Queer Folks

Q Patrol
http://www.pdxqcenter.org/q-patrol-history/q-patrol-get-involved/

Q Patrol is a community-generated group whose mission is to be one part of a larger initiative to promote well-being in the LGBTQ communities, and it is an important, visible, and concrete action to promote community safety. Q Patrol achieves this by organizing foot patrols on key nights and in key areas to dissuade criminal activity.
*Q Patrol is active Memorial Day weekend through Halloween.

Babble On Toastmasters
http://www.babble-ontm.org/

Babble-On Toastmasters members represent a wide range of ages, occupations, interests, beliefs, and orientations. Whatever your background or interests you’ll fit right in.  Babble-On Toastmasters members run the entire spectrum of skill levels, from the new member giving their first speech to polished speakers with years of experience.  Whatever your skill level you’ll fit right in. Mentorship is very important at Babble-On Toastmasters, where experienced members will assist you to grow as a speaker and leader.  They don’t tell you what to say, they teach you how to say it better.

Portland PFLAG Black Chapter

http://pflagpdx.org/wordpress/?page_id=429

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays – Portland Black Chapter (PFLAG PBC) was formed to address the need to have culturally specific work in the Black community around lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer (LGBTQ) equality. We address the multiple layers of discrimination that LGBTQ Black people and their families and loved ones face, and offer opportunities to transform our community.They are the first African American Chapter in the Nation and one of only two in the entire country.

PFLAG Portland

http://www.pflagpdx.org/NewPFLAGsite/Home.html

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States.PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

Chicano & Latino Pride
http://latinogaypridepdx.com/

Portland Latino Gay Pride holds members from various organizations that serve the gay, Latino and general population around Portland. One of PLGP’s central goals is to bring the community together through a series of multi-day-events that highlight the rich culture of gay and Latino groups in Portland and the surrounding area.  Traditionally, Portland Latino Gay Pride has held its celebrations during the first week of June as the official kick-off to gay pride in Oregon.

Pink Pistols
http://pinkpistols.org/

The Pink Pistols came into existence because of problem of “hate crimes”.

While “hate crimes” may target certain groups, they undermine the “human rights” of all, because if we tolerate violence against any one group, we tolerate violence against all.

The Pink Pistols was founded on the principles of “Non Aggression”, we don’t promote or condone violence, but we recognize that “self defense” is a human right and sometimes extreme measures are called for. Many straight people also oppose “hate crimes” because they too see “hate crimes” for what they are, “human rights violations”. As such, the Pink Pistols has and will continue to have “Gay-Straight Alliances” because our lives depend on it. Many gun rights leaders have committed to help us grow and will open doors for us to help grow our chapters because they too recognize that self defense is a fundamental human right for all.

To Join:

Join the yahoo group for the Portland, OR chapter.