OUT Central Oregon

Welcome Here Project – a Central Oregon pride initiative started in 2020 to engage businesses and individuals in creating a welcoming community. The ‘You Are Welcome Here’ helps show you are inclusive to people of color, transgender people, and LGBTQ+ people.  To date we’ve given away over 70,000 stickers to businesses, school, and individuals.

Connecting LGBTQ+ Healthcare Resources – OUT Central Oregon was formed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit when in 2018 several community members were looking for accessible HIV Testing. Though our initial efforts – Deschutes County worked to obtain a $1.5M grant which led them to hire a regional HIV Coordinator and acquire an HIV Testing Van which frequents events throughout Central Oregon. Today – you can find a range of healthcare resources including for HIV, Transgendered Health and Mental Health on our website LGBTQ+ Health Resources

Winter PrideFest -Growing from 150 participants in 2018 to over 1,200 participants in 2022 Winter PrideFest offers a full weekend of fun and inspiring Winter events in Bend, Oregon to include: Organized groups for Alpine and Nordic skiing, Drag Tubing, On-mountain Apres Ski Celebration + other events all weekend long!! Learn More

Checkout our panel discussions in 2022 “LGBTQ Inclusivity in Sports“ and 2019 “Beyond the traditional bounds of gender and sexuality in outdoor sports” featuring LGBTQ+ athletes, leaders and influencers.

Central Oregon Pride – since 2004 Pride has been celebrated in Bend, Oregon starting with 35 people and growing to over 5,000. In 2022, OUT Central Oregon began producing the event – which had its largest turnout ever. Learn more

Bend Pride 5K Run/Walk celebrates inclusivity and expanding on the Central Oregon Pride Festival. 5K festive course, followed by a Drag Dash (a short 100-200 meter ‘dash’ of fun and silliness), Spirit awards for Costumes, and finishes with raffles of awesome prizes donated by many of our super cool local sponsors! Learn More

OUT in Focus – a collaborative project with BendFilm aimed at increasing
access to films which highlight diversity and inclusion. Learn More

Screenings of over 50 films to date!! – the program aims to establish a greater depth of culture within Central Oregon by providing space for meaningful discussions related to identity of LGBTQ+ and other marginalized characters – history, culture, sexuality, aging, family, and coming-out issues. Monthly screenings of lesser known films will provide a regular opportunity for community to form, watch, and converse on these topics. Quarterly the gatherings will strive to bring recently released, innovative film where cast and/or crew will be invited in order to provide a first hand perspective to community conversations.

OUTCentralOregon is proud to support diversity and inclusion in the outdoors by offering a scholarship program to Mt. Bachelors award winning SKI OR RIDE IN 5℠ (SORI5) program. Up to 25 participants will be given the opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard – culminating in a Celebration at Mt. Bachelor during Winter Pride March 2022. Learn More

Roller Pride Dance & Skate Party – partnering with Bend Parks and Recreation – in 2022 we held the first ever ‘Roller Pride’. With over 650 participants (where over half were youth) we hope to continue creating safe space for queer youth.

Following the success of ‘Roller Pride’ a local student came to us asking “when is the next youth dance party?”. This developed into a Halloween Youth Party, centered on the LGBTQ+ community. We had over 75 youth and 25 parents present and so many cool costumes!

Youth Equity and Leadership Summit – is dedicated to creating a youth-led space that centers the voices and experiences of youth of color, LGBTQ+ Youth, and others with marginalized identities or experiences. The summit aims to provide opportunities for these youth and their allies to engage and inspire each other to emerge as leaders in our communities. Join us in supporting our future leader in creating more equitable and inclusive Central Oregon. Learn More

Other Outdoor events:

Learn about our mission of ‘Inclusivity in the Outdoors’ with Wyn Wiley (Pattie Gonia). OUT Central Oregon brings community together to celebrate outdoor activities – with Pride. This is what outdoor communities can look like – where diversity and inclusivity are embraced – even in rural areas like Bend. With a backdrop of Winter PrideFest, Pattie Gonia joins OUT Central Oregon to support outdoor life and activities that are welcoming to everyone.

Lgbtq+ Climb Night is monthly event at ‘The Circuit Gym Bend’ with OUT in the Wild – with over 20 participants. Celebrating diversity and creating community in outdoor spaces. Also, checkout OUT in the Wild regularly for more climbing events year-round!

‘Global Climbing Day’ – on August 24, 2019 we teamed up with The North Face + Bend Rock Gym ‘ to create an inclusive community climbing event. Celebrating the walls that unite us, not divide us. Learn More

On May 7th, 2019 we partnered with Gearfix for ‘A Conversation with Nikki Smith’. Nikki is a sponsored climber, outdoor photographer, and author, and she happens to be transgender. Learn More

Deschutes Land Trust brings local leaders discuss working to create more inclusive and equitable outdoor spaces in Central Oregon Panelists share personal outdoor experiences and how we can all play a part in fostering an inclusive environment on our favorite trails, mountain lakes, ski lifts, and local parks. Watch Now