Virtual and Portland-Area Pride 2021 Events and Resources

June is recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride month, a time when communities across the world engage in marches, parades, parties, educational events and service. Pride is a time of celebration to be sure, but it’s also bittersweet for many LGBTQ+ people. This is an important time to honor the lives and memories of LGBTQ+ elders who laid the groundwork for current survival and thriving of LGBTQ+ community. This is a moment to call for safety and justice for all LGBTQ+ people, who face disproportionate rates of incarceration, police violence and homelessness.  

Below you’ll find the historic roots of Pride, as well as virtual and Portland-area Pride events taking place throughout the month. 

Pride Month History: The Stonewall Riots

In the late 1960s, homosexuality was criminalized in every US state except Illinois. These severe regulations led to the creation of spaces where LGBTQ+ folks could be themselves. On the East Coast, gay bars became a center of social life for LGBTQ+ people. They were also a refuge for many people who were marginalized in other public spaces, including drag queens, sex workers and people experiencing houselessness.  

The Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street in New York City quickly became one of the most popular gay bars in the city. Like many gay bars at the time, Stonewall was often subject to police raids.  

At Stonewall, bar management typically received tip-offs before raids occurred. During raids, police would line up patrons, check their IDs and arrest anyone whose clothing did not “match” their assigned sex.  

On the night of June 28th, 1969, the patrons of Stonewall refused arrest. Black trans women and drag queens of color in particular were on the front lines in the clash with police. Legendary activist Marsha P. Johnson is often credited with throwing the first brick at Stonewall, though others cite Johnson’s dear friend and fellow activist Sylvia Rivera.  

The clash escalated into a riot as hundreds of people gathered outside of Stonewall. Police barricaded themselves inside the bar as the crowd threw garbage cans, trash, glass bottles, rocks and bricks. Eventually, the windows broke. People in the crowd broke down the front doors and breached the barricade.  

The riot carried on for the next five days, ending with a final hour-long fight in the street between protesters and police.    

Stonewall’s Legacy

After the Stonewall riots, a shockwave reverberated throughout Greenwich Village. The energy of the moment spread across New York City and onward to the rest of the country. On the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, thousands of protesters marches from Christopher Street to Central Park. Similar marches took place in Los Angeles and Chicago. The following year, marches spread through the US and around the world. Celebrations, commemorations and protests have grown every year since. In 2016, President Barack Obama declared the Stonewall Inn and its surrounding area the Stonewall National Monument.   

We’ve seen incredible progress in legislative and social efforts to support LGBTQ+ people. This progress is a remarkable move forward, and a reminder to advocate for all marginalized people, especially those living at intersections of identity. Pride is a reminder to dream big and continue to build a movement that reflects the needs of the whole LGBTQ+ community. 

Celebrate Pride 2021

All events come from the Portland Pride website, where more details can be found. 

LGBTQ+ VETERANS PRIDE EXTRAVAGANZA: MOVIE, Q&A AND DRAG QUEEN BINGO! 

Saturday, June 12, 12:30 to 3:30 pm 

Join via Zoom for a viewing of the film Breaking the Silence: Stories of Oregon’s LGBTQ Veterans, followed by a Q & A with: 

• LGBT Veteran Care Coordinators from the VA Portland Health Care System 
• County Veteran Service Officers answer your VA claims questions 
• Project Visibility: LGBTQ+ Friendly Aging Service and Care 

PRIDE PICS: TWO FULL DAYS OF QUEER FILMS OUTSIDE ON THE LOT AT ZIDELL YARDS 

Wednesday, June 16, 11 am to 10 pm 

Thursday, June 17, 11 am to 10 pm 

Zidell Yards 

3121 S Moody Ave, Portland 

Celebrate queer stories on screen with PRIDE PICS: a socially distanced, two-day showcase of new, LGBTQ+ films on the big screen at The Lot at Zidell Yards!  

A mix of narratives and documentaries, all 12 films (six feature-length and six shorts) will make their Oregon debut. Let’s sit in custom seating pods, enjoy local food and beverage, and watch some queer movies all day, shall we? Click the link below for full lineup info and to buy tickets! 

PORTLAND GAY MEN’S CHORUS’ 2021 PRIDE CONCERT: CHASING RAINBOWS 

Friday, June 18, 8 pm 

Sunday, June 20, 3 pm 

FREE 

2021 VIRTUAL PORTLAND PRIDE PARADE 

Sunday, June 20, 11 am 

Join us for an online viewing party of the virtual Portland Pride Parade 2021. Sign up to participate in a community showing of the Portland Pride Parade over Zoom. The parade will also be broadcast on our Pride Northwest YouTube channel folks can view on their TVs through the YouTube app on their SmartTV or device. Live Captioning will be available on both the Zoom and YouTube broadcasts. Following the premiere, the Portland Pride Parade 2021 will be available to be viewed on Pride Northwest’s YouTube channel. 

Other Events: 

Masculine Identified Lesbians of Color Living In The 21st Century Summit 

Friday, Jun 4, 4 pm to Sunday, Jun 6, 3:30 pm 

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A QUEER WORKER: OREGON LABOR MOVEMENT’S PRIDE CELEBRATION 

Thursday, June 10, 6 pm 

Oregon AFL-CIO 

3645 Southeast 32nd Ave 

Queer Dharma 

Queer Dharma is a group for LGBTQIA+ practitioners to study and practice meditation and dharma and to discuss personal, social and spiritual experiences. People from any and all wisdom traditions are welcome to explore how we as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, transgender, genderqueer, nonbinary and intersex individuals can incorporate wisdom teachings in our everyday lives and in our various social circles. We’re scheduled to meet online via Zoom every first Sunday of the month from 2-4 pm. 

Gay Skate 

Monday, June 21, 7 to 9 pm 

Drag queen Bolivia Carmichaels plays the hits as she DJ’s this monthly event at the Roller Rink at Oaks Amusement Park. $7 admission includes conventional skate rental. All ages.