LGBTQ Public & Non-Profit in Salem, OR

OutLaw represents the heart of LGBTQ+ community at Lewis & Clark College's law school in Portland, Oregon, creating an inclusive space where law students can authentically be themselves while pursuing legal education. Founded on principles of solidarity and intersectional awareness, OutLaw welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning law students and allies who are committed to building community and supporting one another through the challenges of legal education. The organization's mission extends beyond social connection to meaningful advocacy and education. OutLaw brings pertinent legal and political issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community directly to the law school campus, ensuring these voices and concerns are heard and addressed within legal education. The group recognizes that LGBTQ+ law students often navigate unique challenges, and OutLaw provides both emotional support and practical resources to help members thrive academically and personally. What sets OutLaw apart is its explicit commitment to intersectionality and coalition-building. The organization acknowledges that members hold multiple, interconnected identities and may experience different forms of oppression based on race, gender, ability, and other factors. Rather than operating in isolation, OutLaw actively builds understanding and partnerships with other student affinity groups, recognizing that collective strength comes from solidarity across communities. The organization maintains thoughtful community guidelines designed to create and maintain a genuinely safe space where all members feel respected and valued. With experienced board members serving as mentors and advocates, OutLaw provides law students in Portland with both immediate community support and long-term professional relationships that extend beyond law school.

Founded in 1996 by a group of 13 students in Salem, Oregon, Latinos Unidos Siempre (L.U.S.) has grown into a vital community organization dedicated to youth empowerment and social justice. The organization emerged from a critical moment when Salem's Latino community faced immigration raids, high school dropout rates, gang activity, and hostile legislative proposals, with young people stepping forward to advocate for change. Today, L.U.S. continues this legacy of youth leadership by welcoming young people of all backgrounds—ages 12 to 25—who identify as Latino or who are passionate about working for social justice alongside the Latino community. The organization's approach combines cultural affirmation, educational support, and political organizing to combat racist stereotypes and discrimination while building the next generation of community leaders. Operating as the youth arm of Mano a Mano Family Center in Salem, L.U.S. maintains deep roots in local movements for immigrant rights and community equality, collaborating with organizations like CAUSA and the Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality. With a membership that is predominantly female and Latino, L.U.S. has proven itself as an incubator for emerging leaders, with six alumni currently serving as staff members at partner organizations, including the Executive Director of Mano a Mano. The organization's sustained presence in Salem for nearly three decades reflects its commitment to creating spaces where young people can develop their voices, build solidarity, and work toward meaningful social change in their community.

Based in Portland, Oregon, Equality Federation represents a unique national movement builder dedicated to strengthening the state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy ecosystem through social justice principles and collaborative partnership. The organization has earned recognition as the leading strategic partner to 50 member organizations spanning from Equality Florida to Freedom Oklahoma to Basic Rights Oregon, demonstrating a deep commitment to amplifying grassroots power across all fifty states. At its core, Equality Federation believes that winning equality is a marathon requiring investment in developing tomorrow's leaders today, which is why the organization prioritizes building strong, sustainable organizations capable of adapting to evolving community needs. The federation's work reflects an integrated commitment to racial equity, recognizing that justice for LGBTQ+ communities must be inseparable from racial justice efforts. Equality Federation's team has been celebrated by the National Black Justice Collective and continues to demonstrate leadership excellence within the broader LGBTQ+ movement. The organization's values are reflected in its unwavering commitment to accessibility, community accountability, and inclusive representation across all aspects of its work. By serving as both a national network and strategic partner, Equality Federation connects state-based organizations with resources, knowledge, and solidarity needed to protect transgender people, end HIV criminalization, ban conversion therapy, and create lasting systemic change that benefits LGBTQ+ individuals and families throughout the country.