📸: Courtesy of Ian Morton
October is LGBTQ+ History Month, and we thought it would be lovely to take a stroll down memory lane and share this interview we did with Ian Morton, the executive director of Q Center on what they do to lift up fellow direct action organizations, how our city stacks up when it comes to serving LGBTQIA+ communities, and how you as a Bridgeliner reader can help. History is made everyday folks, and it’s transformative organizations like Q Center who help shape it for the better.
Q Center provides information, referral services, and resources — among other things — to Portland’s LGBTQIA+ community.
How long have you been helping Portland's LGBTQIA+ communities?
In some way, shape, or form, Q Center’s been arounds since around 2005. Hand Up Project started partnering with us right around the time COVID-19 started and these other partnerships have happened since then.
Historically, Q Center has leveraged its offices toward queer organizations, but not necessarily ones providing a direct service. That’s my own goal: to take it one step farther. Any space that we have should be leveraged toward that — anyone who walks in the door should be able to find something they need, and that’s a bit of a different vision than past directors have had.
When it comes to equity for the LGBTQIA+ community in Portland, how is our city doing (what’s good, what’s bad)?
That’s a big question, and it’s been an interesting experience for me personally to have as a new Portlander. What’s going well is that there are a lot of folks who have a true desire — whether it’s in activism or advocacy — to help when I sit down at the Mayor’s office to talk.
When we talk about equity — again, I get invited to tables that other folks are not going to — so the most important thing I can be doing is sitting down with boots-on-the-ground community members and activists who’ve been doing this work for years and have much better knowledge than I have.
At the very least, my voice should be a reflection of their needs and desires. When I’m at my best, I should be saying to folks in power, “Sure, I’ll come to your table, but it’s also important that these folks come with me, and we make this introduction.”
I think that trying to broker a sense of community and collaboration is something that is very important to me. I understand that there are so many systemic issues that are barriers to true equity; those systems are not going to be shut down overnight. We can march against them and say they should be, but there also needs to be pragmatism — as long as we have to work within these systems, how do we create equity? When I’ve looked around Portland, within queer organizations, I would say professional development is one piece that is really missing.
And that is what I’m working with partners to try and build now — to look for funding for things like that. I don’t want to replicate things that are already working — I’d prefer to ask those folks “Hey, can you spend a couple days a month here at Q Center doing the work you do really well instead of me trying to duplicate your position and be in competition?”
Because that competition doesn’t serve anybody. Professional development is one of those pieces that I experienced myself.
It took me a long time to get here, just doing the work and putting myself through school. I see that reflected in folks, whether they’re in the process of transitioning, and that getting derailed; folks who are queer and coming out of incarceration; and folks like myself who experienced a major life event that knocked them off their path. [There’s also] folks who are living with disabilities, people who are a part of the BIPOC community — how do we start equalizing that field and provide some of those services and some of that intel that you don’t get if you’re not at white, cisgender tables of power?
We’re trying to do a lot of deep work that is both pragmatic and a little bit revolutionary.
What are some of the best ways that Bridgeliner readers can support the Q Center and LGBTQIA+ Portlanders?
If there’s something you care about, you can reach out to me and ask, “how can I help make that happen?” If you reach out to me and say “I want to give you a donation to fund youth services,” I’ll tell you, “We have a youth group that meets regularly, but there are two other organizations that are directly doing that. I would love for you to have Q Center as part of your portfolio, but make sure if this is the thing you care about, here is the organization you can give to.”
If you want to support someone who is doing the fundamental work for Black and Brown communities, BIPOC communities, there are other people who deserve that funding more than us.
Individuals who determine their passion and their talent — don’t be afraid to reach out and come and exist in those spaces. If you are not of the identity of the folks you want to be serving, come in with an open heart and an open mind. You’ll need to leave your ego at the door, and you’re going to get challenged sometimes, and you’ll feel uncomfortable, so be prepared for that.
As a biracial man who has had some leadership in Black-led organizations, I have to do the same thing. I recognize that my level of privilege is different because of the way I look. Just be ready to have deep conversations, and if you’re challenged, be ready to respond with, “Thank you.” Go home and lick your wounds if you need to, but don’t let that stop you from coming back.
Folks need to be ready to be uncomfortable if they’re really in it to help.
To learn more about Q Center and their services, follow this link. You’ll find our full interview with Ian here.