Nancy Haque

A long-time organizer and activist in social justice movements, Nancy Haque has dedicated her life to trying to make the world a kinder place. Currently, she is the Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon (BRO), the state’s major advocate for LGBTQ equality.

Nancy Haque Nancy first came to BRO as an out queer volunteer in 2007. A few years later, she joined the Board of Directors and then transitioned to a staff role in 2015, as Co-Executive Director. She became the sole Executive Director in 2018.

Under her leadership, Basic Rights Oregon expanded its racial justice work as a founding member of the executive team of One Oregon, an immigrant, refugee, and Muslim justice coalition. BRO also deepened its commitment to transgender justice by launching Catalyst, a leadership development cohort for transgender and gender non-conforming Oregonians.

Prior to joining the staff of BRO, Nancy spent seven years as the Building Political Power Director at Western States Center, where she led a voter organizing training and empowerment project and managed leadership development programs. Nancy spent eight years working on workers rights and economic justice issues, with Jobs with Justice and the National AFL-CIO.

The daughter of immigrant parents from Bangladesh, Nancy is the first member of her family born in the United States. She grew up in the DC area, where she was inspired to become politically engaged, joining her first protest as a fourth grader. She studied Political Economy and Social Change at The Evergreen State College and has a master’s degree from the Center for Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She lives in Southeast Portland with her young son, piles of books and vats of glitter. She is an aspirational baker and crafter.