Pride Month 2022: Celebrating History, Resilience and Courage

June 2nd 2022

Oregon Food Bank is here to help you and your family.

June is filled with LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations all across the globe in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. This is a time to commemorate and honor the history of the equality movement, to connect with old and new friends, and advocate together for our rights during a time when youth in our communities are increasingly under attack.

At the beginning of the pandemic, we found ourselves at a historic inflection point — a time when our attention was rightfully focused on the systemic inequities and oppression that the LGBTQ+ community and People of Color have experienced for centuries. Though these experiences were new news to some, we’ve long seen the effects of systemic racism and heterosexism play out every day in our anti-hunger efforts at Oregon Food Bank:

When it comes to food insecurity, Hispanic/Latinx Oregonians experience hunger at double the rate of White households – 8.3% as compared to 4.1% respectively. For Black Oregonians, that rate is 11.2%. For Native American households, it is 13.1%.
In a recent study, more than one in five LGBTQ adults in America reported not having enough money to feed themselves or their families at some point in the past year – nearly double that of heterosexual individuals.
These challenges are compounded at the intersections of race and gender — trans communities of color face incredibly disproportionate rates of hunger and anti-trans violence.

These disparities and the broader systemic oppression that drives them should be a call-to-action for all of us in this moment. And though the pandemic kept many of us physically apart, we’re entering a new phase where there are far more opportunities to work together — virtually and in person — to end hunger and its root causes.

Below are several Pride Month events taking place across Oregon, along with resources for further learning throughout the year. We hope you’ll join us in showing up to support our shared community in whatever way is meaningful for you — whether celebrating in your local parade, rallying to protect trans kids, or sharing opportunities for learning with friends and family. And for anyone who needs it, know that food is available. Whatever your truth, however you identify, Oregon Food Bank is here to ensure you have access to essential resources. Because no one should be hungry.

Events

Celebrate Seaside, Oregon’s first Pride parade on June 25, 2022 at 12:00PM. The parade starts on 12th Avenue. Find more information on the Pride in Seaside Facebook page
Central Oregon LGBTQ+ Youth can receive a FREE haircut through Gender-Free Haircut Club at Badlands Hair Studio on June 12th between 12:00PM and 4:00PM. Reserve a spot by calling (541) 639-2029
Celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ Community in Douglas County at the Umpqua Valley Pride Parade on June 4, 2022
Find an exhaustive list of all publicly-posted events happening around Oregon and SW Washington – from Josephine County to Portland, Albany and beyond – on Google here

Resources