Weekly Update: Dark-Money MAGA Group Sues Over Oregon Trans-Inclusive Youth Sports Policy, Pride Volunteer Opportunities, and More
Welcome to Basic Rights Oregon’s weekly newsletter, where we update you on the LGBTQ2SIA+ news you should know, things you can do, and ways you can help. If you have questions, reach out here. To receive this newsletter as a weekly email, signup for email updates at the bottom of our Contact Us page. BRO’s work—including this newsletter—is funded entirely by our supporters. Donate here.
Happy Friday, BRO buds! We skipped last week for the holiday weekend, which means there’s lots of news to share this time—but isn’t there always lots of news to share in 2025?
Here’s the LGBTQ+ news you should know this week:
BRO staffer Seth with some of our Lobby Day volunteers at the Oregon State Capitol.
In case you missed it, here’s a recap of our wins in the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session, which wrapped up last month! We also go over where there’s still room to grow, and give out a few special shout-outs.
If you took action by testifying for a bill, used BRO’s tools for contacting your reps, or attended our Lobby Day, then you were a part of these successes. THANK YOU!
A dark-money MAGA group is joining forces with three Portland-area teens and their families who want to boot trans girls out of school sports. They filed a lawsuit this week seeking to overturn Oregon’s trans-inclusive school sports policy. Here’s BRO’s own Mikki Gillette explaining to KATU why this lawsuit is hateful and problematic.
Last month, the US Supreme Court ruled in Mahmoud v Taylor that parents should be allowed to yank their kids out of class if they disapprove of having LGBTQ+ characters in school books. Fortunately, as OPB reports, that ruling won’t have an impact on the just-passed Freedom to Read bill, which will bar discriminatory book banning in Oregon schools and libraries.
The Equal Rights for All Campaign is featured in Willamette Week’s Pride issue! Read all about our recent Rally for Trans Youth Power, and get an update on our signature collection updates.
As we’re all aware by now, the Big Bad Bill recently passed through a House vote, and is on its way to becoming law. One silver lining is that bans on gender-affirming care funding didn’t make it into the final version of the bill. If you contacted a lawmaker about this, you played a part in this small but important win! Additionally, we’ve heard that trans healthcare research done in Oregon played a role in convincing lawmakers to remove that part of the bill. This is why it’s so important that Oregon continues to be a welcoming beacon for all LGBTQ2SIA+ folks—we can have an impact nationwide!
Are you still not sure what’s going on with trans folks and passports right now? Don’t worry, it’s complicated, and you aren’t alone! Lambda Legal has the best updated guidance on what to do about passports and other ID documents right now.
And here’s what you can do:
Portland’s Mississippi Street Fair is tomorrow, and the Equal Rights for All Campaign will be out collecting signatures! We need volunteers to help us get as many signatures as possible—you can sign up to help here.
Planning out your Portland Pride weekend? Leave some time on your schedule for QUEERS FROM THE COUNTRY! We’re teaming up with our friends at Happylucky for this twilight prelude to Pride weekend, built for the beautifully out-of-place, the country-born, the city-bound, and everyone in between. We’d love to see you there!
Salem Pride is happening in September, and we’re recruiting volunteers! Keep the spirit of Pride going into fall by signing up to help with tabling and signature collection.