[Read all of the articles in our Portland Fun Guide HERE! Looking for a print copy? Look at this handy-dandy map!—eds.]

I’ve lived in Portland as an out queer person for more than a decade now, and the longer I live here, the more in awe I am of the way Portland queers show up, speak up, spread joy, and do the work—often filling in the gaps that other social safety nets don’t cover. 

Full disclosure: My day job is at Basic Rights Oregon, a statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. One of the many things BRO does is maintain an extensive list of community resources, which you can find at basicrights.org/resources. There are a million and one groups doing amazing things for Portland’s LGBTQ+ communities, and I wish I could gush about all of them here. But because the tyrannical Mercury editors are imposing a word count on me, here are a few picks that highlight just how extensive and resourceful LGBTQ+ Portlanders are.

True Colors Recovery Organization: Did you know that about a quarter of LGBTQ+ people struggle with addiction, versus only about 9 percent of the general population? If you misuse substances to cope with the stress of being queer in 2025, you aren’t alone. True Colors hosts a wide range of LGBTQ+ specific support groups, from harm reduction meetings to 12-step groups, including many meetings for non-substance addictions. True Colors also has one-on-one mentor programs for those who need additional support. Learn more at truecolorsrecovery.org. 

Prism Clinic: Operated by the Cascade AIDS Project (CAP), Prism offers HIV/AIDS and other STI testing—but it’s much more than that. With two locations in North and SE Portland, Prism provides LGBTQ+ and HIV+ informed primary care, gender-affirming care, mental health services, PrEP prescriptions and more. The clinic takes Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurers. Learn more at prismhealth.org. 

Queer Social Club: Do you ever look at your calendar and think “Jeez, I wish my plans were gayer!”? Look no further than Queer Social Club, a weekly newsletter highlighting fun LGBTQ+ events around town. QSC’s got a little something for everyone: speed dating, dance nights, zine meetups, drag shows, COVID-cautious meetups, family-friendly events, and more. They typically list between 5-10 events each night of the week, so you are officially out of excuses for staying home and rewatching the TV shows you liked in high school. Subscribe at queersocialclub.com.

The Marie Equi Center: The Equi Center has been providing health care and advocacy for LGBTQ+ Portlanders since 2014. Last year, it opened a new day center to support LGBTQ+ unhoused and low-income Portlanders. They offer peer support and recovery, help navigating complex systems like food stamps and health insurance, mail and computer access, skill-sharing opportunities, and more. If you want to support this amazing Center, you can sign up to volunteer. Learn more at marieequi.center/service-center. 

Black & Beyond the Binary Collective: Black LGBTQ+ Portlanders have significantly different experiences than what I’ve experienced as a white person. That’s why Black & Beyond the Binary Collective is so important—it creates a space unique to Black queer and trans folks in need of support. Services include leadership development and training, a housing safety fund, and a culturally specific healing program. You can donate or access their resources at blackbeyondthebinarycollective.org. 

Q Center Support Groups: Living in Portland as a queer and/or trans person can sometimes be a mindfuck right now. On the one hand, everything we see on the news is a dumpster fire. On the other hand, we’re among the “lucky” ones living in Portland, and we still have to keep going every fucking day. It’s easy to feel isolated at times like these, but it’s so important to remember you aren’t alone—even if you’re new to town, or never fully recovered socially after COVID lockdown. There are a lot of incredible support groups serving different parts of our community, and the Q Center’s support group calendar is one solid hub for finding connection and empathy. View the calendar at pdxqcenter.org/calendar. 

Greater Portland Trans Unity: This is another source for finding connection with other trans Portlanders. This group organizes the Trans Pride March in June, and holds monthly organizing meetings, social meetups and open mic nights all year long. Learn more at pdxtransunity.com.