The Living Room

The Living Room provides community connection, peer support, and leadership development for LGBTQ+ youth ages 14 to 20 and their allies across Clackamas County. Operated in collaboration with New Avenues for Youth, the organization creates welcoming, affirming environments where young people can celebrate their identities, access essential supplies, and build supportive networks outside the traditional school setting.

Weekly in-person drop-in sessions offer structured activities planned collaboratively with youth participants, including craft workshops, open mic performances, game tournaments, and movie nights. Virtual drop-ins hosted on Discord allow teens to connect, converse, and participate in themed evening activities from home, ensuring accessible community for youth across suburban and rural areas of the county. A youth resource closet supplies personal hygiene products, gender-affirming items, and emergency necessities for young people facing precarious living situations or housing insecurity.

Beyond drop-in programming, the organization coordinates signature regional events and educational partnerships throughout the calendar year. Annual highlights include the Clackamas County GSA Summit, an Alternative Prom centered on queer youth celebration, and community observances for the Trans Day of Remembrance. Staff also deliver community workshops, mentor school-based Gender and Sexuality Alliances, and provide cultural competency training for local educators, social service agencies, and healthcare providers, fostering safer and more inclusive environments throughout the broader community.