Laura moved to Coos County in 2013 with her partner and three cats. In 2015, after a series of community conversations about LGBTQ+ needs, she founded Q & A of Coos County with her friend, Beka Young. Q & A has been the highlight of her Thursday afternoons ever since. When she is not spending time with the youth attendees, you can find her reading, jamming out to Indigo Girls, dancing around her living room, or paddling around in the nearest body of water.

My name is Jamar Ruff. I moved to North Bend in 2017.  I have been volunteering with Q&A for the past 3 years as a Q&A Elder. When I am not volunteering with the amazing youth of this organization I am working as the Director of the South Coast Equity Coalition and volunteer with HIV Alliance. I love to cook, love to laugh and love to volunteer. Q&A of Coos County creates a space of acceptance, pride and growth for the youth it serves.

Daphne is a multimedia producer living on the Oregon coast. She has an extensive background in video editing and multimedia production.

Daphne is also an electronic musician, a singer, a vegetarian home chef, an organizer for Southern Oregon Coast Pride, an elder for the Q&A Youth Group, and a member of the 2021 Catalyst Training Cohort via Basic Rights Oregon.

Anse is a drama therapist in Coos Bay/North Bend who enjoys working with LGBTQ+ folx. He moved to the area in 2018 and was introduced to Q&A and the Southern Oregon Coast Pride organizations. He immediately felt inspired to join, as he feels that the most important thing is living one’s life authentically and openly so that others feel safer to do so themselves. When he’s not working with the queer community, he can be found reading, playing video games, and participating in local theatre groups.

Diana identifies as Indigenous, Latinx and White. She is bilingual in Spanish and was first diagnosed with ADHD shortly after the birth of her first son. Diana has worked with and advocated for youth for 27 years.

Diana is a member of Southern Oregon Coast Pride, Coos Hispanic Allies, the Regional Health Equity Coalition, Connect Suicide Prevention and Post-vention Team, Coos Systems of Care, and various other statewide equity and behavioral health work groups.

Skye joined the Q&A Elders in 2020 and is also the Communications and Gender Affirmation Closet Coordinator for Southern Oregon Coast Pride.

Karen has been a member of our steering committee for multiple years and recently joined the group of Elders who ensure Q&A runs smoothly each week. She plays drums, loves Japanese language and culture, and is one of the best listeners and storytellers.

I love to paint and am a total Trekkie (Janeway is the best captain. Fight me). As a queer therapist I feel that it is important to be visible and make safe spaces in our community. I am happy to provide information or letters for local folks seeking gender affirmation care.