It’s time for some Portland Pride. This weekend marks the 30th year of Portland celebrating (and sometimes protesting for) LGBTQ+ rights with an outdoor festival.
Why Pride Month Is Traditionally in June
June is the official Pride month, because it coincides with the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising — a pivotal moment in the progress toward gay rights in the United States.
And yes, there have already been plenty of local celebrations, but this is the big weekend in town.
Why July for Portland Pride
Last year, organizers moved the event to July to make it a more inclusive celebration and avoid conflicts with Juneteenth and the Delta Park Pow Wow as well as Father’s Day.
Why Pride in Portland
Oregon and Portland have led the way as a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community.
We’ve elected queer leaders: Oregon has the first lesbian governor in the U.S. (a distinction shared with Massachusetts; they were elected on the same day), and her predecessor was the first bisexual governor. And it’s been 10 years since the courts made gay marriage legal in Oregon.
But also Portland has started welcoming families fleeing less inclusive communities. That last part points to a darker moment in current struggles for LGBTQ+ rights around the country.
How to Celebrate
Check out the fun and celebrations around town this weekend, including official Portland Pride Festival events:
Friday
- 🎵📽️ ‘D.E.B.S.’ w/ DJ Chelsea Starr | 6:30 p.m. | $15 | Tomorrow Theater (Southeast Division)
- 🪩 Rainbow Moon Silent Disco | 7:30 p.m. | $30 | Leach Gardens (Pleasant Valley)
Saturday
- 🏳️🌈 Portland Pride Waterfront Festival | Noon - 8 p.m. | $10 (suggested donation) | Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Sunday
- 🥁 Portland Pride Parade | 11 a.m. | Free | North Park Blocks to Naito (Downtown)
- 🌈 Rainbow Market (queer-friendly market) | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Free Admission | Cart Blocks (West Burnside)
- 🏳️🌈 Portland Pride Waterfront Festival | 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. | $10 (suggested donation) | Tom McCall Waterfront Park
- 🍺 Pride Block Party | 1 - 10 p.m. | $23.18+ | The Sports Bra (Sullivan’s Gulch)
