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The LGBTQ+ community has been known to be versatile in creating safe spaces for events, support networks, and live engagement throughout the years. In recent history the internet has invited methods for us to find each other, socialize independently, and even organize live events on the fly. The one thing that cannot be manufactured by social media is real life interaction and genuinely safe spaces that are meeting local functions. So many of our events and gatherings have relied on community centers, library meeting rooms, churches, or public parks… and some of those are done only via word-of-mouth due to concerns they might be targeted.
A wave of organizations in the Pacific Northwest are working to create active brick-and-mortar spaces for a variety of resources and safe engagement, and several have succeeded in spades.
Our 3rd Space (Vancouver, WA)
Southwest Washington Pride Alliance recently held a Queer Resource Center Grand Opening & Celebration event on March 21st, welcoming the community into the shared space they hold functions in along with Our Third Space at 609 Main St, Vancouver, WA. For over 30 years they have continued to work in outreach, visibility, and community engagement in the area and are happy to have a local space and create a location where they can base their operations to support Clark, Colwitz, Skamania, Wahkiakum, and Pacific counties. Currently they have a 9 person board, but are expanding to include those who would like to be involved in greater trans, youth, fundraising, or cultural outreach as they support the region. Board President, James Tolson, told me that while they are very proud with how well their annual Saturday in the Park is attended each year, that “[we] can always get better, and we're always going to strive to get better, but Pride is only one day out of the year.” SWWPA organizes the Saturday in the Park event each year as their annual Vancouver Pride gathering, and this year’s All Ages Event promises to be as amazing as years past, with up to 5,000 attendees at times. It is free to all, July 11th at Esther Short Park from 10am to 5pm. To speak with them and see their upcoming events, you can reach them directly through their website at swwapa.org or see space information at our-3rd-space.com.
Rogue Trans (Rogue, OR)
Maeve Wolfe has been a powerful advocate of one, but even greater at creating alliances and funding in what would otherwise be an island between queer support communities. What originally started from her frustration trying to find local affirming care, Wolfe started building a resource list that slowly morphed into a Facebook group and, “that’s how Rogue Trans Outreach was born.” Over the last couple of years she has worked on a mobile trans clothing bank, organizing hikes and other gatherings, and spent countless hours submitting grant proposals. With the combination of dedication and support from the Teresa McCormick Center and United Way, the Rogue Trans location at 611 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, OR is now open! She has worked tirelessly to create a place for a stable clothing exchange, movie nights, dances, games, support groups, etc in an area that is so far removed in all directions from the big city resources. They will be holding a grand opening event for all to attend May 2nd from 5 to 8 pm. For additional information, open hours and calendar of events see roguetransoutreach.org.
The Lavender Network Queer Resource Center (Eugene, OR)
On February 10th Lane County celebrated an expansion to a larger space at 1590 Willamette St, Eugene, OR. Through a $2.5 million donation made by local resident, Helen Shepard, they were able to move into the much larger space and expand their resources to better provide clothing exchange, health care, and additional community services. The Lavender Network consists of 5 co-operative organizations: Queer Eugene, Eugene Pride, TransPonder, HIV Alliance, and Authentic Movement Project. We were unable to reach anyone at the Lavender Network for a direct comment on how the new space is or what plans they may have in the future, but you can see more about their space and events at lavendernetwork.org.
Salem’s Rainbow Youth Center (Name TBD, Salem, OR)
In Oregon’s capital, Salem, Rainbow Youth has been working since 1995 to create local engagement and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and adults to meet for support and fun activities and learning opportunities that cover a wide spectrum. On December 13th they held what was the first of several events to raise funds and gather information to help with planning what their new space should be. Dani Davalos, one of their 9 board members, is actively working on also gathering data to determine more accurately who would make use of the space and where respondents feel the greatest needs would be. Currently they have regular bi-weekly community youth group meetings and “Try-it Tuesdays” for people of all ages to share skills/knowledge with each other at Stormie’s Place, 333 High St NE, Salem, OR. Their event calendar also has many other activities throughout the year but as they stated: “we are consistently reliant on one-time availability in churches, libraries or other spaces that we can’t make our own.” Along with Capital Pride, PFLAG, Black Joy, Crafty Coyotes, Radness Ensues, Dragonwolf Collective, and Punx with a Purpose, they are working on establishing a location that supports drop-in hours, health services, a full-time events and a makerspace. Their next big fundraising event is planned at the Reed Opera House on August 9th, details forthcoming soon. To donate online to their fundraiser you can go to tinyurl.com/salemqcenter, and to help name the new center you can vote on their Google form here (link only available online). You can find more information about all of their activities and where they’ll be anytime at rainbowyouth.org.
With such a great start to 2026, one cannot help but feel excitement and pride all around. Big cities, small towns, young, old, cis, trans, NB, and everyone within our big, beautiful diaspora deserve safe spaces to come together for support and enjoyment. I hope to see many more, and that these communities continue to get the support from us that they need to thrive for many years to come.
