Gay bars portland downtown

Portland has a rich history of LGBTQ+ culture, with a prominent people of Two-Spirited people of the First Nations. Communities here have been embracing gender and sexuality for centuries, and the city continues to be a hub for the whole queer group. Huge pride parades have been hosted here since the beginning of the gay rights movement, and in more recent years there has been an increase in everyday celebration as adv. You'll find a full calendar of performances, parties, festivals, and other events across the urban area that are focussed pride, plus a great selection of nightlife destinations.

Portland’s gay bars are more than just hangouts. Most of the city’s dozen-plus gender non-conforming bars opened in eras antagonistic 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+ society should, in the best 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 home, 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. 1981 | old town

Though technically on the outskirts of Old Town’s Entertainment District, CC’s is very much at the center of the queer downtown Portland scene. Part cocktail lock and part dance club, it’s an approacha