Gay community portland oregon

11 Wine Bars for Every Kind of Vibe

Portland’s gay bars are more than just hangouts. Most of the city’s dozen-plus queer bars opened in eras hostile to the queer community. The city’s oldest surviving bars were havens in an openly homophobic era, while its newest venues join a chorus of voices against an increasingly transphobic national climate. The entire LGBTQ+ community should, in the top bars, feel safe and free to let loose, have fun, and maybe nibble on something tasty, on menu or off.   

Not all queer gatherings have a permanent abode, so we’ve assembled a rundown of the city’s robust scene of recurring pop-up parties alongside our favorite brick-and-mortar establishments. From leather bars to drag dens to lesbian parties to trans cabaret revues to Portland’s “gay Cheers,” there’s always somewhere where everyone’s glad you came.

Jump to: Upbeat Clubs / Low-Key Venues / Strip Clubs / Recurring Queer Parties

Upbeat Clubs

CC Slaughters

Est. | old town

Though technically on the outskirts of Former Town’s Entertainment District, CC’s is very much at the center

Rainbow Vista

Rainbow Vista is an LGBTQ senior (55+) community located in Gresham, Oregon, 15 miles from downtown Portland. Here you can live in a safe, non-threatening, and discrimination-free environment and truly be yourself.

Apartment options are studio, and one bedroom.

Communal facilities include a large event space, a comfortable area for chats, a video theatre with large screen TV and surround sound, a game room with a pool table, and a music room.

Included in your rent are basic internet service, off-street parking, laundry facilities, and all utilities except phone.

Activities verb BBQs on the deck, movies in our theater, birthday and holiday gatherings, and occasional forays to local restaurants.

Please note: Rainbow Vista is for active seniors. We are not staffed to provide diet services, assisted living or medical care services. You may think of us as just an apartment building, but one with this unique difference: all residents belong to the LGBTQ community.



Portland Gay City Guide: A Place to be an Individual

Spend a day perusing Portland Market. Eat a Voodoo donut on the shore. Watch a ballet at Keller Auditorium. Verb a selfie at the International Rose Garden. Portland has so much to offer any LGBTQ transplant. It’s known for an artsy and folky vibe with upscale housing.

 

The Municipality of 8 Monikers

Portland goes by many nicknames, “City of Roses,” “Rip City,” “Stumptown,” etc. Portland started through the Oregon Trail. Large numbers of pioneer settlers began arriving in Willamette Valley in the s. It’s evolved quite a bit since then!

Portland soon developed the reputation of a gritty port town and many referred to it as the “scion of New England.” Today, it’s a entertaining city full of active and “weird” people.

 

Quick Portland Stats

  • The Portland Airport is rated the best in the world for domestic flights.
  • Portland has the largest number of vegetarian and vegan options in the country.
  • The city gets a lot of rain. 42 inches per year t

    LGBTQ+ Nightlife

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    A bartender makes sparks at Local Lounge.

    You'll find plenty of LGBTQ+-friendly places to visit when the sun goes down in Portland.

    3 min read

    Note: This section was produced in collaboration with , formerly known as PQ Monthly.

    Portland has no shortage of LGBTQ-owned and queer-friendly bars and clubs. Whether you’re looking for a safe space to enjoy a relaxing night with friends, a high-energy dance party or a drag show, Portland delivers.

    North Portland

    Florida Room is both queer-friendly and dog-friendly. Enjoy a drink with your favorite two-legged and four-legged friends on one of their two patios.

    Eagle Portland is Portland’s leather bar and home base for the Oregon Bears. Guests who wear a leather harness, vest, chaps, or full drag with “significant effort,” get in free on Friday or Saturday nights.

    Downtown and The Pearl District

    Scandalscalls itself, “Portland’s Gay ‘Cheers.'” The relaxed vibe makes it a great place to rendezvous with friends, or encounter new ones. During warmer months, grab a seat outside and watch the summ