Transforming Support Thriving in PDX!

Like being green, being trans isn’t easy. Portlanders who take the brave step of embracing their trans identities, though, can turn to a number of groups for much needed support, reports Just Out.

The most venerable of these is the Northwest Gender Alliance. The NWGA was formed in 1980 by three middle-aged transwomen. In the words of group spokesperson Jackie Stone, the founding trio “decided that there should be a safe place for transgender people to meet, compare stories and support each other and socialize.”

The group was careful in choosing places and planning events that would be safe, but also bold in their outreach. For instance, early members approached the Portland Police Department in an effort to help the department understand the truth about transgender people and dispel harmful myths.

As time went on, NWGA chapters formed in Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., Spokane and Salem. The Portland chapter currently meets monthly at Q Center and can be found on the web at nwgenderalliance.org.