Social Justice Spotlight: Basic Rights Oregon
Do you wish you could help make the community a better place, but aren’t sure how? Let’s learn about a local organization making a genuine positive impact on the community.
Basic Rights Oregon (BRO) is the largest and oldest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in Oregon. Although they are not a direct service organization, BRO is a heavy hitter in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and has been around since the 90s, helping win marriage equality, transgender anti-discrimination protections, and more. Currently, BRO’s largest project is the Equal Rights for All ballot measure, which will hopefully get on the ballot in 2026. This campaign would enshrine in the state constitution an individual’s right to “same-gender marriage and the right to make private, personal decisions about reproductive and gender-related health care, including abortion and health care for transgender people,” according to the ACLU (to be featured in an upcoming Social Justice Spotlight).
The Quest reached out to Jose Ramirez Reyes (he/him) of Basic Rights Oregon to learn more about how students can help fight to protect our rights. BRO (along with ACLU and Latino Network) are working to collect 256,000 signatures to move the bill forwards. Reyes suggested volunteering to collect signatures as a great, low commitment way to get involved in the organizing world, gain valuable skills and connections, and, of course, do something good for the community.
For other ways students can get engaged, BRO is hosting a virtual biweekly student leadership call to bring people together. Reyes described this as a space for students from all across Oregon to come together, make space, and break down barriers. Specifically, BRO is hoping to eliminate barriers that have kept LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and first generation students from engaging in political organizing. These meetings will be a space for people with any level of advocacy experience to gain an understanding of how to get involved with the issues they care about and create connections with other students. BRO is hopeful that more student led organizing and gatherings will occur as a result!
The next BRO meeting occurs Tuesday, February 11, from 6:00–7:00p.m., found under “Events” on their website, www.basicrights.org. Reedies are highly encouraged to attend! You can pop in throughout the year whenever you have the time, so it’s a great low-commitment way to get involved and learn something about organizing. There will also be monthly talks on specific themes of political action. So far, there are plans for discussion of political dangers and barriers for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC folks, the history of LGBTQ organizing in Oregon, and artivism.
On February 11th, there’s a lesson on Screen Printing at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in downtown Portland. Coming up on February 22nd, BRO will take part in a statewide action summit in Eugene, Oregon. It will be a conference with sessions on topics including how to engage with the media, how to lobby, and how to run for government office, as well as discussions on equitable housing and grassroots fundraising, with presentations by the Oregon Food Bank. There will be sessions on “Student Organizing 101” and many students (including you, if you want!) will be sharing their stories.
BRO is offering transportation to Eugene and will account for accessibility needs. In addition to this, students can apply to get a fee waiver so hopefully money won’t be an issue for those wanting to attend. For those interested in potentially traveling to Salem as well, BRO has volunteer and intern positions for those interested in the higher-level political end of organizing, wanting to engage in the political nitty-gritty, grassroots fundraising, or willing to be a representative on a speaker’s bureau of trans people for the Equal Rights for All bill.
BRO hosts more whimsical events as well, to try to balance out the stress of their work with fun community building. To this end, the Hollywood Theater in Portland will be screening 1999 queer cult hit But I’m a Cheerleader on March 30 (I’ve marked it in my calendar). As BRO says on their website, “Doors will open at 3:30 for concessions, socializing, and a chance to create your own (very gay) pom-poms!” It is free, however they are asking for a $15–25 donation per person. All revenue will go toward their work in Oregon to protect LGBTQ+ rights.
Following the election of Trump, Reyes says “BRO [got] ready and activated.” More events, serious and whimsical, will be planned for later this year, so stay tuned on their website for upcoming event sign-ups. Reyes encourages you to reach out to him at jose@basicrights.org if you’re interested in engaging in any way. Basic Rights Oregon is hopeful that they can help you find the role you’re looking for, whatever that may be. “We’re opening up ourselves to find out what students are interested in,” Reyes explained “We’re trying to open that door [for students] to allow the movement to continue through them.”