Queer Heroes NW 2013

Bill Dickey

Many people can honestly tell stories of Bill Dickey’s generosity to the LGBTQ community. Taken one at a time, the stories are impressive.

But the big picture is bigger than most of us realize. Over many years, Bill Dickey has been a staunch advocate and devoted financial supporter of too-many-to-list nonprofit groups and organizations, not only within the GLBTQ community, but also ally organizations, and progressive causes in general.

Basic Rights Oregon, Equity Foundation, Q Center, ACLU of Oregon, and Oregon Humane Society, the Portland City Club and many others are consistently the recipients of Dickey’s enthusiasm and generosity.

Bill’s business career has had some vertiginous ups and downs, and it can’t have been easy to find the time and energy, let alone the funds, which he so diligently shares with others. Bill’s strong work ethic has brought him back to a place of success, and he didn’t lose sight of the principle that businesses should be good citizens. Morel Ink is an environmentally-aware business, providing good living wages for employees, and demonstrating that good business is good for everybody.

The LGBTQ community is lucky to have Bill on our side.

Q Center and the Gay & Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN) have partnered on an annual multi-media celebration of LGBTQ pioneers and leaders from our local movement called Queer Heroes NW!

The project features a new queer hero (nominated by the greater LGBTQ community) every day online during Pride month (June). The 30 queer heroes are also featured on the walls of the Aaron Hall Gallery at Q Center for the months of June and July, as well as in Q Center’s Pride booths all over the region.

After Pride is over each year the portable display hits the road and makes the rounds all over community centers, schools, churches, and businesses in the Pacific NW! Help us honor our queer heroes by spreading the word.