LGBTQ+ History in Portland
The Rose City has a long history of LGBT activism and inclusiveness.
PQ Monthly
Know Before You Go
This section was produced in collaboration with PQ Monthly, dedicated to serving the LGBTQ communities of Oregon, Washington and the Bay Area. PQ Monthly is published on the third Thursday of every month and updated daily online.
Portland’s LGBTQ history likely goes back to the first human inhabitants of the area. According to the First Nations Two-Spirit Collective, native people have celebrated gender and sexual minorities for millennia. Explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clarke noted a number of encounters with such individuals in Oregon. While some tribes have struggled to keep these traditions alive in the face of colonial influences, the Portland Two-Spirit Society is evidence of the resurgence of Two-Spirit pride.
LGBTQ Portlanders first found widespread visibility, and later organization, through the local media. In 1970, not long after the riots at Stonewall, John Wilkinson and Holly Hart wrote articles about gay life in the Willamette Bridge. They called for gays and lesbians to organize, and the Portland Gay Liberation Front (PGLF) was born.
After the formation of the PGLF, advances in gay rights began to mount. Two years later, in 1972, Oregon became the fourth state to repeal its sodomy laws (enacted in 1853). By 1973, Rep. Vera Katz (who later became Portland’s mayor) had introduced the state’s first gay rights bill, which failed to pass by just two votes. There were even enough gay rights groups to hold an Oregon Gay Political Caucus. The following year, the Portland City Council adopted a resolution barring employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Portland’s first LGBTQ pride celebration took the form of indoor events such as dances, sponsored by the Second Foundation. The first outdoor public pride festival was held in 1975.
Portland saw its first AIDS-related death in 1982, and by 1983, Cascade AIDS Project and PALS (Personal Active Listeners) were formed. The 1980s also saw the beginnings of still-vibrant community institutions such as Esther’s Pantry, Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, Portland Lesbian Choir, Peacock in the Park and Equity Foundation.
In 1988, the Oregon LGBTQ community met a foe that would provide the impetus for the next decade of activism. The Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA), a conservative Christian group, sponsored Measure 8, which ultimately succeeded in repealing Gov. Goldschmidt’s executive order prohibiting the executive branch from discriminating based on sexual orientation in employment. The measure was overruled by the Oregon Supreme Court in 1992.
Still, the OCA tried again to fight LGBTQ rights with 1992’s Measure 9, which sought to prevent “special rights” for gay, lesbian and bisexual people. This became a galvanizing battle for the community and led to the creation of the state’s primary LGBTQ rights organization, Basic Rights Oregon (BRO), in 1996.
In 2006, Q Center — Portland’s first LGBTQ community center since 1978 — opened its doors. The following year, the Oregon legislature passed bills banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, public accommodations and employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Portland voters took that sentiment to heart in 2008 when they elected Sam Adams, the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city.
Adams led the Portland City Council in 2011 to unanimously make the health insurance policy for city employees transgender-inclusive. The state continues to be a leader in trans healthcare with a case currently in court challenging the policy for state employees.
In 2014, a U.S. District Court judge made marriage legal for all couples in the state after overturning Oregon’s ban on same-sex marriage. The Oregon district attorney declined to defend the law when it was challenged in a federal lawsuit, and the decision went into effect immediately. This was ten years after Multnomah County attempted to issue some of the first gay marriage licenses in the country in 2004.
In February 2015, Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown made history as the nation’s first openly bisexual governor when she was appointed to the position upon then-Governor John Kitzhaber’s resignation. Brown, the 37th governor of Oregon, has long been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights and organizations throughout the state.
For more on Portland’s rich LGBTQ history, visit the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN) and check out the walking tour.
Queer Community Events
Womxn's March & Rally For Action
The Womxn’s March & Rally For Action returns in celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. Take to the streets on a day that honors womxn and their long history of marching, organizing and speaking out for social justice. Educate. Engage. Empower.
The Plastic Weather Circus Spectacular
Local weirdos Plastic Weather have gone and made a circus, in the tradition of the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, they present to you: The Plastic Weather Circus Spectacular. Featuring musical performances from Plastic Weather, Seance Crasher and Internet Beef. In the spirit of variety, there will also be the comedy stylings of Jay…
SheBrew
Join the Human Rights Campaign and the Oregon Brew Crew for this all genders, all ages, fundraising event to show support for female-identified members of our community all while supporting LGBTQ+ people here in Oregon and across the nation. Featuring local female craft beer, cider and mead makers, musicians, comedians, businesses and community partners.
Drag Bingo with Peachy Springs
Peachy Springs hosts the monthly Drag Bingo night the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. Grab your people and come out for food, drink, a ton of laughs, bingo and prizes worth playing for.
Dining Out For Life
When you dine at a participating restaurant on April 30th, between 20%-35% of your bill goes directly to EMO’s HIV Day Center & OHSU’s Partnership Project . Both organizations work closely together to provide vital programs & services to individuals living with HIV in the Portland Metro area.
Miz Cracker: American Woman
American Woman, a comedy spectacular that asks: what does it mean to be a woman in America? As a lady raised by—and always surrounded by—strong female figures, Cracker cracks jokes and performs lip syncs about everything from beauty to birth control. But behind the comedy, there’s an urgent call for equal rights in a country…
Red Dress Party
At Portland’s annual Red Dress Party, all attendees are required to wear a red dress or pre-approved attire. Tickets to the event include entrance to the party, entertainment and dancing, as well as food and drinks all evening. All proceeds from this year’s Red Dress party will benefit Planned Parenthood and Q Center. Red Dress…
Portland Pride
Every June, the Portland Pride Festival & Parade makes a name for itself — and LGBTQ+ community members — all over town.
Peacock in the Park
Sequins, boas and a rainbow of talent mark LGBTQ variety show Peacock in the Park’s takeover of Washington Park.
First Thursday Reception: Sensuous Oil Paintings by Ponciano
Internationally known modern contemporary artist Ponciano brings a decadent selection of abstract and surrealist erotica to an intimate art show at Sanctuary. The artist’s private collection spans nearly two decades of original oil paintings, many kept secret due to queer imagery back when art dealers urged the artist to stay closeted professionally. For Portland’s First…
Vanity's Vaudeville Vixens
Vanity’s Vaudeville Vixens is an immersive theater experience, taking you through a reimagining of Portland’s 1920’s vaudeville circuit. Welcome to 1920! We are celebrating gyrating jazz, giggle water, and rouged knees. Our March showcase will highlight the titillating tease of the twenties, in our ode to Blues and Bawdy Houses. Featuring: The Fabulous Emcee: Eva…
Queens of Adventure vs the Lizard People
Dungeons & Drag Queens make their Portland debut with two nights of adventure! Join a party of fabulous drag artists as they embark on a role-playing comedy quest played live on stage. On March 18, our heroes venture to a swampy settlement where the basements aren’t all that’s flooded. This village is overrun by sashaying…
Queens of Adventure in Blood of the Vampire Queen
Dungeons & Drag Queens return to The Siren Theater for a second night of improvised role-playing comedy adventure, played live on stage. This time our heroes brave the batty battlements of a vampiric villain’s vicious villa. This castle oozes with gaudy gothic eleganza, creepy creatures, and sinister spirits seeking succor. Come roll the dice with…
The Mystery Box Show: True Stories All About Sex
“It’s like the This American Life of SEX!” Storytellers share their true sexual experiences in front of a live audience, offering a glimpse into one of the most basic human drives that connects us all. Stories told at The Mystery Box Show explore sexuality from the vanilla to the kinky, and all across the gender…
Bringing Diversity and Representation to Creative Projects
Listen to a conversation covering how creative projects can be accomplished in a more inclusive, meaningful way. Panelists include Chase Faulkner, a creative strategist and consultant for brands like Adidas and Nike; Fran Bittakisฟราน บิทากิส, founder of JOOP JOOP, a “radical creative agency committed to hiring and collaborating with womxn, BIPoC, LGBTQIAS2+ folx and accomplices;”…
The Mystery Box Social: Sex Talk Over Dinner
Let’s erase the stigma of sex being a forbidden topic of conversation. Normalization has always been a goal at The Mystery Box Show. This elegant dinner party takes it one step further by allowing and ENCOURAGING sex talk at the dinner table! The evening will begin with cocktails and appetizers, followed by 2 courses and…
White Bird Gala 2020
Join up for an evening of glitz and glamour at White Bird’s annual fundraising gala.