Basic Rights Oregon is the primary policy advocacy organization for LGBTQ Oregonians. As such, we advocate for public policy that meets the needs of a breadth of our LGBTQ communities.
Most LGBTQ organizations struggle to authentically address race and racism, and movements for LGBTQ equality and racial justice have rarely intersected, including Basic Rights Oregon.
Transgender people face alarming rates of poverty, violence and suicide due to lack of acceptance and societal discrimination. Basic Rights Oregon is advancing equality for transgender Oregonians to meet basic needs like housing, employment, health care and more.
With its new strategic direction, Basic Rights Oregon will launch a youth justice program in the future dedicated staff. The need for LGBTQ youth justice is immense. Of all homeless youth, 20 percent are LGBTQ, while only 10 percent of the general youth population is LGBTQ.
LGBTQ people living outside the Portland Metro area face unique barriers to coming out and being out. Additionally, they often live in communities with limited or no resources for LGBTQ people, and as a result have to travel long distances to access the services and care they need.