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It's going to be a much different Pride this year.
In addition to the coronavirus pandemic forcing the postponement of this year's festival at Waterfront Park—along with, well, everything else—Portland's LGBTQ+ event organizers have also had to consider whether digital events would distract from the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.
While some chose to cancel events or move them to July—the time now known as Gay Wrath Month—others are continuing on, providing entertaining, educational morale boosters for a still-vulnerable community while also raising money to help the fight against racism and police brutality.
Here is a calendar of standout local Pride events, the vast majority of which are happening online—though a few have found ways to mark the month safely in real life.
June 11
CAPPY Hour with Darcelle XV & Poison Waters
Portland drag legends Darcelle XV and Poison Waters take questions from viewers in a drag queen talk show supporting Cascade AIDS Project's COVID-19 Community Action Fund. capnw.org. 5:30 pm. $20.
June 12
Karaoke with Kari Anne
Pride Northwest organizer and KJ Kari Anne Horton's Zoom karaoke streams were Pride Northwest's official opening and closing party before last weekend's roundtable with black queer and trans leaders was added during Portland's first week of #BlackLivesMatter rallies. portlandpride.org/together-in-pride. 6 pm. Free.
Virtual Bearracuda
The long-running bear circuit party Bearracuda has turned into a living room get-down while shelter-in-place orders remain in effect for Multnomah County. Dress down to your underwear—or however you like—as you listen to DJs, dance and watch go-go dancers. bearracuda.com. 8 pm. $10 suggested donation benefiting performers.
Pride Shabbat
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and Jewish Pride Greater PDX host a half-hour Zoom call to unite queer Shabbat observers, ending in time to observe the holiday electronics-free. jewishportland.org. 8 pm. Free.
Q Center's Trans Women's Support Zoom
Q Center's weekly support group for Portland-area transgender women moved online during shelter-in-place orders from the coronavirus. Find the link at the center's website, along with a calendar of meetings for its other support groups. pdxqcenter.org/calendar. 7 pm. Free.
June 13
Virtual Pride Festival
Pride Northwest hosts a digital show featuring an as-yet-unannounced roster of queer Portland entertainers, politicians, community leaders and other figures. portlandpride.org/together-in- pride. 4 pm. Free.
Digital Darcelle Night
This ain't Darcelle's first digital drag show—she's already been featured in 3D videos and onscreen at her namesake Old Town venue. Tonight, she opens her legendary stage for drag queens to stream performances. portlandpride.org/together-in-pride. 8 pm. Free, tips strongly encouraged.
Introvert: Digital Drag Show
New girls Coco Jem Holiday and Donatella Mysecrets organized over a dozen local and national drag queens—including Flawless Shade, a former Miss Gay Oregon—for a night of socially distant drag. thecdsdrag.com/introvert. 6 pm. $5 general admission.
June 14
Streaming 1999 Dyke Pride
Pride Northwest streams historical footage—oof, I feel old—of the 1999 Portland Dyke Parade. As spaces for lesbians and queer women have vanished over the past two decades, the footage reflects a time when Portland's lesbian community was more centralized. portlandpride.org/together-in-pride. 11 am. Free.
Drag Delivered
Rogue Safari, Bolivia Carmichaels, Honey Bea Hart, Jenuwine Beauté and T'Kara Starr will pull up to the location of your choice and deliver a star-studded show from a safe distance, schedules permitting, to benefit local nonprofit Our House. Contact events@ourhouseofportland.org for booking. $60.
June 17
Poison Waters + Artslandia Zoom Bingo
Portland drag icon Poison Waters and the theater media company Artslandia host a bingo session over Zoom. Players can win prizes donated by local businesses. artslandia.com/vip-events. 6:30 pm. $20. 18+.
Cathedral Park Drag Show
St. Johns' Pride celebrations are among the few live events taking place this year. Jesykah Marie Valentine of the legendary Valentine drag family brings together drag queens and an audience at a safe distance, encouraging app-based tips instead of cash. Cathedral Park. 5 pm. $5-$15 suggested donation.
Club Kai-Kai
Normally hosted at the sex club Sanctuary, Club Kai-Kai is among Portland Pride's steamiest parties. Patrick Buckmaster's freaky posse of strippers, drag queens and sex workers stream live from the Portland Productions warehouse. facebook.com/clubkaikai. 9 pm. $5-$13.
June 20
Still Chasing Rainbows
Summer Lynn Seasons hosts Our House's digital party, which will include games, prizes and a virtual variety show to benefit the nonprofit's services for HIV/AIDS patients. ourhouseofportland.org. 3 pm. $10 suggested donation.
June 21
Proud Wherever You Are
Singing drag pianist Saint Syndrome serenades her audience over Twitch and Facebook Live. twitch.tv/saintsyndrome. 7 pm. Free. 18+.
June 22
Glitter Girls
Stefhannie Calhoun and Victoria DuPont share the stage with eight other local drag queens, streaming live from Kelly's Olympian. This is the second show of a regular twice-monthly series. facebook.com/heyglittergirls. 8 pm. Free, tips strongly encouraged.
June 23
Pronouns & Gender Identity: Rethinking the Model
Local nonprofit New Avenues for Youth hosts an online workshop for young people who have just begun navigating parts of their identity, or who have already done so for a few years and need peers to connect with on their journey. Register at eventbrite.com. Noon. Free.
June 24
Oh Daddy 3
Drag producer Shy Bester, best known for her Black and POC-centered variety show Melange, presents what could be Portland Pride's only drag king revue. Tickets must be purchased by 8 pm the night of the show, check out the online listing for streaming instructions and performer list. 8:30 pm. $5–$10. facebook.com/melangepdx
June 25
Cascade AIDS Project Art Auction
Poison Waters hosts Cascade AIDS Project's annual art auction, interviewing guests over livestream as works by esteemed local artists are auctioned to support queer health services, including STI and HIV testing. capnw.org. 5:30 pm. $20.