Lower Columbia Q Center 7/24/25 Lower Columbia Q Center 7/24/25

July 2025 Newsletter

Lower Columbia Q Center Monthly Newsletter: July

Happy July, Friends!

The Lower Columbia Q Center recognizes July as Disability Pride Month. We celebrate and honor people with disabilities, and their identities, culture, and positive impact made in our community. We offer a welcoming and accessible space, and opportunities to connect with the community online, outdoors, and in public. We advocate for disability rights, human rights, and believe that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity.

What an exciting summer it has been! This month, we’ve hosted a family friendly bike ride at Fort Stevens on the 4th; Honored Non-Binary People’s Day on the 14th; held Storytime in the Park on the 20th; and even had a visit with Oregon’s First Lady! We hope you all have been enjoying the beautiful weather, community building events, travel, and outdoor activities!

Even though Pride Month is over, the work to support and uplift our community continues! Thank you to all of our generous donors, sponsors, volunteers, community partners, and friends for supporting the Lower Columbia Q Center.

We are honored to continue serving the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, upholding our mission of being a safe and affirming nonprofit resource center that provides outreach, education, and financial support to the queer community and allies of the Lower Columbia region.

As we prepare for the end of summer and beginning of fall, we can expect some scheduling changes to best serve our community. Starting in August, our office hours will be available Monday - Thursday by appointment only. Please reach out to us to schedule a time to connect.

Gender Alliance will be meeting twice a month, on the second and fourth Tuesdays. Our Trans 101 Workshop will be offered monthly starting August 18th. We will also be ending our Queer Chill-Out Game night to extend our Youth Group.

But we also have some exciting additions to our Fall schedule - including a Memoir Writing Workshop with Zoë Bossiere, Community Coming Out Day Read Aloud, Queer Neurodiverse Peer-Support Group, and an LCQC Volunteer Training Workshop. Stay tuned for details!

Healthy Queer Living: Do you know your status? Get tested for STIs, pick up safe sex supplies, and learn more at Clatsop County Public Health. Visit their website for scheduling appointments, drop-in services and more info!

Recovery Inspirational Quote: “Recovery is about progression, not perfection.” Join our weekly Queer Recovery Group, in partnership with Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare, every Wednesday at 6p at the Q, and Fridays at 12p at CBH Bond St office in Astoria.

Queer Youth: Starting in September, we will offer Youth Drop-In Monday - Thursday from 3p - 5:30p, in addition to our weekly youth group time. Our Youth Group (13-17) is in partnership with Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare, Public Health, and the Columbia River Maritime Museum. This is a safe space for queer youth and allies ages 13-17 to connect, play games, create art, learn new skills, and have access to queer affirming health and wellness services. We also have a weekly YA Group (18-29) that meets every Monday at 5:30p for young queer adults interested in creating art, playing games, and building friendships. For more info on meetings, please reach out to Ben@lcqcpride.org

Book Clubs:

Family Storytime in the Park: We kicked off our newest family friendly programming in June, “Family Storytime in the Park.” Join us on the third Sunday at 10a at the Children’s Park Playground for family friendly themed stories, singalongs, and play!
Trans Philosophy Book Club: In January, we started a weekly trans philosophy book club, and started our first cohort with “Trans Philosophy.” After completing the series in the spring, we decided to take a brief summer pause and will resume with Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein, in September. Contact ben@lcqcpride.org for more info!

Summer Reading Suggestions

Motherlover by Lindsay Ishihiro
Love in Exile by Shon Faye
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

Upcoming Events: Queer Lil Hike at the Cathedral Tree Trail on Sunday August 10th, 10a. Family Story Time at the Park on Sunday August 17th 10a at the Children’s Park and Playground. See the flyers for more details!

If you want to get involved or learn more about the LCQC, please visit our website or reach out to info@lcqcpride.org.

Thank you for supporting the Lower Columbia Q Center, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Lower Columbia Q Center 5/28/19 Lower Columbia Q Center 5/28/19

June 2025 Newsletter

Over the past ten years, The Lower Columbia Q Center has been able to serve our 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies, thanks to you, and the generosity, support, and commitment of all our donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners. We are incredibly grateful for this outpouring of support from our local community members, small businesses, nonprofit organizations and institutions. Together we have put Astoria on the map for being one of the safest and queer affirming places in Oregon - and in the United States.

Within the past five years, the LCQC has supported hundreds of community members with vital resources to gender affirming care, financial aid, a private office space for drop-in services, peer and professional support groups, workshops and trainings, sexual health resources, basic needs, scholarships, educational and experiential events, and more.

We are honored to continue serving the community, upholding our mission of being a safe and affirming nonprofit resource center that provides outreach, education, and financial support to the queer community and allies of the Lower Columbia region.

Thank you for supporting the Lower Columbia Q Center, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Recovery Inspirational Quote: “One of the hardest things was learning that I was worthy of recovery.” Join our weekly Queer Recovery Group, in partnership with Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare, every Wednesday at 6p at the Q, and Fridays at 12p at CBH Bond St office in Astoria.

Queer Youth: Our Youth Group (13-17) is in partnership with Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare, Public Health, and the Columbia River Maritime Museum. This is a safe space for queer youth and allies ages 13-17 to connect, play games, create art, learn new skills, and have access to queer affirming health and wellness services. We also have a weekly YA Group (18-29) for young queer adults interested in creating art, playing games, and building friendships. For more info on meetings, please reach out to Ben@lcqcpride.org

Book Clubs:

Family Storytime in the Park: We kicked off our newest family friendly programming in June, “Family Storytime in the Park.” Join us on the third Sunday at 10a at the Children’s Park Playground for family friendly themed stories, singalongs, and play!
Trans Philosophy Book Club: In January, we started a weekly trans philosophy book club, and started our first cohort with “Trans Philosophy.” After completing the series in the spring, we decided to take a brief summer pause and will resume with Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein, in September. Contact ben@lcqcpride.org for more info!

Summer Reading Suggestions

American Teenager by Nico Lang (available at the LCQC office to rent)
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

Trans 101: Did you know the LCQC offers free weekly mini workshops for folks wanting to learn more about the trans community and become a better ally? Join us every Tuesday at 5p - 5:45p for a warm, interactive, and educational discussion about all things transgender! Reach out to Ben@lcqcpride.org for more info!

Historic Blurb: The First Pride was a riot! June is often seen as Pride Month to honor the historic events that led up to, and were a result of the great Stonewall Riots. On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn, a queer bar in New York's Greenwich Village, was raided by police. But instead of responding with the routine compliance the NYPD expected, queer patrons and a growing crowd decided to fight back. The five days of rioting that ensued changed forever the face of queer history. Since 1969, so much has changed in favor of queer rights and liberation - but we are not all free yet. There is still so much deliberate harm inflicted on queer and trans people in our country today by lawmakers, politicians, police, and community leaders. Now more than ever we need to stand up together in solidarity. To quote trans activist Marsha P Johnson, “No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation for All of Us.”

Upcoming Events: Queer Friends Adventure & Potluck at Fort Stevens! Friday July 4th at 10a. Walk, ride, or sashay around Coffenbury Lake near Shelter A!

See the flyer for more details!

Recap of Events: We are over the rainbow with joy and gratitude as we wrap up our Pride Celebration and Fundraiser Events! We are so grateful for our donors and sponsors for helping us raise over $20k! The Pride Gala was magical - imagine a full house of queer community and allies cheering on their talented friends as they performed and expressed their authentic selves. We were beyond grateful to witness the return of Daylight Comes to the Liberty Stage, Dinah Urell, and Dance Factory for a special night dedicated to the Lower Columbia Q Center. And no Gala event is complete without an after party at Inferno Bar and Lounge.

On Saturday, we braved the rain and held our Block Party in collaboration with Fort George in the Little Miss Texas Room! There were vendors, performances, a Photo Booth, and family friendly activities for everyone to enjoy. In the evening, we hosted a Queer Skate Night at the Armory, and later Movie Night at the Columbian Theater.

On Sunday, we had a fun, interactive and educational lecture and craft time on Queer Maritime Animals, courtesy of the Columbia River Maritime Museum. BUT WAIT, there’s more! We closed out the month with a Jazzercise Astoria class, Reverse Tie-Dye activity at Cambium, Pride March and After Party hosted by Sun Bean Coffee and friends. Thank you to ALL of our performers, guests, donors, and sponsors!

If you want to get involved or learn more about the LCQC, please visit our website or reach out to info@lcqcpride.org.

Thank you for supporting the Lower Columbia Q Center, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.