A broad and growing array of organizations serve the LGBTQ community both nationally and within the Portland, Oregon metro area. This is not a complete list, but PFLAG and PFLAG members have found the following organizations to be helpful. PFLAG Portland encourages you to contact us for further assistance.
Last update: June 18, 2018
Data and Research
The Family Acceptance Project is a research, intervention, education and policy initiative that works to prevent health and mental health risks for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) children and youth, including suicide, homelessness and HIV – in the context of their families, cultures and faith communities. FAP uses a research-based, culturally grounded approach to help ethnically, socially and religiously diverse families to support their LGBT children. Excellent research and family/community publications.
The Williams Institute The Williams Institute concentrates on Federal, State, and Local policy and its effects on LGBTQ people in the greater community.
Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN) Has been working since 1994 to discover and publicize the history of sexual minorities in the Pacific Northwest.
Family Focused
PFLAG is the nation’s largest and oldest peer-to-peer support network, uniting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) with families, friends, and allies. PFLAG works to ensure that all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer are not only valued by society, but take pride in and value themselves. PFLAG does this through providing peer-to-peer support, educating people on the issues that are important to the community, and advocating for inclusive policies and laws. PFLAG’s Portland chapter is at http://pflagpdx.org. Lots of current news, policy updates, introductory information pages and downloadable publications on coming out, family, religion, transgender individuals, allying and more.
Politics and Policy
Basic Rights Oregon is dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in our state. In the spirit of fundamental fairness and equality, Basic Rights Oregon will build and mobilize a broad coalition of citizens to ensure democratic freedoms for all Oregonians.
Human Rights Campaign is the nation's largest LGBTQ policy advocacy organization, with many programs touching all areas of the LGBTQ community.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
NGLTF (National Gay & Lesbian Task Force) is the national progressive organization working for the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, with the vision and commitment to building a powerful political movement. NGLTF believes a strong LGBTQ movement demands the empowerment of community leaders at the local level.
The ACLU has a long history of fighting for LGBTQ rights within the legal system.
Community and Advocacy
The BiBrigade works to strengthen and support Portland's bi+ community while dispelling biphobic stereotypes and stigmas. They are an all inclusive community and hold a wide variety of events for bi+ folks of all persuasions.
The Rose City T-Girls are the largest and most widely known Transgender Social Support Group in the Pacific Northwest. Their activities range from golf tournaments to weekly outings and annual trips to the Diva Las Vegas get together.
Straight Spouse Network helps those whose spouses have come out as LGBTQ with support and resources.
Student Safety
GLSEN, The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. We believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. GLSENOregon is the Oregon chapter of GLSEN.
The Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition seeks to create safe schools and communities where every family can belong, every educator can teach, and every child can learn regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. The OSSCC believes that all youth deserve to feel safe and welcome in our schools and communities.
OneGeorgeFox is a community of alumni from George Fox University who are committed to the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer and questioning students at George Fox. They are a resource for LGBTQ students on the George Fox campus and hope to promote a compassionate and open dialogue within the broader George Fox community concerning issues of faith and sexuality.
Youth
smyrc: Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center, Portland, OR. Creating safety and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth in Oregon since 1998, through youth empowerment, community building, education and direct services.
The Living Room is Clackamas County’s safe space for LGBTIQQ youth ages 14-24.
Crisis and Information Hotlines
Trans Lifeline is a national 24/7 hotline for transgender people experiencing crisis. This includes people who may be struggling with their gender identity. Trans Lifeline is staffed by trained members of the transgender community who will connect callers with appropriate services in their area.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. The Trevor Project provides 24/7 Phone, Chat, Text, social networking, and information database.
The Gay & Lesbian National Hotline is the only non-profit, nationwide, toll-free information, referral ad peer-counseling line for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning people of all ages.
Faith
The Community of Welcoming Congregations (CWC) is an Oregon and SW Washington interfaith ministry and advocacy organization working toward full inclusion and equality for transgender, lesbian, bisexual, gay and questioning persons. Our work brings together people of faith who believe in the inherent dignity and worth of every person.
Q Christian Fellowship is a multi-denominational organization working towards full inclusion of LGBTQ people in Christian ministries. It has deep roots in Evangelical Christianity.
Galva-108 provides Information and support for LGBTI Viashnavas and Hindus
Muslims for Progressive Values maintains an extensive list of organizations, resources on LGBTQ and other issues.
There are also LGBTQ support organizations within many denominations.
Transgender Health
Brave Space, LLC is a collective of independent providers committed to creating a welcome and positive space for transgender and non-binary people and their families. Each provider practices culturally specific care and offers a range of personalized services, and Brave Space offers universal services to the community.
Trans Active Education & Advocacy provides the necessary support to improve the quality of life of transgender and gender non-conforming children, youth and their families through education, services, advocacy and research.
Legacy Hospital Transgender Health Services offers “wraparound” services for transgender individuals and their loved ones – transition-related, primary, and specialty care.
OSHU Transgender Health Program provides a broad range of services to the transgender community.
Allied Organizations
As LGBTQ people have become more visible in society, their presence in other areas have become more evident: in healthcare, the workplace, transportation, racial issues, and much more. We are recognizing that we all live at the intersection of these issues, and are making common cause with each other. The following organizations provide information and support to LGBTQ people served by their mission.
Cerebral Palsy Guidance provides answers and assistance to parents of a child with cerebral palsy, covering cerebral palsy from all angles–from symptoms, causes, and treatment, to daily living information, such as communication, transitioning to adulthood, and being LGBTQ.