Communities
Arts & Festivals: LGBT-Friendly Portland
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Portland’s LGBT community likes to put on a show and knows how to party. Here are some of the organizations and events to check out.
Arts Groups
This event production company stages evening activities that support radical queer community, art and performance.
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus (PGMC)
Founded in 1980, PGMC is the nation’s fourth oldest gay-identified chorus and has performed more than 40 specially commissioned pieces and world premieres.
Since 1986, the Portland Lesbian Choir has performed lesbian/gay-positive music with a special emphasis on music by, for and about women.
This group’s marching band, concert band and swing band offer concerts year-round. The marching band makes an annual appearance in Portland’s Pride celebration.
Triangle Productions – Pride Series
Founded in 1989 as a predominantly gay professional theater company, Triangle Productions presents avant-garde and mainstream plays and musicals. Its Pride Series more directly explores gay themes.
Annual Festivals & Events
APRIL
Since 2001, the Red Dress Party has raised more than $100,000 for gay youth and people living with HIV/AIDS. It’s also one of the biggest bashes of the year — just be sure to wear your red dress, which is required for entry.
JUNE
QDoc: Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival
QDoc is the first U.S. festival, and only the second in the world, devoted exclusively to documentaries with queer content.
Portland Pride Festival and Parade
For more than 30 years, this two-day event has united the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities at downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park. In addition to Sunday’s Pride Parade, there’s live entertainment, a family fun run/walk and even a pet parade.
A celebration of all things hirsute, this weekend event is the Oregon Bears’ largest fundraiser and attracts bears from around the world. BearTown boasts underwear nights, boat cruises and Mr. Oregon Bear and Cub contests.
JULY
What began as an offshoot of the Portland Pride Festival has come into its own. The four-day event culminates with an outdoor celebration that includes dance, music and food. Dates and locations vary from year to year.
AUGUST
This annual event celebrates the leather and S/M community with luncheons, high tea events and Mr. and Ms. Oregon State Leather and Oregon State Bootblack Contests.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Portland Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
This annual festival showcases feature, documentary and short films made by, about or of interest to the LGBT communities. The event screens some 100 films and attracts more than 7,000 filmgoers during its nine-day run.
The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court’s Coronation Ball
Oregon’s oldest LGBT organization hosts regular events, including this annual drag extravaganza on Oct. 15, 2011.
