant & Lounge

      a fresh salad on a plate on a table

      Local Summer Produce Shines at the Olympia Farmers Market

      five plates of food from Farm to Fit on a table

      Farm to Fit’s Nourishing Ready-to-Eat Food Delivery Sustains Your Health and…

      HOTBABE-HOTSAUCE owners Sandra Bocas and Fiona Douglas-Hamilton headshot

      Taste the Heat of the Caribbean with Scovie Award Recipient and…

  • Community Channels
    • Around the House
      • Home Inspection Services
      • Insurance
        • Insurance Agent – Melanie Bakala
      • Real Estate Agents in Thurston County Covering Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm and beyond
    • Business Networking
      • Chamber
        • Chamber of Commerce
      • Economic Development Council
      • Rotary
        • Gateway Rotary
    • Community Talker
      • Instagram Article Feed
    • Health and Wellness
      • Hospital + Medical Center
      • Physical Therapy
    • Media Partners
      • Thurston Community Media
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
    • Movies
    • Olympia Farmers Market
    • City, County and Government Information
      • People in Public Service
      • City of Lacey, Washington
      • City of Olympia, Washington
      • City of Tumwater, Washington
      • City of Yelm, Washington
      • City, County and Port Meetings
      • Port of Olympia
      • Thurston County Washington
    • Senior Life
      • Cemetery Products
      • In-Home Care
      • Senior Services for South Sound
    • Services
      • Auto Repair
      • Pet Emergency
    • South Puget Sound Community College
  • Featured Businesses
    • AllAround The HouseHealth CareLocal Retail ShopsServicesWomen in Business
      Ryan Martin, pharmacist at NW Remedies standing in the pharmacy

      NW Remedies Cares about the Hormone Health of Women and Men

      Bill Dunning Joins SCJ Alliance for Powerful Synergy

      Keep Your Body Happy This Summer with Orthotic Sandals from 360…

      Josh Deck, Olyfed, headshot

      OlyFed Celebrates New President and CEO Josh Deck

  • History
    • 1910 Delphi School, Delphi Road west of Black Lake, as it appears today.

      Thurston County History: What Was It Like for Kids Growing Up…

      The bridge over lower Tumwater Falls.

      The Historic Tumwater Falls Bridge

      The Daily Bread Shop was an Olympia Bakery run by Louis Dornecker

      Daily Bread Shop: The Rise and Fall of a Turn-of-the-Century Olympia…

      hot dog on a red plate with mustard and potato chips

      The Hot Dog’s History in Olympia: Gobbling Up an American Classic

      This picture from the 1917 commencement issue of the Olympia High School Yearbook shows the cast of 'Priscilla.'

      People in Public Service: Gertrude Nelson and the Olympia School District

  • Photos
    • AllCommunity EventsLocal AttractionsSporting Events
      capital city pride

      Thousands Gather in Olympia to Celebrate Capital City Pride 2018

      procession species olympia

      Luminary Procession 2018: Lighting Up the Rainy Night in Downtown Olympia

      snowy winter scene

      ThurstonTalk Readers Capture Christmas Snow

      Twinklefest 2017

      Twinklefest 2017 Window Displays

  • Non-Profits
    • Mission Nonprofit Spotlight: Dancing Dragons

      Victoria Standoak playing a guitar with The Bridge Music Project

      The Bridge Music Project and the Greene Realty Group Support Youth…

      Genesis House Provides Stability for Young Women Finishing School

      Mission Nonprofit Spotlight: Olympia Chorus

      Patty and Inge standing in their home share

      Free Up Finances with Home Share Program from Senior Services for…

  • LocalTalk
    • Sunset scenic

      Department of Health Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 Schools and…

      Thurston County Olympia Scenic mountain sunset

      Thurston County Participants in Broadband Survey Needed as Part of Expansion…

      Thurston County Olympia Scenic mountain sunset

      City of Lacey 2023 Lodging Tax Fund Applications Now Available

      Jennifer Hermann, Simon Woods, and Scott Faulner, headshot

      Jennifer Hermann of the Olympia Symphony Attends League of American Orchestras’…

      LoveOly Summer Fest Entertainment Lineup

  • Activities
    • AllDogs & PetsFamily & KidsIndoorOutdoorGardeningOutdoor RecreationBikingCampingHikingRunningParks and BeachesThrifty Thurston
      motobiker on the Rock Candy trail in the Capitol Forest

      Go For a Summer Motorbike or ATV Ride at Rock Candy…

      Mission Nonprofit Spotlight: Dancing Dragons

      volunteer bent over pulling seeds at an Olympia park work party

      Help Protect Local Parks With Olympia’s Volunteer in Parks Program

      Summer Hiking in Olympia Through a Coastal Forest on the Evergreen…

  • Events
    • Harbor Heights, a 55+ community, resident sitting at tables drinkig wine

      55+ Living: Harbor Heights Creates Connection Opportunities for Residents with Summer…

      Have Giant-Sized Fun at Capital Mall’s Family Game Night

      Finish Summer off With Good Music and Drinks for a Great…

      House with solar panels on garage roof

      Learn About Keeping Thurston County Green at the Sustainable Steps EcoTour…

      Tote Your Kids to the Grays Harbor County Fair for a…

    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
  • Day Trips
Home Everyday Honoring Anna Schlecht – Olympia Celebrates 40 Years of Activism, Advocacy and...

Honoring Anna Schlecht – Olympia Celebrates 40 Years of Activism, Advocacy and Progress

By
Heidi Smith

Share via:

0 Shares
  • More

The first time Reiko Callner met Anna Schlecht, they were on opposites sides of a courtroom. Schlecht was the only activist charged out of hundreds who had participated in a demonstration against the Iraq war, and Callner was the prosecuting attorney for the City of Olympia.

“The case got tossed to me, and I looked at it and thought, ‘Why are we doing this?’” says Callner. “When she was on the stand, I didn’t feel like her lawyer was doing a good job of bringing out what the demonstration was about. I talked to her about Walden and the notion of civil disobedience. Ultimately the judge hearing the case acquitted her.”

The next time the two met, the reason was tragic. A local Eurasian youth, Bob Buchanan, had been murdered by neo-Nazis, a hate crime that brought people together to seek solutions and prevent further violence. It also inspired Schlecht to found Unity in the Community, a coalition that offers hate crime victim advocacy, diversity training, and strategic planning and acts as a liaison with law enforcement. As Callner walked into the first meeting, she encountered Schlecht. “I told her, ‘About that prosecution, nothing personal,’” she says. “Anna said, ‘We’re cool. You did a better job than my lawyer in stating my position.’” That was in 1992.

anna schlecht
For over three decades, Anna Schlecht has been at the heart of the social justice movement in Thurston County, bringing diverse groups together around causes ranging from LGBTQ rights to senior housing and homelessness.

Before then, and in the ensuing 25 years, Schlecht has been a tireless advocate, community organizer, activist and fundraiser on behalf of LGBTQ rights, civil rights, the homeless, and seniors; she has also founded multiple organizations and played key roles in creating community events like Capital City Pride. Her lobbying and legislative efforts have had a substantial impact statewide, and through it all she has brought together diverse groups around common causes and provided a listening ear even to those whose views are diametrically opposed to her own.

Now Schlecht is stepping down from one of those roles; after 26 years she will no longer act as chair of Capital City Pride, an event that indelibly bears her stamp. Friends and supporters marked the occasion in early April with a private celebration.  “We had speakers and entertainers and toasts because Anna loves pulling off toasts at events,” says Alec Clayton, a local author and fellow activist. “It was also a fundraiser for Pride because that’s what she would do.”

The event recognized Schlecht’s powerful effect on the community. “She’s always been the one that pulled everything together,” says Clayton. “She’s had a huge impact. For the longest time she insisted on making Pride family-friendly. With speakers she didn’t want any potty mouths and didn’t want to focus on anger.”

anna schlecht
Anna Schlecht (left) founded Unity in the Community after a hate crime in Olympia became a catalyst for change in the early 1990’s.

Clayton and his wife Gabi also met Schlecht under heart-breaking circumstances. In 1995 their 17-year-old son Bill was attacked in a hate crime after he came out as bisexual. “Anna heard about it, and she called us and said she wanted to organize an anti-hate rally in Sylvester Park,” says Clayton. “We said ‘Yes, by all means,’ and so did our son.” Hundreds of people showed up for the rally, and the Claytons were inspired by the out-pouring of goodwill. But just a few months later, Bill committed suicide.

In the aftermath Schlecht and the Claytons became close. “She has a huge heart and so much passion and energy and compassion,” says Gabi Clayton. “Her love and support after the hate crime and Bill’s suicide really helped us and buoyed us through the initial shock. We are angry, but there’s a way to use the energy from anger for something positive rather than letting it destroy you, too. That’s something I’ve seen her do over and over again – figure out a way to use that energy.”

Governor Inslee received a Rainbow Flag in 2015 from Capital City Pride chair Anna Schlecht and volunteer Sarah Vanucci.

Callner remembers several instances of Schlecht defusing potentially explosive situations. In 2005 a neo-Nazi crashed a UITC meeting. “They had been posting really hateful stuff around that time,” she says. “They were violent and it was scary, but Anna and Regan Unsoeld went out to actually talk to the guy.”

On a separate occasion Schlecht organized a panel on marriage equality before it became law. “It was intended to be a panel for supporters, but word got out that it was a public meeting and we got mobbed by a bunch of right-wing, conservative Christians,” says Callner. “On the spot Anna reached out to the leader in that group and said, ‘Okay, this isn’t going to be what we thought it was, but we want to keep it civil.’ It worked out to be a really good event.”

“Schlecht’s courage has made her a target at times,” says Kathy Baros Freidt, the former executive director of the Washington State Human Rights Commission, who has worked with her on numerous campaigns. “Her tenure, informally tracking hate crime groups and activities for years, means these groups know who she is. With her antennae up she anticipates potential community conflicts, and these situations frequently put Anna at risk herself. She’s cut from the same cloth as early suffragettes and civil rights leaders.”

olympia downtown cleanup
In 2015, Anna Schlecht (right) volunteered to clean up the downtown Olympia core with Alec Johnston (left) of Thurston County Realtors.

One of Schlecht’s key accomplishments was to play a major role in the defeat of proposed state ballot initiatives 608 and 610 through the efforts of Hands Off Washington. The Oregon Citizens Alliance, led by conservative Christian Lon Mabon, attempted to replicate their campaign to restrict the civil rights of state and local public employees, based on actual or perceived sexual orientation in Washington State. Hands Off Washington effectively repelled repeated attempts to get discriminatory laws on the ballot, and Schlecht played a central role.

“It was statewide,” says Alec Clayton. “They went to all of the little communities in eastern Washington that were not gay-friendly and succeeded in defeating that. Anna was one of the main leaders in Thurston County.”

Capital City Pride is set for June 17, 2017 in downtown Olympia. Photo credit: Mare Turtletaub

“Activists were highly effective in Seattle,” says Callner, “but almost equally so in Thurston. It wasn’t 100% because of Anna but she had a lot to do with it. She really stepped up, brought in trainers and activists and built an effective network and coalition.”

“Schlecht’s absence will definitely leave a hole,” says Baros Friedt, “but will also allow for change. It’s like turning over the soil in an old field, and it’s consistent for how Anna would step back in order to make space for other voices at the table. I don’t know specifically what areas she’ll be moving into, but I suspect she is hard-wired to continue taking on the entrenched problems of the community.”

Celebrate Capital City Pride with the community on June 17, 2017 in downtown Olympia.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share via:

0 Shares
  • More
Previous articleBlack Hills Aeronautical Engineering Teacher Scott Cutler Awarded CenturyLink Grant
Next articleThrifty Thurston Visits Farmers Markets in Olympia, Tumwater, Tenino, and Yelm
Heidi Smith

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

1910 Delphi School, Delphi Road west of Black Lake, as it appears today.

Thurston County History: What Was It Like for Kids Growing Up In the Olympia Area?

Olympia Balloon Artist Creates Balloon Fantasy for Give Kids The World Village in Orlando with Over 500,000 Balloons

Jason Bragg sitting in a chair

Casey Family Programs honors Jason Bragg with 2022 Casey Excellence for Children Award

Upcoming Events

Aug
11
Thu
all-day Nature Sleuths @ 25 Thurston County Park Locations
Nature Sleuths @ 25 Thurston County Park Locations
Aug 11 all-day
Nature Sleuths @ 25 Thurston County Park Locations
Take your friends and family on a Nature Sleuth Adventures through 25 Thurston County parks! Using the GooseChase app on your tablet or smartphone, complete each park’s mission and receive a Nature Sleuth (park specific)[...]
all-day Reclaimed Water Infiltration Stu... @ LOTT Clean Water Alliance Website
Reclaimed Water Infiltration Stu... @ LOTT Clean Water Alliance Website
Aug 11 all-day
Reclaimed Water Infiltration Study Online Open House @ LOTT Clean Water Alliance Website
Reclaimed Water Infiltration Study The LOTT Clean Water Alliance has completed a major research effort about residual chemicals that may remain in reclaimed water, and what happens to those chemicals when reclaimed water is used[...]
3:00 pm Alzheimer’s Association Caregive... @ Lacey Senior Center
Alzheimer’s Association Caregive... @ Lacey Senior Center
Aug 11 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Caring for someone with memory loss? Do you need information and support? Alzheimer’s Association family caregiver support groups provide a consistent and caring place for people to learn, share and gain emotional support from others[...]
6:00 pm Figure Drawing Classes @ Olympia Lamplighters
Figure Drawing Classes @ Olympia Lamplighters
Aug 11 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Figure Drawing Classes @ Olympia Lamplighters
Every week Olympia Lamplighters has a figure drawing class from 6-8:00 pm on Thursdays. Come and have some fun drawing live people in different poses! Must be 18 or over to join this class.
7:45 pm Contemplative & Musical Evenings... @ Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Contemplative & Musical Evenings... @ Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Aug 11 @ 7:45 pm
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd is hosting Contemplative & Musical Evenings Under The Trees on our property. All are welcome to this ecumenical & inclusive gathering. Every Thursday in August (11, 18, 25).[...]
View Calendar

Local Community Sponsors

Local Community Sponsors

Business

Ryan Martin, pharmacist at NW Remedies standing in the pharmacy

NW Remedies Cares about the Hormone Health of Women and Men

We are hungry for sound information about the safety of products we ingest and the efficacy of prescriptions and supplements. NW Remedies, a local...

Bill Dunning Joins SCJ Alliance for Powerful Synergy

Keep Your Body Happy This Summer with Orthotic Sandals from 360...

Josh Deck, Olyfed, headshot

OlyFed Celebrates New President and CEO Josh Deck

Olympia Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates building

Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates Celebrates 20 Years in Thurston, Pierce...

Trending Now

1910 Delphi School, Delphi Road west of Black Lake, as it appears today.

Thurston County History: What Was It Like for Kids Growing Up...

Olympia Balloon Artist Creates Balloon Fantasy for Give Kids The World...

Sunset scenic

Department of Health Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 Schools and...

Editor Picks

Olympia Balloon Artist Creates Balloon Fantasy for Give Kids The World...

Eva C-M in a black outfit with a black hat holding a black rabbit

Past Thurston County 4-H Member Passes on What She Learned at...

blue merle sheltie with a red bandana lying down at Capital Mall

Indoor Places To Walk Your Dog in Thurston County During Warm...

Recent Posts

  • Go For a Summer Motorbike or ATV Ride at Rock Candy in Thurston County’s Capitol Forest
  • Department of Health Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 Schools and Child Care
  • Thurston County History: What Was It Like for Kids Growing Up In the Olympia Area?
  • NW Remedies Cares about the Hormone Health of Women and Men
  • Thurston County Participants in Broadband Survey Needed as Part of Expansion Efforts
ABOUT US
ThurstonTalk is a community social network delivering positive stories about what it’s like to live, work and play in Thurston County Washington, including Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Tenino and the surrounding area. Advertise with ThurstonTalk. Brand your business and tell your story to your target market.
Contact us: info@thurstontalk.com
FOLLOW US
  • About
    • Story
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • How our Olympia advertising works
    • Launch a Campaign
    • Grow your Audience
    • Measure the Results
    • Company News
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • Articles
    • List an Event
  • I5 Traffic Cameras
© ThurstonTalk, Inc.
Share via
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Mix
Email
Print
Copy Link
Powered by Social Snap
Copy link
CopyCopied
Powered by Social Snap