OUT Central Oregon

OUT Central Oregon

Promoting inclusivity, visibility, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ people in Central Oregon!
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We work within the social, cultural, and economic landscape of Central Oregon to provide support and encouragement for the LGBTQ+ community and our allies. By developing, building, and expanding partnerships with businesses, government, and other organizations, we enhance the supportive and welcoming local culture that encourages community involvement.

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Event Public Statement
Featured

OUT Central Oregon Announces 6th Annual Winter PrideFest™ With RuPaul’s Drag Race Superstar WILLAM and Standup Comic Dana Goldberg Headlining

The annual LGBTQ+ pride weekend, taking place MARCH 7-10, 2024 returns with a lineup of on-mountain and in-town events, activities, parties and more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—January 9, 2024; Bend, OR—OUT Central Oregon announces the sixth annual Winter PrideFest™ festival and fundraiser, Oregon’s most anticipated annual celebration of pride, will take place March 7-10, 2024. The event, focused on inclusivity among the LGBTQ+ community, historically marginalized individuals, and their allies, will include two major headliners: RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar WILLAM as host and headliner for the festivities and Dana Goldberg, a seasoned comedian featured on TBS, ABC, LOGO and Last Comic Standing will star in the evening comedy event.

“With snow in the forecast, WILLAM and Dana Goldberg lined up to host and headline events designed for all abilities, interests, ages and budgets, this is our best Winter PrideFest yet,” said Brayan Gonzalez, Acting President, OUT Central Oregon Board of Directors. “What sets this festival apart from all others is not only our unique setting in one of the country’s greatest outdoor recreation venues, but a wonderful destination for lodging, food and the incredible entertainment we are bringing to the table this year.”

Acclaimed for their remarkable presence on RuPaul’s Drag Race, WILLAM has risen to international fame, boasting an impressive career across drag, television, film and music, engaging fans with unapologetic individuality, razor-sharp wit and unparalleled talent as a multifaceted entertainer. The festival’s lineup includes all the past classics such as, the Welcoming Snocial at Old Mill District, Wigs – An Icebreaker at Seventh Mountain Resort, and the Winter PrideFest Dance Party at Midtown Ballroom. At Mt. Bachelor, Winter PrideFest™ will feature organized groups for Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.

Dana Goldberg, one of the top LGBTQ+ comedians in the country, will headline a night of side-splitting, no-apologies comedy. Goldberg is recognized as one of the “Top Five Funniest Lesbians in America” by Curve magazine and listed among the top three LGBTQ+ comedians by Advocate.com. She is also well known for her humanitarian efforts, having raised over 40 million dollars for non-profits, championing causes like marriage equality, LGBT rights, women’s health and HIV/AIDS education. 

Space is limited for some events and activities, and advance registration is highly encouraged. OUT Central Oregon, Mt. Bachelor and First Nature Tours provide discounts on lodging, lift tickets and registration for all events on their website (below). Portions of all ticket sales are donated to OUT Central Oregon to support this and future events for our Central Oregon LGBTQ+ community. 

For more information or to register for Winter PrideFest™ events, visit outwinterpridefest.com. 

About WILLAM:

WILLAM, is an iconic drag queen, actor and recording artist, celebrated for their captivating performances and irreverent humor. Rising to fame as a standout contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, WILLAM’s charisma and unique style have garnered a global fanbase. With an impressive career that spans drag, television, film and music, WILLAM continues to captivate audiences with their unapologetic individuality, razor-sharp wit and unmatched talent. Beyond the drag stage, WILLAM has made notable appearances in popular TV shows and movies, showcasing their versatility and leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. As a trailblazer and trendsetter, WILLAM brings an electric energy to any event. For an unforgettable experience filled with glamour, humor and entertainment, WILLAM is the queen who reigns supreme.

About Dana Goldberg:

Dana Goldberg, a seasoned comedian featured on TBS, ABC, LOGO and Last Comic Standing, commands the stage with a force of nature. With a stellar track record including performances at prestigious events like the San Francisco International Comedy Competition and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, Goldberg’s quick wit and engaging stage presence have garnered a devoted fanbase worldwide. Recognized as one of the “Top Five Funniest Lesbians In America” by Curve magazine and listed among the top three LGBT comedians by Advocate.com, Goldberg is a triple threat—mastering comedy, hosting and live auctioneering. Beyond the spotlight, Goldberg’s humanitarian efforts have raised over 40 million dollars for non-profits, championing causes like marriage equality, LGBT rights, women’s health and HIV/AIDS education. Currently hosting Out in Left Field and co-hosting the Daily Beans Podcast, Goldberg’s unique perspective, shaped by her upbringing as the youngest child in a single-parent, Jewish household, adds a humorous touch to her impactful storytelling. Learn more about Dana Goldberg at www.danagoldberg.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Justin Keyes-Bundy, OUT Central Oregon, 

justin@outcentraloregon.com

OUT Central Oregon Board of Directors, 

board@outcentraloregon.com

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About Winter PrideFest™ :

Now in its sixth year, Winter PrideFest™ is a multi-event weekend celebrating the diversity and inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community and allies through various winter activities, social gatherings, inspiring events and fun. From a grassroots inaugural event that drew 150 attendees, Winter PrideFest™ is expected to attract more than 1,500+ attendees to Bend, Oregon, and Mt. Bachelor, March 7-10, for four days of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating and evening social functions. For information or to register for Winter PrideFest™, visit outwinterpridefest.com or the Winter PrideFest Facebook Event page.

About OUT Central Oregon:

OUT Central Oregon (OCO), a 501(c)3 public charitable organization, which promotes inclusivity, visibility, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ people by enabling and fostering community engagement. Working within the social, cultural and economic landscape of Central Oregon, OCO develops and builds partnerships with businesses, government and other organizations to promote and support the LGBTQ+ community and provide access to resources. OCO educates the LGBTQ+ community and the public by providing public discussions, lectures, documentary screenings, social gatherings and outdoor activities. For more information, visit outcentraloregon.com or email info@outcentraloregon.com.

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VIDEO AND PHOTO ASSETS FROM PREVIOUS WINTER PRIDEFEST™ EVENTS 

[ DOWNLOAD HERE ] 

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2024 WINTER PRIDEFEST EVENT SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, MARCH 7th

Welcoming Snocial at the Old Mill District

Join us at the Old Mill District for a blowout opening Snocial event hosted by Drag Superstar WILLAM.  Meet with old friends and make new ones! Grab a drink, get some food, explore booths from local/regional LGBTQ+ organizations and stay for the one of a kind show put on by local artists and performers. The first 100 attendees will receive a FREE Winter PrideFest™ tote bag. 

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

Wigs – An Icebreaker:

A free entry event hosted at Seventh Mountain Resort – Ice skating with wigs! A fun way for participants to connect, engage with community partners and organizations, and have a beverage. Entertainment for the night include music, performances by local artists and an appearance by RuPaul’s Drag Queen WILLAM!

This event is open to all ages—so bring your kiddos and your families! $10 to skate (purchased at the venue day of, first come first served.)

Queer Comedy Night featuring Dana Goldberg:

If Dana Goldberg’s comedy routine were a book, it would be banned in Florida! Join us for a night of side-splitting, no-apologies comedy from one of the top LGBTQ+ comedians in the country. Several queer comedians from throughout Oregon will open this amazing night at Midtown Ballroom! Tickets begin at $40 and space is limited, reserve your spot at outwinterpridefest.com.

Bonfire on the Snow with Wanderlust Tours:

Deep snow awaits our exploration on snowshoes under the starry skies! Strap on the snowshoes to a spectacular, hand-carved amphitheater in the snow. Snow chairs will have been hand-carved into the snow and a bonfire will be glowing. Dessert and hot cocoa with a splash of Hazelnut Espresso Vodka will be served before heading back to civilization.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

Winter PrideFest™  Dance Party:

Hosted at MidTown Ballroom—The fun of Winter PrideFest™  continues with this no holds bar blowout LGBTQ+ dance party! Enjoy a space for all queer people (and friends) to come together to liberage, celebrate, enjoy and of course dance! The event will be headlined by the one and only Drag Superstar WILLAM! You won’t want to miss this night! Music will be spun by Oregon legend DJ SAPPHO. Check out last year’s party photos on the OUT Central Oregon page.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10

Drag Brunch and Show:

Winter PrideFest™ celebrations continue with this final day of LGBTQ+ pride, joy and love! Grab your friends and join us for this amazing lineup of five star drag performers that will blow your socks off!  

Organization Public Statement1 Comment
Featured

Update to our Central Oregon Community – From Board President.

November 3rd, 2023

Dear Central Oregon LGBTQ+ Community,

I hope this letter finds you well. As the Interim Board President of OUT Central Oregon, I wanted to take a moment to provide you all with important updates on our progress toward reorganizing the Board, the organization, and strengthening our commitment to transparency, equity, inclusion, and accountability. 

Over the past months, we have been diligently reflecting and working to build a more robust and effective Board of Directors that reflects the diversity and values of our LGBTQ+ community. I am pleased to report that as an organization we have made significant strides in this regard and will continue to move forward toward our goal, one of serving our community in a manner beholden of an advocacy nonprofit. 

Here’s what we’ve been doing thus far:

Restructuring: In 2022-23 the Board became aware of racist and intolerable remarks by previous members of OUT Central Oregon that caused immense harm and broke trust in our community. The actions the rest of the Board took against the individuals that caused said harm were swift, direct and robust.  As the new representatives of OUT Central Oregon, we unreservedly apologize for the acts felt by our community.  We recognize the gravity of these actions and are genuinely sorry for the pain they have caused. We know that pain is still felt deeply as we continue to address and reengage with our community. 

To move forward we are holding ourselves accountable and are committed to doing better and learning from this experience. We will work to ensure that inclusive practices, policies and procedures are fully in place and we will provide educational opportunities as a core value in our organization. We are listening, we are learning and we are acting. As a result, we have taken steps to reorganize the Board and the organization as a whole to better align with the needs and aspirations of our community. We expect our community to hold us accountable to our commitments now and in the future.

New Board Members: In June and July we welcomed two new Board members to the team, Lauren Rose (she/her) and Stefanie Siebold (she/her) respectively. These two individuals bring a wealth of diverse experiences and perspectives to our organization. Check out their bios here. 

Onboarding: All of our current Board members have participated in the onboarding process to ensure they are well-equipped, understand our mission, and commit to our organizational expectations to fulfill their roles effectively. The same will be true for future members we bring on to the Board. 

Protocols and Policies: We have established actionable and accountable protocols and policies in the areas of nondiscrimination, harassment, conflicts of interest, codes of ethics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion all of which are clear and unambiguous. These measures will help guide our organization in fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all. You can find these policies on our website

We recognize that these protocols and policies are crucial steps in providing transparency, equity, and accountability, as requested by our LGBTQ+ community members, partners, and stakeholders.

2022 Financial Report: OUT Central Oregon is proud to publish its first public financial report. Transparency and accountability is a core principle of the organization. As a nonprofit focused on the LGBTQ+ community in Central Oregon, we take the responsibility of proper financial management extremely seriously. Two examples of this commitment include the fact that all of our Board Members are unpaid volunteers and the fact that Board Members commit to not gaining financially from the actions of OUT Central Oregon. OUT Central Oregon relies heavily on the generosity of regional and national individuals, businesses, and organizations to sustain funding so OUT Central Oregon can continue its mission. You can view the 2022 Financial report here. 

Community Impact/Sponsorships: This year OUT Central Oregon has proudly contributed to continued community efforts by strengthening partnerships with local organizations who share the same vision for our LGBTQ+ community in Central Oregon. Here is what we’ve done thus far this year:

  • Sponsorship to The Father’s Group as its Volunteer Community Sponsor for Juneteenth Celebration.
  • Donated to The Father’s Group Ujima Youth Program.
  • Sponsored PrideVille during the annual June pride in the park.  
  • Donated to Warm Springs Community Action team towards their efforts to provide health and educational resources to the Warm Springs community. 
  • Donated to Boys and Girls Club of Bend. 
  • Sponsored BendFilm to secure and screen the films “Little Richard: I Am Everything” and “Indigo Girls”.  
  • Partnered with Big Queer Party to create: Queertober Fest – a day of celebration and provide our local queer makers and artists a space to showcase their talent. Followed by Big Queertober Party at Silver Moon.  
  • Held our annual Youth Halloween Night, an event free for our LGBTQ+ youth and families to come together at Boys and Girls Club of Bend. 

The monetary amount Out Central Oregon donated/sponsored to other organizations in our community during the fiscal year 2022/23 amounted to over $28,000.  This amount is greater than Out Central Oregon’s total net revenue for 2022 alone.  Current Board members for OUT Central Oregon have attended Deschutes County Health Advisory Board (DCHAB) in an effort to assist further advancement to equitable access to healthcare across all of Deschutes County for our LGBTQ+ community.  Lastly, Out Central Oregon and its Board members were asked to apply to join the City of Bend’s Human Right and Equity Commission (HREC) in effort to further advance our local governments equitable access for all.  

Our Current Priorities: 

  1. Board Member Recruitment: As we continue this transformative journey, we are excited to announce that we are actively recruiting new Board members who share our vision and dedication to the LGBTQ+ community. 

We will prioritize giving applicants of color, those with varying abilities, veterans, transgender and gender nonconforming individuals the opportunity to be at the forefront of our initiatives and leadership positions. By prioritizing underrepresented and marginalized identities, we aim to amplify voices and experiences, enriching our perspectives, and ensuring that our organization truly reflects the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community that we serve. We firmly believe that a more inclusive and diverse leadership team strengthens our ability to advance the rights and well-being of all individuals in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties. 

If you, or someone you know, are passionate about our cause and wish to contribute to the betterment of our community, we encourage you to apply.

Application Details:

  1. 2024 Winter PrideFest™ : We are deep in planning our most anticipated event and biggest fundraiser of the year, Winter PrideFest™. Mark your calendars for March 7-10, 2024. Join us for a weekend of fun, friendship, and fundraising as we celebrate diversity and inclusion in the winter wonderland of Bend. We anticipate well over 1,200 participants to attend the next festival. We are currently accepting donations and organizational sponsorships for the event(s). Contact us here if you are interested in learning more. Be on the lookout for event details soon along with the announcement of our Winter PrideFest™ headliners! Which we anticipate will propel the festival into the national stage. Something for which we are so excited, you won’t want to miss this! In the meantime, please check out the Winter PrideFest™ website for the most up to date information regarding the 2024 festival here.

So what’s next you may ask? Well, the work is not done.  Once we have a fully implemented Board reflective of our community and another year of Winter PrideFest™ under our belt, we look forward to executing an OUT Central Oregon Strategic Plan promoting visibility, inclusivity, advocacy, and educational opportunities as well as a DEI Action Plan, all with community voices as its cornerstone. Your involvement is vital in shaping the future of OUT Central Oregon, and we welcome all who are interested to join us in this important work. Together, we can create a stronger, more inclusive, and equitable Central Oregon for all LGBTQ+ individuals.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our shared mission. We look forward to the positive changes we will bring about as we move forward together.

With warm regards,

Brayan Gonzalez (he/him) 
Interim Board President 
OUT Central Oregon