Queer Resources in the Portland Area

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       Queer Resources in the Portland Area
by Emma Ridle

As we enter the 2nd year of the Trump administration, it's getting much scarier for the LGBTQ+ community. Conservative states are passing bills that are detrimental to trans healthcare, like banning gender affirming care, revoking medical licenses for providing care, discrimination in sports and public bathrooms; the list goes on. Luckily, Portland is one of the most progressive cities in the entire US, being one of the core cities that make Oregon a blue state. Because of this, we have an extremely high LGBTQ+ population, which comes with a lot of community and resources.     

A lot of people from those Conservative states end up moving to Portland for a better quality of living, but don't know where to start. I want to use this as a way for fellow queer people to get the support that they rightfully deserve during such trying times. 


The Marie Equi Center 

Located in Portland's Brooklyn District, the Marie Equi Center is a nonprofit organization that provides a range of services for at-risk members of the LGBTQ+ community. They offer harm reduction and medical care opportunities provided by community-driven health programs. 

One of the first steps toward finding a safe space is connecting with your local queer peers. The Marie Equi Center offers a lot of peer support groups and therapy opportunities, and free workshops to get active in your community. 

The Q Center 

The Q Center acts as an amazing hub for queer resources and where to find them. At a glance on their website, they highlight multiple outside LGBTQ centered organizations for any kind of demographic and label. Their Services page leads to a multi-page document that leads to exact and specific charities and projects. 

Meanwhile, the Q Centers' in-person headquarters are also a great resource to take part in. They offer a mutual aid fund called "The Marsha P Johnson Fund", used to help local queer people in need. They also offer a free gender-affirming closet for job interviews and general daily use, as well as in-person support groups. 

News Avenue For Youth

While not specifically focusing on the LGBTQ community like the previous entries, their programs do extend to queer youths who need their resources. News Avenue offers a long list of housing/shelter information, education and career opportunities, health services, childcare, mental health harm reduction, and the list goes on.  One of these programs includes Unity House, the first LGBTQ housing program in Oregon, specializing in finding homes for unhoused youths. They're involved with multiple charity groups and collaborate to raise money for various causes. They boast multiple locations around the Portland Metro area, increasing their area of expertise around the city. 


Of course, this isn't the end all be all of resources. There are plenty more to explore and utilize in the Portland Metro area! These are just a few to help queer folks get back on their feet and learn more about different opportunities. 

Click here to learn more about these Resource Centers and what services they can help provide for you! 

The Mari Equi Center: https://www.marieequi.center/

The Q Center: https://www.pdxqcenter.org/resources

News Avenue: https://newavenues.org/


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