Weekly Update: Basic Rights Oregon Goes to DC, Pulse Memorial Rainbow Crosswalk Fight, 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 friends!
In case you missed it last week: We got our professional photos back from Portland Pride! Check out all the pics—and find yourself if you joined us in the parade—over on our Facebook page.
Here’s the LGBTQ2SIA+ news you should know this week:
Seth in DC!
Basic Rights Oregon’s Seth Johnstone, head of our Transgender Justice Program, was in Washington, DC this week to meet with other trans leaders from across the country. The group strategized together about ways to preserve access to gender-affirming care amid political attacks, and other issues facing LGBTQ+ folks under the Trump presidency. Collaborating with national leaders, and other state-based organizations across the country, has become an even more crucial part of BRO’s work this year—thanks for your support which allows us to do this!
Gov. Tina Kotek is refusing to comply with Trump’s recent order that US states and cities abandon their immigration sanctuary status laws. We know that immigrant rights are LGBTQ2SIA+ rights, as we saw recently with Oregon asylum seeker OJM’s case. BRO applauds Gov. Kotek for taking a stand against the Trump admin’s fascist demands.
Florida Gov. Ron Desantis is taking his anti-LGBTQ+ cruelty to new heights. Under his orders, the state has painted over a rainbow crosswalk that is part of a memorial for the 49 lives lost during a Pulse Night Club shooting in Orlando in 2016. This action comes after Trump’s Department of Transportation directed states to make sure roadway markings were “free from distractions”—and specifically called out rainbow crosswalks. Activists are now pushing back and restoring the memorial with chalk, so unless Desantis wants to de-gay it every night, that rainbow might just stick around.
The Trump administration plans to ban insurance coverage of gender-affirming care for federal workers in 2026. However, insurers will be mandated to cover anti-trans conversion therapy. As trans journalist Erin Reed writes: “The expansion of the administration’s crackdown—now targeting not only youth but also adult transgender healthcare and mandating conversion therapy coverage—marks a dangerous escalation in its campaign to erase transgender people from public life.”
The Supreme Court is allowing the Trump admin to move forward with slashing health grants that they say promotes “gender ideology extremism.” However, the Court’s decision was a narrow one, and there will likely still be legal fights over the issue moving forward.
Ending the news on a positive note: A federal appeals court ruled Monday that drag shows should be protected under the First Amendment. Their ruling means that a ban on drag performances at Texas A&M university should be reversed soon.
And here’s what you can do:
The Federal Trade Commission is launching an inquiry into gender-affirming care, and we need to make sure our communities are heard! Advocates for Trans Equality have set up an easy form to submit your comments about why gender-affirming care is crucial and needs to be preserved. Got privacy concerns? Read the form for ATE’s tips to help protect your identity from being revealed.
Tickets for IGNITE are live! Join us for good times at our annual fundraising gala, happening October 11 in Portland.
50501, the organization behind the No Kings rallies, is planning a Workers Over Billionaires protest for Labor Day on September 1. If you’re already planning to be there, consider increasing your impact by collecting signatures for the Equal Rights for All Campaign 2026 ballot measure!
If you have the means, consider donating to The Center Orlando, an LGBTQ+ community center that helped create the Pulse memorial and provides services to Pulse survivors.
That’s all we’ve got this week! Remember to stay safe and cool this weekend. If you need to find a cooling center, just call 211.
Love,
The BRO team 🌈