Weekly Update: Ten Actions YOU Can Take for LGBTQ+ Oregonians This Weekend
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.
Welcome to the weekend, BRO friends!
And specifically, welcome to what is for many the first weekend of the school year. The bad news machine continues whirring at full force, so we’re taking a quick break from the headlines and giving you an “Oops, All Action Items!” newsletter edition today. Because when times get tough, we can’t just turn away—we have to stay connected and empowered.
Here are 10 ideas for taking action this weekend:
Collect Signatures: If you’re in the Eugene area, join our crew tomorrow (Saturday) and collect signatures for the Equal Rights for All Campaign at the Eugene Saturday Market.
Spread the word: This week, a federal appeals court denied the Trump administration’s attempt to uphold its anti-trans passport policies. That means the trans community can continue accessing correct passports, at least for now. Let folks in your community know that Clear Clinic and Outside In both offer assistance for name and gender marker changes on legal documents!
Join: Oregon Pride In Business, an all-LGBTQ2SIA+ chamber of commerce, is having a membership drive—if you’re queer and in business, consider joining!
Sign up: HIV/AIDS research, treatment and prevention funding has taken a big hit under the Trump administration. You can do your part to raise funds locally by signing up for Cascade AIDS Project’s annual AIDS Walk Northwest, happening next weekend.
Read: In case you missed it, BRO recently published a new School Board Toolkit, your guide to getting involved and having your voice heard at your local school board meetings. It’s more important than ever that LGBTQ2SIA+ folks and our allies continue showing up!
Get Tickets: Tickets to IGNITE: WILD AND FREE, our big gay fundraising party in October, are almost sold out! Support our work and prevent FOMO by snagging tix ASAP.
Volunteer: We’ll be in Salem on September 20 for Pride in the Park! If you want to help us table and collect ballot measure signatures sign up here.
Take the Pledge: September is Hunger Action Month, and trans folks are much more likely to live in poverty and experience food insecurity. Our friends at the Oregon Food Bank invite you take action here!
Donate: This year has been a BIG one for Basic Rights Oregon so far. We’re juggling state and national gender-affirming care policies, embarking on an ambitious ballot measure campaign, and making plans to be involved in school board elections again next spring. A recurring monthly donation of $2o helps sustain us and plan for the long haul. Join the amazing community of Basic Rights Oregon donors today!
Make your voice heard: The Federal Trade Commission is investigating gender-affirming care, and we know this administration already has a bias against trans folks. Submit your comment about why we need to protect this life-saving care to the FTC, and invite your friends to do the same.
Hopefully you found something you can do to make a difference this weekend! As a treat, we’ll leave you with a very funny and insightful profile of Oregon’s very own Jinkx Monsoon from Them. Have a lovely weekend!