Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Basic Rights Oregon

Patch talks to Basic Rights Oregon and learns about the important work they are doing to make Oregon a place where equality for members of the LGBTQ community is the primary focus.

Patch: Tell Patch a little about your organization!

Basic Rights Oregon: Basic Rights Oregon is the largest statewide LGBTQ Policy and Advocacy Organization working to ensure all LGBTQ Oregonians have legal and lived equality across the state.

Patch: How does your organization help to strengthen the local community?

Basic Rights Oregon: Basic Rights Oregon (BRO) works to elect pro equality candidates, centers the leadership of LGBTQ people of color, works to improve healthcare access for Transgender Oregonians, and engages in broad coalition and movement building work to shape and pass policy. Our recent strategic plan engaged thousands to help us identify our community priorities: LGBTQ people of color, including LGBTQ immigrants & refugees of color, who bear the brunt of homophobia, transphobia, racism, and xenophobia.

• Trans, gender queer and gender nonconforming people, who face astonishing rates of violence and discrimination, and whose basic rights are far from secure.

• LGBTQ youth, who face high rates of homelessness, bullying and suicide, and who are present and future leaders for LGBTQ equality and social justice.

• LGBTQ people beyond the Portland Metro area, who are often isolated, whose needs are distinct from those in Portland, and who face unique barriers to reach the promise of true lived equality.

Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?

Basic Rights Oregon: Effectively engaging our supporters throughout the state with limited resources.

Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?

Basic Rights Oregon: Continue to be a national leader for LGBTQ policy and advocacy efforts, expand our Racial Justice policy initiatives, continue to prioritize organizational culture and organizational development.