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2008 Annual Report Fax: 503.236.6686 a Message from the Executive Director

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2008 Annual Report Fax: 503.236.6686 a Message from the Executive Director Special thank you to Witham and Dickey for dona�ng the prin�ng of this report. P.O. BOX 40625 PORTLAND, OR 97204 PHONE: 503.222.6151 2008 ANNUAL REPORT FAX: 503.236.6686 www.basicrights.org A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Basic Rights Oregon is entering a new era. We have a strong and vibrant statewide organization, our historic domestic partnership and nondiscrimination laws are secure, and opportunities to build on this success abound. The support of the Oregon community has provided a solid foundation to support the growth of Basic Rights Oregon and has helped us win significant change. We have affirmed the fundamental right of all Oregonians to live and work free from the sting of discrimination. And as we develop our analysis of racial and social justice, we continue to refine the community understanding of what it means to pursue equality for all. We appreciate your investment in our work. You have created the opportunity for the organization to transi- tion from a successful campaigning organization to a movement-building organization. As you read this report on our accomplishments in 2008, I hope you will be as amazed as I am at the breadth of the work. Not only did we vigorously defend our rights by protecting the domestic partnership and non- discrimination laws, but we mapped out the vision for the next five years in our bold strategic plan. We saw tremendous success in developing leadership among youth through our Next Generation Project and we developed new partnerships in communities of color as we expanded our racial justice work. Together, we have made tremendous progress, but discrimination aimed at gay and transgender Oregonians persists. Together, we will continue to work towards the day when every gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied Oregonian experiences equality. Thank you for continuing on this path with us. We truly are all in this together. With deep appreciation, Jeana Frazzini Executive Director Basic Rights Oregon Overview DONOR SPOTLIGHT Basic Rights Oregon’s Strategic Plan represents a bold new approach to ensure that all LGBT Oregonians experience full equality. Discrimination against LGBT people continues in Oregon – we are excluded from the freedom to marry, LGBT teens have the highest rates of suicide, our youth endure bullying at school, and transgender people endure Robin Castro and John Halseth disproportionate unemployment rates. Marriage discrimination has a daily impact on caring, committed couples, Robin Castro and his hurting Oregon families in very real ways. partner, John Halseth, have been steadfast sup- Our strategic planning process began in early 2008 with a six-month listening and research project. The input porters of Basic Rights included more than 50 hours of in-depth interviews with local and national community leaders, extensive surveys Oregon since the 1990s. sent to 200 active grassroots leaders, a trans and genderqueer focus group, and thousands of conversations and While they usually prefer to stay out of the spot- surveys at Pride festivals across the state. Strategic Plan 2009-2013 light, when it comes time to stepping up for what A Bold New Path to Equality they believe in, they are ready to claim a place on the frontlines. Building An Inclusive Robin and John have been a couple since 1996. Movement Enforce and Defend Our “John says we met in a workshop I facilitated for a local non- Victories profit group,” explains Robin. “But I remember meeting him Mission Statement in a square dance class in 1987. Either way, after ten years Basic Rights Oregon will ensure that all lesbian, gay, of friendship, we became partners.” bisexual and transgender Oregonians experience Cultivate the leadership of transgender people, equality by building a broad and inclusive politically Robin didn’t have a strong opinion about the fight for mar- youth and LGBT people of color. And prioritize powerful movement, shifting public opinion, and Fully implement and enforce domestic riage equality, but his attitude has changed. their interests while deeply engaging achieving policy victories partnerships and nondiscrimination laws businesses, community leaders and straight while working with businesses and state “We never thought we would see marriage as an option allies in a statewide network to broaden agencies to educate about these laws. We are for us, and yet it’s so very close,” says Robin. “Equality, support for equality. also committed to defending against any and and nothing less, is what every Oregonian should strive for because it is the right thing to do.” all attacks on LGBT equality and working through the courts and the legislature to close Robin and John were married in 2004 when same-sex mar- any loopholes. riages were permitted in Multnomah County. When their Winning majority support marriage license was taken away from them, they were crushed. They had shared the joy of their marriage with for full marriage equality their family. Their friends even hosted a wedding shower for all Oregonians Achieving significant policy to celebrate their union. This loss strengthened Robin and change to improve the lives John’s commitment to support Basic Rights Oregon’s work of transgender and gender for gay and transgender equality. Increasing and enforcing non-conforming Oregonians protections for LGBT and Both believe that public education will be a critical factor in Ultimately, marriage has a federal solution, but allied youth across Oregon the work ahead. They recognize that Basic Rights Oregon Basic Rights Oregon will play an important role will not give up, and that the work of the organization is far in creating the national tipping point by from over. achieving a statewide marriage victory. To win, Basic Rights Oregon supports policies that are we need to build majority support for marriage inclusive of transgender Oregonians. We seek to Robin says, “It is important that we support Basic Rights equality and run an inclusive campaign that understand and articulate the impact of all of our Basic Rights Oregon will build upon our work Oregon by making a donation, by sponsoring tables at their addresses the needs of transgender families, campaigns on trans people across the state. In with LGBT and allied youth. We will lead a events or by attending rallies and volunteering in the office LGBT families of color and young people. addition, in the next ve years, Basic Rights policy agenda that increases the safety and whenever possible. We need to be talking to our friends Oregon will coordinate ambitious policy well being of LGBT and allied youth. and family about the issues that matter to our community.” campaigns to increase the safety and well being of transgender members of our community. We are grateful for their steadfast and generous support. 2 3 By taking a stand for immigrant rights, we A BROAD AND INCLUSIVE MOVEMENT make it clear that no one should be afraid Since our last statewide ballot measure campaign in 2004, Basic mit, we conducted dozens of local trainings and seminars and helped Building Bridges & Advancing Racial Justice Rights Oregon has worked to start a new chapter in Oregon’s move- activist leaders across the state to recruit new volunteers, plan local In 2006, Basic Rights Oregon launched our Anti-Racist Organizational for the security of ment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. We know events, and educate the public. Development initiative, working for racial justice within Oregon’s gay that our movement is bigger than one vote, broader than one issue, and transgender rights movement. Since then, we’ve built coalition their family. and stronger than the fear and intolerance that we must overcome. Basic Rights Oregon is proud to play a strong role in Oregon’s move- partnerships with racial justice and immigrant rights organizations, And for all of us to win, all of us must be invited and empowered to ments for social justice. We know that no movement for equality supported and developed gay and transgender leaders of color, and participate. can win without developing deep and reciprocal relationships with started a conversation about the role race plays within our commu- allied individuals and organizations. We maintain our longstanding nity. We win victories for equality by engaging a large base of LGBT partnerships with choice, civil liberties and labor movements, and Following the roundtable, Western States Center launched its Gender Justice Dialogues project. The project aimed to provide and allied Oregonians in the struggle. In 2008, more than 3,000 have built strong alliances with movements for racial justice and im- Our work to support and highlight the leadership of gay and trans- resources and support for organizations based in communities of people volunteered with Basic Rights Oregon. Volunteers identified migrant rights. gender people of color included developing a team of people of color. Ultimately, the Dialogues helped organizations to address the thousands of new pro-equality voters, and recruited over 500 new color trainers for our political education sessions, helping with the needs of their gay and transgender constituents, and to build coali- activists at fairs and festivals across the state. Others organized pub- “Putting Color in the Rainbow” program at the Oregon Students tion partnerships for racial and gender justice. Basic Rights Oregon lic events, vigils and demonstrations. And our volunteer speaker’s of Color Conference and our New Roots Fellowship program. We was proud to offer staff support and movement analysis at the bureau gave presentations to dozens of neighborhood associations, also worked with Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Dialogues. labor unions, and social service agencies about the importance of More than 3,000 (PFLAG), to support the development of the nation’s only African- gay and transgender equality. American PFLAG chapter.
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