Weekly Update: Prepping for the 2026 Legislative Session, Volunteer Opportunities, and We’re Hiring!
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.
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BIG NEWS: BRO is hiring!
We are now accepting applications for a Digital Communications Organizer to join our hardworking, big-hearted and goofy team. The priority deadline for applications is December 11. Get all the info and apply right here! And please help us spread the word by sharing the opportunity with your communities.
Here are the LGBTQ2SIA+ headlines you need to know this week:
This week brought legislative days to the state Capitol—basically, prep days for the upcoming 2026 Oregon Legislative Session. Basic Rights Oregon staff and our coalition partners were busy meeting with state reps, laying the groundwork for legislation that will help community members and our medical providers. Stay tuned for more info and opportunities to advocate in the new year!
Following up on last week’s news that US bishops are banning trans healthcare in Catholic health institutions, the Lund Report covered what this could mean for trans Oregonians. Providence, one of Oregon’s largest health systems, is continuing to tell the public that they are still reviewing the new Church policy and what it will mean for their facilities, and nothing is changing in the meantime. As Basic Rights Oregon told the Lund Report, this could be another huge blow to gender-affirming care access in Oregon, but state law does still require insurers to cover this care.
This week, wayward nepo baby US Health Secretary RFK Jr. finalized a “scientific report” attacking the merits of gender-affirming care for young people. A version of this report was first released earlier this year in May. It was ideology-driven drivel then, and it’s still ideology-driven drivel now, as a number of actual scientists and medical experts have been quick to point out.
Last week, we sounded the alarm about new language on the State Department’s website suggesting they would be taking an even harsher stance on trans folks’ access to passports. Now, that language has been removed, which means that trans people who currently hold valid passports with their correct gender markers (including X markers) can have some confidence that these passports will at least stay valid until their expiration dates. (Remember, if you’ve got more questions about passports, Lambda Legal’s website is a great resource.)
Finally, in some good news for bodily autonomy: Oregon lawmakers are sending $7.5 million to Planned Parenthood, helping to make up for federal Medicaid funding cuts targeting the organization. In addition to abortion, Planned Parenthood provides gender-affirming care, preventative care, STI tests, contraception and more.
And here are some events and ways to take action:
Quest Center provides community dinners for LGBTQ2SIA+ folks and other clients.
As you’ve probably heard by now, we’re in Give!Guide again this year—and one of the best things about Give!Guide is the opportunity we have to spotlight our incredible community partners. Our friends at Quest Center for Integrative Health provide a space where Portland’s queer and trans communities, people of color, disabled folks, and low-income individuals are not only seen and supported, but celebrated. At a time when our lifesaving healthcare systems are increasingly under threat, Quest remains a community sanctuary offering affirming behavioral health and holistic medical care. Check out Quest’s Give!Guide page and support this amazing organization today!
This is your regular reminder that if you want to help collect signatures to put a ballot measure protecting LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights on the 2026 ballot, please check our Mobilize page for upcoming events near you!
Our pals at the Marie Equi Center invite you to an afternoon of entertainment and giving at their end-of-year fundraiser, The Solidarity Soirée, on Sunday, December 7th from 3pm to 6:30pm at The Marie Equi Center. This invaluable organization provides community health services, harm reduction and recovery programs, housing support and more for trans, queer, intersex and gender-diverse Portlanders.
Pride in Numbers is the largest-ever Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ research project in Oregon—independent, community-led, and rooted in real stories from real lives. Take the pledge today to participate in this data collection program, which will influence policy that impacts our lives.
Head’s up: Tickets are almost sold out and going fast for our community fundraiser screening of Carol! Snag your free tickets before they’re all gone.
Save the Date: We’ve already got IGNITE 2026 on the calendar for October 10th. We’ll be celebrating our 30th birthday, so prepare for it to be flirty and fabulous!
That’s all we’ve got for this week! We’ll be skipping our regular newsletter next week because of the holiday—but keep in mind that we’re deeply thankful to all of you for staying in this movement with us.
Love,
The BRO team 🌈