About Us
Our Story
Queer Eugene is a local organization started in June 2021 by Lake and Trystan Weeks to support queer folks in Oregon with access to resources and community.
As of July 2022 we received IRS confirmation of our 501(c)(3) status!
Our mission is to organize support, resources, and community for queer folks in the state currently known as Oregon.
We do this through tabling, hosting events, starting and running programs/groups, supporting community members to start their own programs/groups/events, and organize resources to donate to partner organizations.
Lake has stayed with Queer Eugene as President of the Board and Acting Director.
Trystan has stayed with Queer Eugene as the Technology Administrator and volunteers at events.
We hope to grow our presence and connections within the community and create space for all of us to enjoy together! < 3
Structure of Organization
Summary of Queer Eugene’s structure of operations:
Board members are in charge of the nonprofit operations, including paperwork-type responsibilities, finances, and connecting with other organizations.
Additionally, they help support various programs, events, clubs, and services that “Coordinators” coordinate (shortened to “affinity project”).
Coordinator, for Queer Eugene, is defined as a person who volunteers or contracts with Queer Eugene to coordinate an affinity project. (They are welcome to coordinate more than one if they are so inclined).
A coordinator is a community member who has affinity for a project they want to share with their community, with the intent to interact with and support their community to build relationships, and depending on what they coordinate,
perhaps even build skills.
A volunteer is a coordinator who does it without pay; a contractor is a person who does it for a nominal fee (depending on if/when Queer Eugene has the funding to support a paid contractor).
Additionally, Queer Eugene hopes to have funding to financially support affinity projects. For example, we have our Rainbow Family Read Aloud coordinated by a volunteer, and we buy one book a month to be used for that affinity project.
Currently, Queer Eugene can help support a coordinator and lift up their affinity project through attaining a venue, offering helpful information/resources, and sharing the affinity project on our social media accounts, website, and
informal email newsletters.
If you have an affinity project you’d like to develop and share with the community, reach out to Lake Director@QueerEugene.org to see what’s possible to share with our community!!!
Board Leadership
Lake They/She
Co-Founder, President of the Board
Lake is an Independent DEI Contractor and educator in Oregon who supports the education system with equity and inclusion practices- and joy! With their lenses of neurodivergence, disability, and queerness, they started Queer Eugene to help build intersectional community for everyone. They are happy to personally have a great little family here in Oregon and want to help change systems to better support people, and help others find meaningful connections in their community.
Lulu She/Her
Vice President
My name is Lulu and my pronouns are she/her. I am a mother of two, partner, and involved with all things ASD. My passion is found in serving/supporting my community on a micro-level that inspires others to believe that life has no ceiling to their dreams. I received my undergrad in family psychology and headed to UO for a master’s in school psychology. Neuro-spicy life is fun and I encourage all to be their authentic selves! I’m here to listen and help anyway I am able.
Cortney Harrington They/Them
Secretary of the Board
My name is Cortney. I am a Life Skills teacher for middle school students. I graduated from the University of Oregon with a Master's degree in education. I am the secretary board member of Queer Eugene. I believe in using any abilities I have to help build a community that can find homes within themselves as well as one another so that we can all thrive instead of trying to survive.
Devyn Thurman They/He
Treasurer of the Board
Devyn is a 30 year old queer who has been living in Eugene for 5 years with their partner and 2 cats. Currently working as a social worker, Devyn has had the opportunity to work with many different communities in lane county and strives to support connections throughout it. Devyn has worked as a group leader in numerous Rotary conferences, as well as has coordinated volunteer events and fundraisers throughout college. They are excited for more opportunities to help build up our community. An Oregon native, they enjoy spending time at the beach, planning camping trips and having every window open to smell the rain. When they’re not at work you will find Devyn playing board games with friends, arguing with their cats, cooking needlessly complicated meals and napping.
Board Members
Gabie Mbenza-Ngoma She/Her
Board Member
Gabie Mbenza-Ngoma is a queer, Black Congolese American Antiracist elementary school teacher in Portland.
Branden McFarland He/Him
Board Member
Branden is a middle school teacher in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a Master's degree in education. As a queer educator, Branden is dedicated to making schools safe and affirming spaces for young people. In his free time he enjoys collecting and playing trading card games, painting D&D miniatures, and baking bread.
Andy He/Him
Board Member
Andy is a Community Health Worker in the Eugene area. He was born in South Korea and adopted by an American family as an infant. After spending his childhood in the suburbs of Chicago, he moved to the Bay Area, which helped to shape the person that he is today. As someone who struggled with addiction in his early adulthood, he strongly values harm reduction and education, and he is always willing to have a conversation about those topics. He hopes to bring his lived experience and a diverse opinion to the QE board. He is excited to find more opportunities to serve Eugene's queer community, which has always accepted him just the way he is.
Lead Volunteers
Trystan Weeks He/Him
Co-Founder, Technology Administrator
Trystan is a local queer artist and tech aficionado. Trystan currently manages the QE website and our technology needs. Between projects, he is working on web development and exploring the intersection of art, science, and technology. Trystan is excited to help foster online communities and to connect people with resources. From Salem originally, he's been living in Eugene for five years with his partner and two cats.
Blake Slama They/Them
Program Coordinator
Blake serves as the Program Coordinator for Queer Eugene and attends community outreach events as much as possible. Blake is the contact for several of QE’s own community events and the dedicated clothing donation picker-upper for QE’s One-Stop-Shops. Originally from the upper midwest, Blake moved to Eugene in hopes of warmer weather and a queer community to call their own. Through various friends and community events they stumbled upon Lake/Queer Eugene where they found the opportunity to engage and help support a wonderful and vibrant group of folks! Along with their position at QE, they recently began working in the social services field. In their free time, Blake enjoys walks by the river and video/board games!
Kayla Eckloff She/Her
Event Coordinator
Kayla is a queer special education teacher in Eugene with a passion for universal design and inclusivity. Kayla helps coordinate events for Queer Eugene such as the Annual Fundraiser and is the host of our trivia events!