A Destination Pride

The Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade has a reputation for being one of the largest “small-town” Prides around. While there are more “traditional” floats in the parade these days, attendees are much more likely to be cheering on thousands of marchers and decorated pickups pulling even more colorfully decorated trailers filled with exuberant community members. The variety of groups and participants in the Portland Pride Parade make it a joyful and energetic experience for all.

Make no mistake though. Portland’s celebration continues to gain national and international attention and is now known as a “destination” Pride.  As Oregon and SW Washington’s largest LGBTQIA2S+ cultural celebration, Portland Pride brings thousands of LGBTQIA2S+ and allied visitors to Portland each year, from across Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. Portland Pride’s impact on the social and economic vitality of the community here is more and more recognized. In addition to the Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade (one of the largest parades of any kind in all of Oregon and SW Washington), which continues to grow every year, part of what makes Portland Pride such a destination for Pride celebrants, is the broad engagement across Portland. LGBTQIA2S+ and allied establishments and organizations throughout the city host events in both June and July, that are as diverse and varied as the community itself. From bar crawls, drag shows, and picnics to educational forums, multiple marches, and more, there really is something for everyone.

Pride continues to grow in Portland and across Oregon. Pride Northwest will continue to honor the original intent of Pride, to both take our rightful place in the public sphere as LGBTQIA2S+ people, and as the beginning of the work, not the end. We will continue to ensure the visibility of our people and to celebrate who we are and the contributions that our community makes to the world!