LGBTQ+ Community
Visitors to Portland can experience huge LGBTQ+ Pride parades, drag performances, queer film festivals, dance parties and more.
Portland’s queer community includes a Guinness World Record holding drag queen, gay dance clubs and sports leagues, community organizations, and dozens of LGBTQ+-owned businesses. Portland was also the first major city to elect an openly gay mayor (Sam Adams in 2008).
Note: This section was produced in collaboration with ProudQueer.com, formerly known as PQ Monthly.
LGBTQ+ History in Portland
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 Clark 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.
Portland’s gay communities 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 about Portland’s queer community 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 gay 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.
LGBTQ+ Pride in Portland
Connect with Portland's queer community every day.
LGBTQ+ Nightlife
Portland has no shortage of LGBTQ-owned and queer-friendly bars and clubs. Whether you're looking for a relaxing night with friends, a high-energy dance party or a drag show, Portland delivers.
Portland Pride
Every summer, the Portland Pride Festival & Parade makes a name for itself — and LGBTQ+ community members — all over town.
Drag in Portland
Indulge in Portland’s artful drag scene with local stars like Poison Waters, burlesque dancers like Jayla Rose and acrobatic drag shows all over the city.
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 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.
The OCA continued to fight against gay 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 in 1996.
In 2006, Q Center —Portland’s first new 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 healthcare for transgender people.
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 marriages. 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 licensesin 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 following 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). Trace the footsteps of Portland’s queer community with their self-guided walking tour.
LGBTQ+ Community
Find LGBTQ+-owned restaurants, bars and other organizations to support on the Oregon Pride in Business (ORPIB) website, or search Portland’s Gay Directory.
When not touring internationally, Portland Gay Men’s Chorus performs locally throughout the year. The annual holiday concert is a Portland tradition.
Portland Lesbian Choir is an all-inclusive choir that welcomes people of various gender identities, sexual orientations, and musical abilities. It strives to provide thoughtful entertainment at its semi-annual concerts and community performances.
Athletic Clubs and Outdoor Exploration
Connect with Portland’s queer community and do something to benefit both your physical and mental health by signing up for a run, hike, kayak trip, or other activity hosted by one of Portland’s queer workout clubs or outdoor adventure groups.
For group fitness in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment, drop by Prism Moves. Experienced instructors offer strength and conditioning classes seven days a week.
Whether you’re a hardcore runner, or just like long walks outdoors, Portland Frontrunners has a weekly event to help you get you r miles in. Each run, walk or trail run is followed by socializing at a local bar or brunch spot.
The Adventure Group welcomes LGTBQ+ and LGBTQ+-friendly people to their hiking, kayaking, and winter cross country skiing activities. RSVP via Meetup.com.
For multi-day outdoor adventures that may include summiting Mount St. Helens or paddling down the Willamette River with a kayak full of camping gear, check out Wild Diversity. Most events are reserved for people who identify as LGBTQ2S+ or BIPOC.
PDX Lesbian Network organizes outdoor activities such as hiking, snowshoeing and rafting. Join their Facebook group to see upcoming events.
Gay Sports Leagues in Portland
Out Loud Sports organizes a variety of recreational sports activities throughout the year, including kickball, soccer, yoga, strength training and the occasional Mario Kart tournament. Everyone is welcome to participate regardless of sexuality, gender identity, or experience.
You can also show your support for Portland’s queer community by attending an amateur athletic event. Local leagues include:
- Portland Gay Volleyball Club
- NetRippers (soccer)
- PDX Pride Bowling League
- Rose City Softball Association
- Rosetown Ramblers (square dancing)
Portland is also the home to the professional women’s soccer team, The Portland Thorns FC, and a women’s full-contact football team the Portland Fighting Shockwave. Portland’s roller derby team, The Rose City Rollers, are three-time world champions.
Speaking of roller skating, Oaks Park hosts a Gay Skate night every first and third Monday of the month from 7 -9:30 p.m. There are also open skate sessions throughout the day, Tuesday through Sunday. Open skate sessions are $12 per person and include skate rental.
LGBTQ+ Community Groups and Resources
Safe Spaces and LGBTQ+ Support Centers in Portland
Portland is home to numerous safe spaces and mental health resources for people of all gender identities, including Q Center, the largest LGBTQ+ center in the Pacific Northwest. Q Center welcomes all LGBTQ2SIA+ people and provides peer support services for different ages and gender identities.
The oldest domestic violence shelter on the West Coast, Bradley Angle is also the only agency in Portland that provides support for LGBTQ+ domestic violence survivors. They work with people of all gender identities and are polyamory and kink-friendly.
Pride Foundation supports LGBTQ+ equality in Oregon. Building on its first Oregon grant awarded in 1991 supporting the development of LGBTQ+-focused domestic violence services, Pride Foundation has been growing support for local Oregon organizations and scholars thanks to donors and volunteers.
Cascade Aids Project is dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention and supporting those living with HIV/AIDS. The project also runs Pivot, a drop-in space for gay, bisexual and transgender men.
Our House provides healthcare, housing and other vital services to low-income people living with HIV/AIDS. Associated organizations (Esther’s Pantry and Tod’s Corner) provide food, clothing and personal care items to those in need living with HIV/AIDS.
Outside In is a social service organization that helps homeless youth and other marginalized people, including transgender, non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals. Their Federally-Qualified Clinic provides medical services for youth ages 13-14 (with a guardian), teenagers, adults and seniors.
Rose Haven is a day shelter and community center serving women, children and gender-nonconforming people in Portland. Community health workers and student nurses are available to address medical needs.
The Sexual Minority Youth Recreation Center (SMYRC) provides a safe, welcoming environment for minority and LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-23. The supportive environment includes positive activities like art, music, community organizing, open mic nights, drag shows, and support groups. SMYRC also provides case management services, counseling, education, and more.
Community Organizations
Dykes on Bikes supports a diverse community of women, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, through rides, charity events, Pride events and education. There are Dykes on Bikes PDX rides Saturday and Sunday except in bad weather. Visit the DOBPDX Facebook Page for upcoming event information.
Northwest Gender Alliance provides support and social opportunities for transgender, transsexual and cross-dressing individuals. Connect with their welcoming community via the Northwest Gender Alliance Facebook Group.
The Portland chapter of PFLAG supports LGBTQ+ individuals and their families in the greater Portland metro area. Keep an eye on PFLAG’s events for upcoming LGBTQ+-friendly community activities.
Portland Frontrunners host events every weekend and most Tuesdays. If running’s not your thing, check out Varsity Gay League‘s weekly dodgeball and kickball games.
LGBTQ+ Festivals & Events
Portland’s LGBTQ+ community might consider July Pride month, but there are celebrations all year long. Here are some of the best LGBTQ+ film, music, drag and comedy events
Fertile Ground Festival
Unlike “fringe” festivals in other cities, Portland’s Fertile Ground Festival only includes performances by local artists and theater companies, and it’s non-juried. The 11-day event every January provides a platform for underrepresented voices and gives audiences a chance to experience innovative multi-media performances, musical and traditional theater, dance and even comedy.
Red Dress Party
As the name implies, a red dress is required for entry to the Red Dress Party — no matter the gender of the guest. This annual soiree, which happens in June, started in 2001 as a basement party and has grown into a large-scale event attended by more than 2,000 people and raising upwards of $30,000 for local LGBTQ+ organizations each year.
Portland Pride Month
Portland Pride Festival and Parade
Portland’s official LGBTQ+ Pride Festival and Parade includes two days of festivities in Waterfront Park in addition to the annual parade. The weekend celebration attracts visitors from up and down the West Coast and big-name performers.
Portland Black Pride
Typically running concurrently with the Portland Pride Festival, Portland Black Pride provides opportunities for African-American members of the LGBTQ+ community to connect and celebrate their culture.
Portland Latinx Gay Pride
Since 2006, community volunteers have organized a multi-day Portland Latinx Pride festival to celebrate and honor the city’s Latinx community with performances, parties and the Mariposa Award.
Gay Oregon Pageant
The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon, Oregon’s oldest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) organization, hosts the annual Gay Oregon Pageant. The pageant crowns Mr., Mx. & Miss Gay Oregon every year and is held at CC Slaughters, one of Portland’s oldest gay bars and energetic nightclubs.
Coronation Ball
Every October The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court hosts its annual coronation ball (crowning its emperors and empresses). Members of the court serve as leaders in community fundraising efforts.
QDoc
Portland’s queer documentary film festival, QDoc, was co-founded by David Weissman (“We Were Here”) and attracts filmmakers from across the country to screen their works at Hollywood Theatre every November.
Queer Community Events
Celebrate Portland's vibrant LGBTQ+ community at these upcoming events.
Kinkfest
KinkFest is an annual, 3-day event celebrating sexual diversity and the BDSM, fetish and leather communities. KinkFest offers 50+ educational classes, afternoon and evening play parties, and a huge vendor mall filled with products and services from local and national leather, fetish and kink businesses. KinkFest welcomes ALL facets of the diverse leather, BDSM, fetish…
Darcelle XV’s Weekend Drag Show
Darcelle XV and Company have been entertaining audiences from all walks of life for over 50 years with Las Vegas-style cabaret revues of Glitz, Glamour and Comedy. Stop by when you are in Portland and you will be glad that you did! We have traveled the United States presenting a show that you have to…
Queer Horror: Birds of Prey
QUEER HORROR celebrates Feminist March and Carla Rossi's birthday with BIRDS OF PREY (2020)! Hosted by Portland's premier drag clown, Carla Rossi, this birthday celebration opens with a preshow tribute to Carla's favorite clown queen, Harley Quinn, sponsored by Double Mountain Brewery and Cidery. Produced by Margot Robbie and directed by Cathy Yan, Birds of…
Kaliente Drag Brunch
Kharisma brings the heat with Kaliente, the newest Drag Brunch at your Stag PDX. Start your month with a bit of spice every 1st Sunday, with a show that has that extra kick that only Kharisma and her special guest performers can bring. Enjoy all-you-can-eat brunch options served from the buffet with mimosas available -…
Gay Skate
Roll out with your friends and loved ones to the monthly Gay Skate Session, held the 1st and 3rd Monday night of the month. Everyone is welcome at this all-ages event at this all-ages event. Admission tickets allow the Oaks Park Roller Rink access for the selected Gay Skate Session date/time. Includes standard skate rental.
TAG! Queer Shorts Festival
TAG! Queer Shorts Festival is your Portland, Oregon-based international festival of short films, featuring work made exclusively by queer and transgender directors. A sponsored program of the Historic Hollywood Theatre in Portland. TAG! Is moving into its second decade with an all-new 2024 selection. Featuring live program and special streaming blocks, the next big Tag! Queer…
Swan Dive Diva Drag Brunch
Join Portland’s all-star drag queens and burlesque dancers every Saturday and Sunday for a heart-pumping performance complete with acrobatics, live singing, intricate custom-made outfits and sweat-defying artful makeup. Come prepared to tip generously and have a rowdy good time. The ticket price does not include food or alcohol. Doors open at 11 a.m., and the…
Portland Pride
Every summer, the Portland Pride Festival & Parade makes a name for itself — and LGBTQ+ community members — all over town.
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
Drag Dangerzone Productions Present: NIGHTMARES AND DREAMSCAPES, A Drag Variety Show From The Subconscious. Hosted By: Marla Darling + Valerie DeVille Music By: DJ Aurora Performances By: Valerie DeVille , Marla Darling , Miss Aurora , Belinda Rose , Tula Petals , LadyBerri , Wolfgang X , Prince Peanutbutter , Baby LeStrange , Svetlana Trantastic , This Is A 21+ Event
The Gospel of Eureka w/ Danny Grody Performance + Filmmaker Q&A
PAM CUT presents a special Easter Weekend screening of Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher’s beloved documentary The Gospel of Eureka. Love, faith, and civil rights collide in a southern town as evangelical Christians and drag queens step into the spotlight to dismantle stereotypes. Guitarist and soundtrack contributor Danny Grody will perform a live, intimate set before the film screening (with special guests…
The Tarot Show
Join Kate Mura as she reads the cards for the audience. Every Group Tarot is different, as every group and every tarot reading is a unique constellation. Stories, anecdotes, conversation, philosophy, questions, history, herstory and ourstory come out specifically for your audience, your day and time, your season. By picking cards, conversing, asking questions, and actively,…
Drag Bingo
Get your ass to The Houston Blacklight for DRAG BINGO hosted by the one + only Peachy Springs every first Wednesday of the month. Play your favorite geriatric game-gone-glamorous with the queen of bingo for a chance to win prizes. Get there early cause they've got drink specials, and your girl’s got a following.
Ashland by Isabel Estelle
After a young woman is unexpectedly diagnosed with a terminal illness and chooses to pursue Death with Dignity, she and her new partner must navigate the beginning and end of their relationship simultaneously. As the young woman’s health rapidly declines, her partner and her two siblings grapple with the absurdity and hilarity of death, what…
sapphic factory
The Sapphic Factory: Queer Joy Party has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 per ticket goes to supporting the LGBT National Help Center and their work providing vital peer support, community connections, and resource information for the LGBT community. if you want to go out dancing and celebrate the sounds of eternal longing, we…
Qabaret Quesa
Join Fuse every First Friday at 10 p.m. for Qabaret Quesa — a monthly live musical drag cabaret featuring and hosted by the cheesy, breezy, bleutiful Quesa D’Mondays. Enjoy the Back Door Theatre’s newly renovated living room space as Quesa serenades and slays with 70-musical minutes of show tunes, parodies, comedy, and more. Sit back, enjoy…
Queer & Trans Community Forest Bathing
Experience a two-hour guided forest bathing walk through Hoyt Arboretum’s unique tree collection and forested areas. Forest Bathing (also known as Forest Therapy) offers many health benefits, from stress relief to immune system and mood support. This will be a space for our LGBTQIA2S+ community. Please only register for this workshop if you identify as…
Closet Cases
A Queer Comedy Storytelling Showcase. Comedians take the stage and share personal stories that don't fit into a classic tight fives. Come laugh, cry, cringe, and cheer with these funny and often heartwarming stories from within the LGBTQ+ community
Burlynomicon – A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue
Burlynomicon – A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue beckons you back into the cozy crypt at The Coffin Club for another delightful soiree. Celebrate another revolution around the sun of producer and host Natasha Riot, as well as bringing you all the gloriously ghoulish entertainment one birthday evening can hold. Enter this lush, decadent, and special…
Booklover's Burlesque Festival
Join The International Booklover’s Burlesque Festival. This event is a one-of-a-kind sensual literary weekend celebration of two uniquely different, open-themed Booklover’s Burlesque shows that highlight a mix of any and all genres of the written word matched with burlesque, boylesque, and draglesque artists chosen from around the country and the world. Each night will feature different…
Burly-Q AF
Fuse Theatre Ensemble and Baby B Stiletto proudly announce ‘Burly-Q AF,’ a monthly burlesque celebration of diversity. Enjoy burlesque on the second Saturday of every month.
Lesbian Pageant
A rent increase for a 26-year-old lesbian bar threatens its existence, and Darcy has a plan to save it. Is the 90s-themed Lesbian Pageant she dreams up as a fundraiser the answer? Or do the lesbians around her have different ideas about what needs to be saved? Lesbian Pageant skips through time and space —…
PGMC Presents Human/Nature: A Cascade Showcase
As spring returns, so does Cascade, PGMC’s a cappella ensemble, in this concert celebrating the earth and the stories of the lives upon it. This eclectic program of songs and stories asks: what is our place in this world, and what does it mean to be human? Explore these life-affirming questions in a concert that…
Portland Gay Men's Chorus: Human/Nature: A Cascade Showcase
As spring returns, so does Cascade, PGMC’s a cappella ensemble, in this concert celebrating the earth and the stories of the lives upon it. This eclectic program of songs and stories asks: what is our place in this world, and what does it mean to be human? Explore these life-affirming questions in a concert celebrating…
Drag Brunch at The Pharmacy
Join hostess Devlin Lynn Phoenixx and her cast of talented queens for a Sunday brunch experience you won’t soon forget. Your ticket includes admission to the show, your meal, AND your first mimosa. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available. So grab your friends and get down to The Pharmacy for a spectacularly fun time.
Queer Movie Night
Every Fourth Sunday of the month, Fuse will be presenting a celebrated film from Queer cinema. After the film, there will be trivia and discussions about the movie and the evolution of the depiction of lgbtqia+ characters over the last 50 years. Check the website for each month's film.
Boulet Brothers’ Dragula
You’ve watched these monsters battle all season long, now come see them LIVE. The Official Boulet Brothers’ Dragula Season 5 Tour is hitting the road and bringing screams, nightmares, and dreams to a city near you soon. Starring The Boulet Brothers and featuring Niohuru X (the world’s reigning Drag Supermonster) along with Blackberri, Orkgotik, and…
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