WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LGBTQ+ SURVEY?
The goal of the Listening Project is to identify needs and assets of the LGBTQ+ communities in Josephine & Jackson counties and help strengthen an LGBTQ+-led movement in our region. So we started by asking. We put out this survey in July and we heard from over 700 people!
Several fires and a turn of the wheel later, we are still working on reading through and presenting back the survey results. Would you like to help? We’re going to be hosting open ‘research team’ hours in November. The goal is to write up and share back the results with the community. Follow us on Facebook or sign up to volunteer for research team updates.
IN THE WORKS – A RESOURCE LIST FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
One of the things that was striking about the survey results was diversity of responses. Some people felt there were plentiful resources and others didn’t know of any. In general, many people shared that they that a sense of LGBTQ community was scattered, hard to find or access, nonexistent, or not available to them here. We know that there are many LGBTQ+ folks across our region, and that private Facebook groups and clique-ish-ness are a natural result of hiding to keep ourselves safe.
One of the survey questions asked “what resources would you like other people to know about?” So we’ve assembled these into a resource guide. We’re also working specifically with students & staff at the SOU Gender & Sexuality Justice center to develop an updated list of trans healthcare providers, which is a huge gap in our region.
If this is a project you’re interested in working on, take a look and get in touch!
In hard times (as well as in good times!), community care is critical. Check out these other upcoming local events & groups.
- Illinois Valley LGBTQ+ Youth Hangout – Are you between 13 and 17 years old, live in the Illinois Valley or surrounding area, and are lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or questioning your gender or sexuality? You’re not alone! We’re meeting up on Zoom from 3-4pm on Thursday, November 5 to build community and discuss a more regular meetup. Email Finn at finn.o.franklin@gmail.com or Eliot at eliot@rogueactioncenter.org for the Zoom link.
- Truth & TRANSformation – peer support group for transgender people – meeting twice per month on Tuesday on Zoom. Email Tam at tmasdon@gmail.com for info.
- Wild Womyn of the Rogue Valley hosts online and in-person coffee times and outdoor recreational activities for lesbians. Contact: wildwomynrv@gmail.com or visit our Facebook for upcoming events.
- Queer Cafe at the Jackson Library meets once per month online; first Saturdays, 10-12pm. Register at JCLS.org to get the link.
- Transponder Support Groups are all online because of COVID-19. TransPonder hosts a book club, gender-diverse yoga, trans & disability group, a trans/gender-diverse social/support group, a TBIPOC-only affinity group, and a group for allies & gender-diverse folks of all ages. Email info@transponder.org for info or Zoom links.
- Rogue Action Center LGBTQ+ Listening Project – several committees working on identifying needs of queer community, organizing events, and amplifying QTBIPOC voices in southern Oregon. Visit rogueactioncenter.org/lgbtq-listening-project for info or sign up to volunteer.
- Living Sober LGBTQ – LGBTQ AA group that meets every Wednesday at 6pm, Saturday at 10am on Zoom (in-person meetings in Medford suspended because of COVID). For meeting password, email livingsoberlgbtq@outlook.com.
- LGBTQ+ Survivor Support Group – ongoing, through Jackson County SART. Contact: (541) 840-0904 (9am-5pm only) or jcsart@charter.net.
- Out in the Open serves rural LGBTQ folks. They’re centered in Vermont but seek to serve the broader rural queer world and they’re hosting rural LGBTQ yoga, crafternoons, drop-in space, and meditations every week on Zoom. They also run an “Out in the Open Radio Hour” focused on rural LGBTQ topics. (@WeAreOutInTheOpen on Facebook.)
Want to learn more about the LGBTQ+ Listening Project? Visit our website, reach out to Eliot at eliot@rogueactioncenter.org, or schedule a time to chat.
