Weekly Update: Recognizing Juneteenth, Skrmetti Aftermath, and a United for Trans Power Week of Resilience!
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! It’s pouring rain here in Portland, but that won’t stop the Basic Rights Oregon team from being out in full force this week. You can find us at Pride events in Astoria and at Portland’s Juneteenth celebration in Albina Park this weekend. Say hi if you spot us!
Two more things to note for Junteenth: Our friends at Black and Beyond the Binary Collective are hosting a Black Pride Kickback open to all Black gay, queer, trans, and gender-expansive folks on Sunday!
And we simply have to share this video of two Black drag performers lip-synching on the Oregon House floor this week! Thanks to Rep. Travis Nelson, the first openly gay Black man in the Oregon Legislature, the House passed a resolution this week recognizing the cultural significance of Oregon’s Black drag community. Less hateful rhetoric and more of this in statehouses across the country, please!
Here’s the other LGBTQ+ news you should know this week:
It’s been another heavy news week. As you likely know by now, The US Supreme Court ruled in Skrmetti that Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care is legal, meaning the 27 states that have such bans can continue doing so. It’s important to note that the Skrmetti decision doesn’t do anything to change gender-affirming care laws right now in Oregon—but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be deeply concerned by it. Here’s our statement and analysis of what this decision means, and what we can do to resist.
Content warning: suicide. The Trump administration announced this week that the 988 suicide crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth will end on July 17. They just happened to announce this on the same day the Skrmetti decision came out, doubling down on the cruelty of it all. It’s more important than ever to support organizations like The Trevor Project and Trans Lifeline. (And if you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available through those links as well.)
In some good news: Oregon Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner is recognizing Pride month by providing info and resources about financial wellness for LGBTQ+ folks. We face specific financial hardships like wage gaps, housing and employment discrimination, healthcare access challenges and more—so this is a welcome effort from Treasurer Steiner!
A federal judge ruled in favor of trans rights in the ongoing battle over passports this week. This is undoubtedly good news for gender markers on passports, though legal experts are advising you to wait a little longer on filing that passport paperwork, unless you need one imminently. We’ll be keeping you updated on how this plays out!
And here’s what you can do:
Our action item section is a little different this week, because along with our partners in the Equal Rights for All Campaign, we’re hosting a United for Trans Power Week of Resilience next week, and Trans Power Rally on July 2!
Here’s a rundown of the events—some virtual, some in-person:
Monday, June 23rd | 6:30-8:00PM | Somatic Workshop | Virtual on Zoom
“Building your resilience toolkit: The intersections of neurobiology and activism,” Facilitated by Melora Golden.
As activists, we are navigating crisis after crisis that wreaks havoc upon our nervous systems. In this 1½ hour interactive workshop, nervous system educator Melora Golden will facilitate restorative practices for folks to add to your toolkit so we can stay grounded and mitigate burnout.
The content will be presented in English with closed captioning available.
Tuesday, June 24th| 5:30-7PM | Volunteer text bank | Virtual on Zoom
Person to person connection is vital in our fight for equality. Build organizing muscle by joining us in reaching out to BRO & Equal Rights for All supporters, and inviting them to take action with us! We will start of with a training -- all experience levels welcome.
Training and phone script will be in English.
Taker our petition circulator training on Wednesday so you can join us in tabling and collecting signatures!
Wednesday, June 25th | 6:30-7:30PM | Petition Circulator Training | Virtual on Zoom
Take action this Pride season! We need all hands on deck to collect enough signatures to qualify Equal Rights for All for the 2026 midterm election. Circulating our petition is fun, easy, and anyone can become a volunteer circulator regardless of your voter registration status. Join us a 1-hour training with Q&A, and get involved in this exciting campaign to clarify reproductive and LGBTQIA+ rights for Oregonians!
The content will be presented in English with closed captioning available.
Thursday, June 26th | Bites for Rights | Statewide at participating businesses
Eat out with purpose! On Thursday, participating Oregon restaurants, bars, cafes, dessert shops, dispensaries and other businesses will donate a portion of proceeds to the Equal Rights for All campaign.
Save the Date: Wednesday July 2nd | 5-7PM Location TBA | Trans Power Rally
More details coming soon.
Here’s one more action you can take right now! BRO proudly support the Fair Shot Immigrant Justice Package currently before the Oregon Legislature. It’s more important than ever that we show up for our immigrant neighbors! Take two minutes to tell your legislators you support fully funding this package.
We hope you have a restorative weekend—and that you take some time to recognize the importance of Juneteenth. Here’s a great read on how Pride Month would have never existed without Juneteenth.
Take care!