Pride Northwest Launches Community Resilience Drive Amid Escalating Threats to LGBTQIA2S+ Safety
September 30, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pride Northwest Launches Community Resilience Drive Amid Escalating Threats to LGBTQIA2S+ Safety
Portland, OR — [September 30, 2025] — Pride Northwest today announced the launch of its annual Community Resilience Drive, a program that, among other things, supports unhoused and housing-insecure LGBTQIA2S+ people across the area, with critical supplies such as food, clothing, hygiene items, and household goods.
This year’s drive comes at a time of heightened concern for community safety. In a recent open letter, Pride Northwest expressed deep alarm at the President’s decision to deploy military and federal law enforcement to Portland, warning that “the presence of militarized forces in our streets does not bring peace—it escalates tension and places already marginalized people at even greater risk”
Response to Escalating Threats to Our Most Vulnerable Community Members …
“Community resilience is not just about meeting immediate needs,” said Debra Porta, Executive Director of Pride Northwest. “It’s about standing together in the face of threats—whether they come from economic hardship, housing insecurity, or the political targeting of our communities. True safety is built through care, accountability, and solidarity.”
The Community Resilience Drive reflects Pride Northwest’s ongoing commitment to supporting LGBTQIA2S+ people year-round. While best known for producing the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade, the organization also operates initiatives that uplift, protect, and sustain vulnerable members of the community beyond Pride season.
Pride Northwest calls on local leaders, partners, and allies to join in the effort—whether by donating supplies, contributing financially, or amplifying the campaign. “Portland is our home,” says Porta. “Together, we can ensure that every member of our community is safe, visible, and included.”
About the Community Resilience Program
In its role as an intermediary nonprofit organization, Pride Northwest supports and serves as a connector between resources, grassroots initiatives, and advocates, who are working on the ground to address (and meet) community needs. This support includes funding, technical
assistance, capacity-building, networking opportunities, and more to support those organizations in maximizing their impact, intentionally working to center the perspectives and efforts of Black, Indigenous and Queer People of Color community organizers. In addition to sponsoring dozens of community events, employing hundreds of LGBTQIA2S+ artists and performers (including during the pandemic shutdown), and providing economic opportunities for dozens of LGBTQIA2S+ makers and artisans, our Community Resilience efforts include:
-Popping up a temporary multi-day warming shelter that served over four dozen (both housed and unhoused) community members, during extreme winter weather.
-Annual distribution of critical supplies like clothing, thousands of hygiene and warming products, and food to our unhoused and housing-insecure community members -Direct financial support to ensure that housing insecure community members are able to STAY housed
-Year-round fiscal sponsorship of several queer grassroots organizations serving our transgender community members, unhoused folx, and Pride efforts outside of the Portland metro region
Pride Northwest is, by design, a non-profit organization with the flexibility to mobilize in response to urgent and emerging community needs. These efforts are made possible through our Community Resilience Program.
About Pride Northwest
Pride Northwest, Inc. works to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA2S+ community throughout Oregon and SW Washington. Best known for producing the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade, Pride Northwest also engages in year-round advocacy, education, and community support, including its Community Resilience Program.
Media Contact:
Debra Porta
Pride Northwest, Inc.
Debra.porta@pridenw.org | 503.295.9788
www.pridenw.org