About UTOPIA Portland

United Territories of Pacific Islander Alliance - Portland Chapter is a non profit run by and for Queer and Trans Pacific Islanders (QTPIs) established in 2017. We organize to heal through the love for our culture and the love for our people. Our mission is to provide sacred spaces to strengthen the minds and bodies of QTPIs -- Queer & Trans Pacific Islanders in Oregon and Southwest Washington -- through community organizing, political engagement, and cultural stewardship. Our vision is To restore and reimagine the vital roles of QTPIs within our communities and ensure a world that values, nurtures, respects, and celebrates QTPIs in our navigation of self-determination and empowerment.

Our History

The history, stories, and strength of Queer and Trans Pacific Islanders is deeply embedded in the roots of our culture and language. European colonization of the Pacific Islands resulted in the suppression of our culture and practices, including the inclusion and expression of Queer and Trans people. We hold the creators of our islands, our ancestors who created our roots to the land and ocean, and our elders who have fought for inclusion and visibility in our spirits as we do this work.

Penina Ole Vasa (Pearls of the Ocean) by Falo Ieru