Weekly Update: ICE Detains Portland Area Trans Woman Seeking Asylum, Oregon Republicans Fail to Ban Trans Girls from Girls’ Sports, and More
Welcome to Basic Rights Oregon’s weekly newsletter, where we update you on the LGBTQ+ 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 friends! And HAPPY PRIDE!! Basic Rights Oregon staff and volunteers will be at both Hillsboro Pride and Bend Pride this weekend—if you’re going, come find our table and say hi!
BRO’s JJ is hard at work getting all our swag ready for Pride!
Here’s the LGBTQ+ news you should know this week:
This week, ICE agents arrested and detained a 24-year-old transgender woman seeking asylum in Oregon. The woman, whose initials are OJM, was at a hearing for her asylum case at Portland Immigration Court, and ICE agents detained her right outside the courtroom, disrupting her case and stripping her of her due process rights. You can read BRO’s full response to this dangerous escalation against trans immigrants here.
A lot has been happening around trans kids playing sports this week! Trans girls in Oregon continue to face vitriol and attempts at isolation, and one Oregon track star is making plans to move to Canada for her own safety. But there is some good news as well: AB Hernandez, a trans high schooler in California, is receiving support from her community and even her opponents. And a Republican attempt to ban trans girls from playing school sports in Oregon failed to even get a vote yesterday, thanks to Oregon’s strong pro-equality majority in Salem. As both the Trump Administration and local bigots continue to otherize trans folks and especially trans women and girls, it’s more important than ever that our leaders stand up and say no.
Oregon Senate Bill 599, which will prohibit landlords from discriminating against tenants based on their immigration status, was signed into law by Gov. Tina Kotek this week! BRO is proud to support this new law.
The Oregon Capitol Chronicle interviewed BRO and other experts about what Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax bill will mean for Oregon if it’s passed. In addition to putting trans Oregonians at risk of losing our gender-affirming care, it’s also terrible news for immigrants, reproductive health access, medical providers and more.
Content warning for suicide. Charlotte Fosgate, a 17-year-old trans girl who lived in the Portland area, died by suicide in May. The Oregonian has a beautiful tribute to Charlotte that also exposes just how damaging and overwhelming all the anti-trans rhetoric online and in our society can be, especially for our trans youth. Rest in Power, Charlotte. (If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide, remember help is available from 988, Trans Lifeline, and the Trevor Project.)
And here’s what you can do:
Looking for ways to support LGBTQ+ youth? Join us for FOSTERING PRIDE on July 1st at 6pm to learn more about becoming a resource (foster) family dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA2S+ youth in foster care, as well as information about understanding the unique needs of this population and the supports available to help. No commitment necessary to attend!
Pride season is HERE—do you need some fresh clothes and accessories for the summer? You can shop for a cause by checking out Basic Rights Oregon’s new printful online shop!
Reminder: We need volunteers to help us table and collect ballot measure signatures at Prides across Oregon this summer! Sign up for one now and you’ll get a free t-shirt with our Pride 2025 design on it.
Our Bites for Rights event is coming up on June 26! Check out all the amazing local restaurants already participating, and start planning your food journey for the day.
Whether you’re out at a Pride festival or event this weekend or not, remember to always be proud of who you are. There are a lot of attacks coming at queer and trans people right now, but that isn’t a reflection of us; it’s a reflection of them. We’re proud to be doing this work with you!
Love,
The BRO team 🌈