Marie Equi Center 'a huge deal' for supporting Portland's LGBTQ+ community

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Friday marks National Coming Out Day but that's not the only reason the LGBTQ+ community is celebrating in Portland.

The brand-new Marie Equi Center is aimed at enriching the health of trans, queer, intersex and gender-diverse communities by offering a day shelter in Southeast Portland. Services include connecting people through peer programs and offering help to anyone dealing with substance use challenges.

"The goal for this center is to centralize as many supportive services for unhoused, low-income LGBTQIA+ folks as possible," said Marie Equi Center Executive Director and Co-Founder Katie Cox.

Organizers said they want the center to be a safe space that feels like home, evident in the spaces it has, like a backyard gym and living room.

Cox said many passionate staff and volunteers are LGBTQ+, bringing lived experience and empathy to ensure everyone feels understood and supported.

"I feel very strongly that, as a community member, we're all here and we all need to support each other," said Jack Draper, a volunteer.

The opening is the result of a January study highlighting higher rates of homelessness for the LGBTQ+ community. Among the list of recommendations was increasing culturally-specific shelters and housing.

Cox said the new shelter was made possible thanks to advocates like the ones behind that study.

The center is funded by a mix of grants, donations and $830,000 from Metro's supportive housing services tax revenue, distributed by Multnomah County.

"To actually have the resources that we need to provide for our community instead of having to be scrappy and hustle and all of those pieces, it's a huge deal," Cox said.

The center is named after one of Oregon's first female doctors, Marie Equi, who was a passionate activist for healthcare access.

The center hopes to soon add laundry and showers to its list of services, as well.

The Marie Equi Center's first day of operation is Monday, Oct. 14, where it will operate from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. More information can be found on the Marie Equi Center's website.