An Open Letter to Our Community

Written By Blair Stenvick

BRO ED Kyndall Mason

Hello friends of BRO,

For those who aren’t yet familiar—I’m Kyndall Mason, Basic Rights Oregon’s executive director. We’re doing something a little different for our Friday newsletter this week because I wanted a chance to speak to you  directly on this difficult moment we find ourselves in and what BRO is doing about it.

We are now about a third of the way through 2025, and you probably don’t need me to recount every attack LGBTQ+ folks have faced so far this year from the White House. They’re going after our identities, our inclusion in history and in public spaces, our physical safety, and more. The impact is even greater on those in our vulnerable communities, including youth, BIPOC folks, immigrants, and those living on  low-incomes. We also know that  trans and queer folks living outside of Oregon in less inclusive states carry an extra burden of risk. 

So, what is Basic Rights Oregon doing about it? And how can you join us in resisting the firehose of hateful policies and rhetoric coming at us?

Here’s what BRO has been doing so far this year to resist:

  • We’ve been working with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield’s office to support their efforts against this administration. Oregon is leading legal fights against Trump’s attacks on gender-affirming care, inclusive public education, voting rights, trans service members, and other issues vital to our communities. 

  • We’ve made endorsements in key school district board races, and are driving fundraising and canvassing efforts throughout the state. We know that especially in Oregon, anti-LGBTQ+ hate often fosters at the hyper-local level, and strong school board representation rooted in equity is more important than ever.

  • We’re investing time in building new programs for student activism, parent involvement, and transgender self-advocacy, with the goal of empowering folks to own their stories and movements.

  • We’ve been lobbying and recruiting community members to testify in favor of Freedom to Read, an anti-book ban state bill. It’s close to passing through the Oregon Legislature and hopefully will be signed into law soon! We’ve also working to secure key investments in housing, access to food and of course fight back hateful legislation. 

  • We’re staying in touch with LGBTQ+ rights groups throughout the country, sharing ideas and coordinating responses, to ensure a united front against national attacks on our rights. 

  • We’ve been hosting a range of events, from informational panels to drag bingo and a movie screening, to keep our community educated and joyfully connected in this time of confusion and isolation. 

  • We’re collecting signatures, along with the rest of the Equal Rights for All Campaign coalition, to secure marriage equality, trans rights, and reproductive freedom in the Oregon Constitution. This historic measure will be on the ballot next year!

And our team is continuing to add to this list every day–that’s how much our staff is dedicated to protecting your rights. 

I’ll be upfront and acknowledge that there are some things that BRO can’t do in the face of overwhelming federal discrimination—or at least, we can’t do it alone. We are just one piece of the puzzle, and our movement won’t win every fight. There have been too many heavy days in 2025 already, and there will be plenty more in the coming years.

The good news is: We aren’t doing it alone. And when the dust settles on this particular chapter of history, LGBTQ+ people will still be here, because they can never erase us. 

Here’s how you can join us:

Thank you for being in community with the Basic Rights Oregon team. We look forward to continuing to fight alongside you.

In solidarity, 

Kyndall Mason (she/her)

Executive Director, Basic Rights Oregon

Blair Stenvick
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