Where to Celebrate Pride in Portland this June

Jun 8, 2022

Progress Pride Flag

Most people know June as LGBTQ Pride Month, but not everyone is aware of the history behind it. Pride is a relatively recent celebration, which was first held in the summer of 1970 in New York City’s Central Park. The first Pride march was organized to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village in 1969.

While Stonewall wasn’t the first major protest that members of the LGBTQ community engaged in to combat discrimination and stand up against unfair treatment by law enforcement, it was the event that gained the most national attention. Similar protests had taken place in San Francisco and Los Angeles, with some gay activism beginning as early as the 1920s.

Throughout the years, the celebration spread to other cities and around the world, becoming the major event it is today. Most Pride events take place during June, although the exact date and month vary by location. While there’s usually a parade, there is often a festival and a number of other local activities hosted by and for the LGBTQ community.

In Portland, Pride has been held since 1976. While COVID-19 disrupted Pride celebrations over the past couple of years, the event is back in 2022 and there are a number of events the public can attend to celebrate.

We still don’t know exactly what COVID case counts will look like over the coming weeks, so we urge members of our community to use their best judgment on masking and social distancing in accordance with state and federal guidelines and their own personal health risks. Please also check ahead of time to find out about an event’s policies, as some are requiring masks and/or proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Here are a few of the events happening in Portland, Oregon this month: