We’re leaving Twitter. Here’s why.

Effective this Friday, July 7, Basic Rights Oregon is permanently deactivating our Twitter account.

We don’t take this decision lightly. Our work at BRO relies upon our ability to connect with LGBTQ2SIA+ Oregonians across the state, and social media is a vital tool for this in 2023. But we’ve gotten to the point where we simply cannot square our values and mission with continuing to operate an account on Twitter.

Our mission is to advance the legal and lived equality of LGBTQ2SIA+ Oregonians. Over the last year, we’ve watched Twitter go from inhospitable to blatantly hostile to our community, and particularly trans folks. Tweets promoting equality for trans and queer people are met with floods of ugly responses. These aren’t people respectfully disagreeing with political stances—we’re seeing vulgar images, dehuamanizing language, accusations of child abuse, and threats to physical safety. All of this is fueled by a Twitter owner who not only doesn’t care to moderate the platform, but seems to enjoy fanning the flames for his own ego.

We can’t in good conscience contribute to a platform that toys with LGBTQ2SIA+ people’s safety and dignity in this manner. So we’re deleting our Twitter account this Friday.

You can still connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, our website, and via email. We’re also open to trying new communication platforms, so let us know if there’s somewhere you’d like us to be. 

Thanks to everyone who followed us and have engaged in constructive ways with BRO on Twitter. We look forward to continuing the conversation on better platforms.