The official home for the westside’s LGBTQIA+ Pride community.
What we’re about
Pride Beaverton exists to champion self-determined LGBTQIA+ youth and our community.
We envision a future where Pride Beaverton exists to honor the past in a world free from oppression.
Board of Directors
Alicia Bermes
She/Her
Alicia (she/her) was born and raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago. She has an MA in Psychology from Loyola University. After working in Market research for five years she chose to stay home, raise a family, and homeschool two fabulous children! As she re-entered the workforce, she found the Chamber world and has been there ever since! As her children moved west, (Oakland CA, and Hood River) she chose to follow, continuing in Chamber work at the Beaverton Area Chamber.
Alicia has helped two churches through the process of becoming welcoming and affirming to all. Having two queer children, being a part of the LGBTQIA community is a part of her; so when asked to serve on the Pride Beaverton Board the answer was easy!
Monika Piazza
She/They
Born and raised in conservative Ohio, Monika never quite felt as though she belonged. Growing up, she didn't understand why. Then, college happened. She met many other kids who had had similar upbringings. It was then that a certain sense of pride formed in Monika...pride in character, contentment in choices, and a deep sense of belonging. At that point, Monika made the conscious choice to try and help others with their self discovery and understanding, while at the same time making sure everyone within her reach feels included and loved.
Monika has been on the Pride Beaverton board since 2022. She lives in Beaverton with her 2 dogs, Betty and Carol and enjoys anything outdoors from hiking and kayaking to spending days at the beach. You might see her, from time to time, scooting around town in her bright orange vintage VW Bus with the dogs' ears flapping out the windows.
Quinn Simpson
He/Him
Quinn Simpson co-founded Pride Beaverton in 2018 and has been the organization’s digital guru, managing the website and supporting outreach efforts. After moving from Portland in 2015, he became a proud “westsider,” getting involved with the community as the treasurer of the Central Beaverton Neighborhood Association Committee. By day, he also serves as a DEI-B leader, championing equity efforts alongside his other duties.
Outside of work, Quinn loves spending time with his husband, their big floof Odin, and their tuxedo cat Kiro, and he escapes into the wilderness in his self-made campervan whenever he can.
Lori Carroll
She/Her
Lori went to her first Pride in Long Beach, CA in the early 2000’s and discovered the importance of safe spaces. After graduating college she moved to the Portland Metro area in 2004 and spent the next 15 years figuring out what she wanted to do with her life. In 2018 she took over a local bookstore, Jan’s, and started working to create that same type of safe space in an everyday setting.
After celebrating with Pride Beaverton for 5 years, when asked if she would be willing to join the board, it was an absolute yes. She is an avid reader, animal lover and loves an adventure while getting to the destination.
LeeAnn Smelley
She/Her
LeeAnn is a self-described unicorn, when asked what brings her passion and resolve to championing equity and inclusion. As a 35 year westside resident, She sites the culmination of experiences as a juvenile counselor, a behavioral assistant to at-risk youth, a domestic violence survivor’s advocate, a corporate event planner, a non-profit fundraiser, and acquisition of a trauma informed lens that drives her to serve and grow Pride Beaverton. Her fierce desire to build relationships, foster community and instigate change in hearts and minds, so that one day her grandchildren will live in world, where the LGBTQIA+ experience is honored and amplified.
She loves long phone conversations, deep-dive research, a good cup of coffee, practicing mindfulness, creating welcoming spaces, being a MeeMaw to her grandsons and entertaining family and friends with her husband, dog and their 6 chickens. A true connector, she invites you to reach out and share your story or your desire to serve Pride Beaverton. Together we will be the change we desire to see in the world! “Allyship is a verb, not a noun”