Portland Pride celebrates the LGBTQ+ community every June

(JUNE 10, 2022) June is Pride month in places all around the country, including Oregon. There are many celebrations with parades, festivals, concerts, and other activities. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, the purpose is to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and more) individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

Pride has been celebrated in Portland since the early 1970s. The first outdoor celebration began in 1976. It's a popular event for people all around the Pacific Northwest. Thousands of people come to Portland every year for the festival. Portland Pride raises the visibility of not only LGBTQ+ people, but also the businesses and organizations that support them. Participants celebrate themselves and each other in what is often the only safe and open environment that they may experience for the year.

The 2022 Portland Pride Waterfront Festival is at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland. The event is on June 18 from 12pm-6pm and June 19 from 11:30pm-6pm. $8 is suggested as the donation. However, no one is turned away for lack of funds. The festival at Waterfront Park usually has lots of live entertainment, including musicians, dancers, drag queens, comedians, politicians, and other special guests. There will be food and drink vendors. There are also exhibitors that sell various products and services.

At night, Pride Pics offers an outdoor film experience on Portland’s Waterfront. These movie nights begin at 8pm both days. There are two films each evening. Tickets are available by making a donation to Pride Northwest.

The Pride Parade this year will start at NW Couch and 8th Ave in the North Park Blocks at 11 am. It then travels east down NW Couch St. Once the parade reaches Naito Pkwy it turns south. It continues down to the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival. The space between the North end of the festival and Saturday Market is a great spot to view the parade.

Proof of vaccination, including all eligible boosters, will be required for festival attendees five years or older. Vaccine cards will be checked at all waterfront festival entrances. Vaccination is not required at the Pride Parade. However, masks are strongly suggested for both the festival and parade, as well as common sense social distancing.

To learn more about all of the Pride Northwest events around the city, visit portlandpride.org.