What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Queer Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds.
Street Books Queer Book Drive
JUNE
(COMMUNITY) Portland’s favorite bikemobile lending library and harm reduction project, Street Books, is asking for your favoritest, gayest book to fill out their carefully curated bike library collection. Through June, share gently used or new queer books that you love via a dropbox at Always Here Bookstore in North Portland. (Always Here Bookstore, 4555 N Williams, more info at streetbooks.org) SUZETTE SMITH
Risk/Reward Festival of New Performance
JUNE 11-14
(THEATER AND PERFORMANCE) Over the years we’ve described Risk/Reward as speed dating for weird art, elevator pitches for ambitious work, and an “attention-span friendly sampler-platter of cutting-edge West Coast performance.” It’s great. We recommend it every year and always see something good that later develops into something wonderful. For example: If you went in 2024, you caught a short work by Sarah K. Finn about their professor turning into a mushroom. This year’s programming hosts two special presentations of Finn’s full-length performance. The mainstage smorgasbord of new pieces shows thrice, June 11-14. (Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, 15 NE Hancock, June 11-14, $25 per performance, $40 weekend pass, other payment tiers available, risk-reward.org, all ages that can engage with weird performance art) SS
Queer Soup Night
JUNE 14
(FOOD AND DRINK) Founded in Brooklyn in 2017, QSN is now a nationwide event that brings queer people together over bowls of soup, raising money for local nonprofits. This month’s special Pride edition features performances from DJs and drag queens, plus food from local chefs Jami Cakes, Emily Dasilva, and Deepak Saxena of Desi PDX. The event benefits Black & Beyond the Binary Collective, which supports leadership training and healing for queer Black Oregonians. (The Side Yard Farm, 4800 Northeast Simpson, 4-7 pm, $15-$20 suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds, queersoupnight.com, all ages) KATHERINE CHEW HAMILTON
Made With Pride
JUNE 14
(FOOD AND DRINK) Portland is very gay. Portland also loves wine. These two truths come together at Made With Pride, a festival celebrating Oregon queer winemakers. Over a dozen winemakers will be pouring at this event, including Augustina Cellars, Franchere Wine Company, Just a Vessel, and Zē Wines, just to name a few. Pay a little extra for a VIP ticket, and you’ll have an extra hour to sip and schmooze with the winemakers before the crowds show up. It’s also your chance to check out the brand-new Darcelle XV Plaza before it officially opens to the public later in the month. (Darcelle XV Plaza, SW Park and Washington, 2-5 pm (1 pm start time for VIPs), $30-$45, madewithpridepdx.com, 21+) KCH
Score: A Baker Fair
JUNE 14
Now in its second year, this fair hosts 20 of the best local, independent cottage bakers. Vendors will include Alchemy Desserts, Bun Bakeshop, Toothbutter, and more; grab bread, pastries, cookies, and perhaps a copy of Drawn Hungry, a Portland-made illustrated card game for food lovers. Smith Tea and Stumptown Coffee will provide free iced tea and cold brew to pair with all that baked goodness. Proceeds from tickets benefit nonprofit Zenger Farm, and bakers keep 100% of sales. (Zenger Farm, 11741 SE Foster, 10:30 am-2 pm, $10 ($20 for early 10 am entry; kids 12 and under free), scorebakerfair.com, all ages) KCH
Desert Hearts
JUNE 14
(FILM) Donna Deitch’s landmark 1985 film is known for being the first feature film to present a lesbian romance in a positive light. Set in 1959, the sapphic cult classic follows the story of Vivian, an English professor who stays on a ghost ranch in Reno in order to establish residency and expedite a divorce from her husband. She soon becomes enchanted by the free-spirited Cay, a younger, tomboyish lesbian sculptor in cowboy boots. The two fall in love, but struggle to imagine a future together due to Vivian’s hangups about being with a woman. The movie is astonishingly gorgeous and intimate. When I first watched it last spring, I was left nearly speechless and prompted to write a four-word Letterboxd review: “I am very gay.” (Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, 7 pm, $10, cstpdx.com, R) JULIANNE BELL
Style, Story & Legacy: A Night of Fashion, Comedy, and Celebration
JUNE 18
(COMMUNITY) For the fifth year, Race Talks presents an evening that explores Black drag in Portland. It’s anything but dry—Poison Waters and Lawanda Jackson take the stage, telling tidbits of what it was like to be Black, queer, and deeply beautiful in the ’80s and ’90s. For the 2026 festivities, Race Talks has teamed up with Good in the Hood to celebrate both Juneteenth and Pride with an unmissable panel discussion, fashion show, performances, and stand-up. Get there early for a community market of Black-owned vendors. (The Avenue, 631 NE Grand, 5:30 pm, $35 w/tiers for dinner and VIP seating, racetalkspdx.com, all ages) SS
Punk Rock Pride
JUNE 20
Promising to be “bigger, louder, and GAYER” in year two, Punk Rock Pride returns to your favorite stretch of SE Foster with a street party that doubles as a benefit for Outside In. If you loved Lana Electra’s drag brunch at Bar Carlo, grab tickets now! That sold out really early! This year, there are four drag shows happening throughout the day: in the mix with an all ages bill of bands at Performance Works Northwest, a 21+ gig at Starday Tavern, flash tattoos at Rose and Dagger, and bingo(!) at 5 and Dime. Once again, NakedHeartsPDX leads a group ride from Seawall Crest Park, leaving promptly at 2 pm. (SE Foster between SE 65th and 66th, 1 pm to late, $15 wrist band gets you in everywhere but brunch) SS
Heated Rivalry Bike Ride
JUNE 20
(SPORTS) In the words of the Mercury’s Trash Report columnist Elinor Jones, love is trash—except, of course, for Heated Rivalry. Okay, you binged the gay hockey romance last year, which feels like a million years ago. But you’re still a millennial who yearns and pines (or Gen Z. Or Gen X. Or whatever! Yearning and pining knows no age bracket). Soundtracked by t.A.T.u., Pedalpalooza’s 21+ Heated Rivalry ride will cruise in a loop starting at Oregon Park, AKA the cottage. Feels destined for a few meet-cutes, no? (Oregon Park, NE 30th and NE Oregon, 6 pm, FREE, shift2bikes.org, 21+) LINDSAY COSTELLO
Hear You Loud & Queer
JUNE 24
(PERFORMANCE) Come all ye merry Portlanders, be gay and laugh with some of Portland’s best queer comics! Your hosts for Hear You Loud & Queer are Mack Lee, who aims to “eliminate feelings of shame through exploration of kink, mental health and queerness,” and Ally J Ward, a Mercury Undisputed Genius of Comedy of 2025 who also hosts and produces the comedy shows Lady Killers and Punchlines & Piledrivers. The lineup includes Lindy Tongol, Gabe Holmes, Daisy Claire, Esau World, and IMANI. (Show Bar, 1300 SE Stark #101, 7 pm, $10, @hearyouloudandqueer, 21+) KCH
But I’m a Cheerleader Screening and Drag Bingo, hosted by Pluto
JUNE 24
(FILM) When was the last time you went to a FREE movie at Beaverton City Library’s gorgeous, underground, ADA accessible theater? It’s probably been a minute, huh? Well, what about drag bingo? If, like me, you’ve been neglecting your socialist obligation to support public libraries and bingo culture, this is your event. Hosted by the bearded goddess Pluto, BCL will screen everyone’s favorite conversion dramedy, But I’m a Cheerleader. Filled to the absolute brim with camp, its cast and cameos are unhinged: Yes, Natasha Lyonne and Clea Duvall crush in the good girl/bad girl dynamic, but did you clock Mama Ru’s gay ass tryna be so straight, or unbelievably hot Dante Basco (Rufio in Hook)?! Win prizes, watch queer canon, and check out a copy of Be Gay, Do Crime while you’re at it. (Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th, Beaverton, 6:30 pm, FREE, beavertonlibrary.org, all ages) NOLAN PARKER
Darcelle XV Plaza Spectacular-Spectacular Grand Opening
JUNE 25
(PERFORMANCE) Idk about you, but my brain automatically associates the words “Spectacular-Spectacular” with the campy Moulin Rouge number. I do, however, have words in my vernacular to describe this great event: Downtown’s newest public space, named in honor of dearly departed local drag legend Darcelle, is opening with a bang. Poison Waters will host the joyful celebration in tribute to her former mentor as Darcelle XV Plaza is christened with performances from a “dynamic lineup of entertainers connected to Darcelle’s legacy.” If you’ve never experimented with the art of drag, visit the glam station, where profesh makeup artists will be on hand to paint a full Darcelle-inspired beat on your mug. (Darcelle XV Plaza, 800 SW Harvey Milk, 5-10 pm, FREE, downtownpdxactivations.com, all ages) JANEY WONG
Sleepaway Camp: The Midnight Mass Experience
JUNE 26
(FILM) Drag queens, meet campy horror. Before this screening of ’83 slasher Sleepaway Camp, the night will kick off with a drag show by Peaches Christ, followed by a Q&A sesh with Peaches, Felissa Rose (who stars in the film), and Midnight Mass podcast co-host Michael Varrati. Don your summertime best to enter the ’80s camp costume contest; VIPs will also get to meet the trio and grab autographs. Then, it’s time for the cult horror classic—let the slashing and screaming begin. (Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, 7 pm, $30-$75, cstpdx.com, R) KCH
Menopunkpalooza
JUNE 27
(FILM) If you flocked to see riot grrrl bands during the ‘90s, or if you cherished your compilation CDs from Olympia-based indie label Kill Rock Stars, you might be in menopause or perimenopause. The bad news: You’ve probably been subjected to a lot of medical misinformation. The good news: Things are starting to turn around, and physicians understand the value of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The ultra good news? Portland-based filmmaker Alicia J. Rose is on a quest to unearth the collective experience of many Gen X women with a documentary called Menopunks, featuring trailblazers like Margaret Cho, Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney, Sara Lund of Unwound, and plenty more. Check out a slew of iconic bands and a resource fair to help support the film. (Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, FREE resource fair 12-4 pm at Lola’s Room with Menopalooza ticket or RSVP; 5-11 pm show, $59.75, linktr.ee/menopunks) COURTNEY VAUGHN
Be Gay, Do Crime
JUNE 28
(COMEDY) One of the funniest (and most educational!) comedy shows in town, Be Gay, Do Crime features a storytelling format in which comedians share tales of their fave queer “rebel” icons throughout history. Host Jenna Britann says the show grew out of “a desire to connect to our trailblazing LGBTQ+ ancestors that came before us—many of whom are neglected or straight-washed in our history books.” Be Gay, Do Crime is instructional, goofy, and thoughtful, with an extra dash of fun provided by audience members who share their own past “crimes” for the riffing pleasure of guest comedians (who have included Mx. Dahlia Belle, Julia Corral, and the occasional “mystery gay”). Yep, there are prizes to be had as well! (Back Door Theatre, 4319 SE Hawthorne, 7:30 pm, GAYAF (Give as you’re able, friend), fusetheatreensemble.com) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Happy Together
JUNE 30
(FILM) Wong Kar-wai’s Happy Together (1997) follows two Hong Kong lovers adrift in Argentina, where they’re trapped in an addictive and sometimes violent cycle of separations and reconciliations they describe as “start-overs.” Wong’s approach abandons conventions of romance for something lonelier, full of vast roads, dead-end jobs, and dreams of waterfalls. Shifting between black-and-white scenes and heavily saturated color, Happy Together feels like a sketchbook of tonal and visual fragments that Wong would later refine in In the Mood for Love. This precursor is well worth seeing. (Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, 7 pm, $10, cstpdx.com, not rated) LC
Portland Pickles Dill-ie Nelson Night
JULY 3
(SPORTS) I can’t substantiate this, but there’s a certain VERY queer and chaotic energy about both the in-person and online presence of Portland’s premier collegiate baseball team, the Portland Pickles. It’s certainly not my place to make assertions about how the mascot identifies, but all I’m saying is that I’m here to accept them with open arms if they ever have anything they’d like to divulge. Hey Dillon T. Pickle, love is love! On July 3, the Pickles play the Willamette Wildcats on a Willie-centric night of “outlaw pickle energy.” The Merc will be tabling—come find us! (Walker Stadium, 4727 SE 92nd, 7:05 pm, $15+, picklestickets.com, all ages) JENNA FLETCHER
Chuck Tingle
JULY 6
(READINGS & TALKS) Best known for his wildly popular series of eccentric erotic ebooks—like Pounded in the Butt by My Own Butt and Buttageddon: The Final Days Of Pounding Ass—it may come as a surprise that Chuck Tingle is also a perfectly lovely horror novelist. I absolutely tore (slammed?) through his 2023 tale Camp Damascus and the Locus Award-winning Bury Your Gays that followed in 2024. His new one, Fabulous Bodies, tells the story of a fashion influencer who moonlights as a grave-robber and finds herself facing a night of carnage in Palm Springs. (Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills. Beaverton, 7 pm, $30.38 ticket includes a copy of Fabulous Bodies, powells.com, explicit queer horror ages) SS
Portland Fire vs. Las Vegas Aces
JULY 9
(SPORTS) What’s not to love about the WNBA? It’s got ball movement, a reasonable season length, summertime stadium bike rides, women at the top of their field, and the intrigue of seeing queer players face off against their partners on the other team. The Las Vegas Aces aren’t just one of the WNBA’s best teams (they won three of the past four championships), with the best player in the world in A’ja Wilson—they’re also among the league’s gayest teams. Three of their starters are queer: 2 guard Chelsea Gray, guard Jewell Lloyd, and power forward NaLyssa Smith. Leading the Aces is another legendary basketball lesbian in head coach Becky Hammon, whose immediate success in Vegas serves as a thorny reminder that the Blazers hired the guy arrested by the FBI for cheating instead of her. (Moda Center, 1 N Center Ct, 7 pm, $34.05+, fire.wnba.com) CAMERON CROWELL
Queer Cruise and Slutty Siren Competition
JULY 11
(COMMUNITY) It was June 2012 when Alex Pond and Talon Wood took me to my first Pride event ever, aboard the Portland Spirit. Alaska Thunderfuck performed, we got wasted on the upper deck, and all was right with the world. With the motto of “what happens on the river stays on the river,” the Let Her Cook and Queer Cute party people will recreate that energy with DJs Lapaushi and Deadpan for your bootypoppin’ pleasure. If you need another reason to throw ass on a boat with a ton of other hotties who probably practice nonmonogamy, there’s a Slutty Siren competition at midnight (the slutting hour). Participate, or just scream your heart out. (Portland Spirit, 10:30 pm, standard tickets $30+, accessible tickets $20, queercute.com, 21+) NP
BANG: Queer Techno Transmission
JULY 16
(MUSIC) BANG, a brand-new, queer-helmed techno night, launches during Pride Month at Holocene. The trifecta of baddies kicking off the inaugural event include Portland DJ Sappho, co-owner of queer electronic record label Koritsi Komma Records and resident DJ for the Rose City Rollers, as well as local DJ Bro Hoe, who curates Eagle Portland’s monthly Classic Cock event spinning ’70s-’90s house, synth pop, and disco. All the way from Philly, multidisciplinary artist kraftwitch—known for their live film scoring performances—will bring their setup of 4 CDJs, which they use to construct layered, ethereal-industrial sound. (Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm, free with RSVP before 10 pm, $13 doors, holocene.org, 21+) KCH
Portland Pride Parade and Waterfront Festival
JULY 18-19
(COMMUNITY) While Pride is certainly celebrated throughout June and most of July, the undisputed, largest event in Oregon is the annual Portland Pride Parade and accompanying Waterfront Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of happy, vibrantly clothed (or unclothed) individuals every year. The parade kicks off at 11 am on July 19 at NW Broadway and Davis, takes a hard right on NW Naito, and ends at SW Harvey Milk, where the fun of the Waterfront Fest awaits. While Pride Northwest had not released their entertainment schedule by press time, it’s not unusual to see multiple stages jam-packed with top queer talent, a LGBTQ+ makers market, lots of food and drinks, and, OF COURSE, all sorts of naughty frivolity. (Tom McCall Waterfront Park, SW Harvey Milk & Naito, Sat noon-8 pm, Sun 11:30 am-6 pm, $10 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds, portlandpride.org) WSH
