Our Values

UVRC acknowledges that everyone has their own unique experiences of discrimination and oppression and we must consider everything and anything that can marginalize people – gender, race, class, sexual orientation, physical ability, etc.

UVRC is operated and organized by community members.  Our goal is to promote the integration of our LGBTQIA2S+ community through awareness creation, advocacy and our participation and contribution to the development of our events and programs.

UVRC understands that Social Justice cannot be obtained if its framework lacks the validation of Human Rights to all citizens. We understand that Human Rights are universal and everyone is entitled to these rights. These rights apply to all people everywhere without distinction.
These rights include but are not limited to:

• Economic, social, and cultural rights which are the freedoms, privileges, and entitlements that individuals and communities require to live a life of dignity.  

• Political rights which refers to an individual's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the society and state without fear of discrimination or repression.  

• We also acknowledge that current social justice includes access to resources and equal opportunity.

UVRC  believes in meeting communities where they are and allocating resources and opportunities as needed to create equal outcomes for all community members.

We adopt policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals, including people of different ages, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations.

UVRC recognizes that the systems we live in are not meeting the needs of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. We as an organization understand direct action, cooperation, mutual understanding, and solidarity within our community is the best way to meet the needs of its members. A collective self reliance in which all members within this community have something of value to contribute i.e. their ideas and skills.

UVRC creates visibility and awareness through our events and activities as well as providing trainings to help our community at large to understand the specific needs and issues the LGBTQIA2S+ community faces. Visibility can foster a great sense of positive affirmation of one's own identity. Further, visibility creates awareness, rather than reverting to stereotypes, the entire community becomes a full visible spectrum.

UVRC understands that wellness is not just a physical state. Wellness is a holistic integration of physical, mental and spiritual well-being. As a community we share common goals, interests and experiences. As a collective our focus is to provide services in which our community can thrive rather than just survive.

UVRC will actively participate in volunteerism and community engagement efforts, within the greater Douglas County area and the state of Oregon.

UVRC is committed to creating safe places where LGBTQIA2S+ folks can come together and enjoy  community spaces without fear of violence. Our goal is to enable everyone to exist in an environment that is free of hate and discrimination.

UVRC honors the legal and ethical obligation to the widespread availability of relevant, reliable information about our performance, financial position and governance of our organization. We believe in preserving the trust community members and donors place unto us.