Basic Rights Oregon

Transgender justice work: Basic Rights is a leader within the lgbtq equality movement, taking a laboratory approach to creating change, and sharing best practices with partner organizations across the country, so that our work contributes to the national movement for equality. In 2019 we passed the statewide suicide prevention & postvention bill, "adis act", in honor of a transgender teen that died by suicide. In 2021 we passed a ban on the lgbtq+ panic defense, so that no member of our community that encounters violence based on their identity can be held responsible for what happened to them. The orgnization continues to monitor the implementation of these bills as well as particpating in the foster homes of healing coalition to create more affirming and safe fosterhome envirnments for lgbtq+ youth.

Civic engagement work: building political power for lgbtq oregonians has long been a core objective for Basic Rights. To that end, nonpartisan civic engagement continues to be a key strategy as we work to secure legal equality by passing legislation, mobilize lgbtq oregonians and their allies to influence decision makers and build coalitions that contribute to lasting, vibrant movements for lgbtq justice and progressive organizing. Fundamental to Basic Rights' work is a principled commitment to partnerships among those, our decades-long values-based collaborations with racial and economic justice organizations.

Electoral candidate work: the Basic Rights Oregon equality pac seeks to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Oregon by electing pro-equality candidates to all levels of office and elevating out lgbtq candidates whenever possible. We are a non-partisan political action committee focused on statewide and legislative offices. Our volunteer pac board members interview candidates and issue endorsements to elected leaders and hopefuls who are dedicated champions for equality. Our endorsement criteria spans Basic Rights Oregon's program priorities, including racial justice and justice for transgender oregonians.in 2022 bro also worked with local advocates and community members to elect school board representatives who would create affirming environments for lgbtq+ students.

Racial justice work: since 2007, Basic Rights has worked to counteract opposition strategies pitting communities of color against lgbtq communities. We work to center the leadership of people of color, largely through our ongoing our families program for lgbtq and allied people of color. We continue to be key public allies, investing staff time and resources in campaigns to address xenophobia and police accountability. In 2017 we deepened our long-term alliance with key community partners asian pacific american network of Oregon (apano), unite Oregon, and Oregon voice to form one Oregon, a statewide coalition that defends against anti-immigrant and anti-muslim policies and ballot measures and works to ensure that all oregonians, regardless of country of birth, are treated with dignity and respect.