PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — June is Pride Month and Portland has a lot in store to celebrate the LGBTQ community.
The 2019 Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade aren’t until the weekend of June 15-16, but the whole month is nationally dedicated to commemorating the LGBTQ community.
Portland Pride events
The main event put on by Pride Northwest is the Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade. The festival is Saturday, June 15, from 12-8 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. after the parade at 11 a.m.
Dozens of special guests will speak and perform at the festival.
Also happening during the festival are Scandal’s Block Party, Gaylabration at the Crystal Ballroom, the Big Gay Boat Ride and more.
Pride NW official events
The parade is Sunday, June 16 at 11 a.m. Pride NW said this year’s parade has more groups than ever for the 1.1 mile route.
Other Pride events include a screening of “Rocketman” the Elton John biopic at Regal Lloyd Center on June 12, a story hour with local drag queens at the Q Center and “Saturgay Brunch” at the Rose Quarter.
Pride Month history
Pride Month is June in honor of the 1969 Stonewall riots, a major turning point in the movement for LGBTQ rights in the United States. The riots started after a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. The bar has since been recognized as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.
This is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.