Be Gay, Do _____.

Portland Mercury 6/26 1:00A Nolan Parker

Welcome to the Mercury 's 2025 Queer Guide! by Nolan Parker Howdy y’all, My name is Nolan Parker, I’m the new-ish music editor at the Mercury , and I’m an absolute faggot—welcome to the 2025 Queer Guide! Queerness is expansive beyond...

A Crisis of Crisis Lines for America's Queer Youth

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:58A Abe Asher

LGBTQ+ youth are reaching out to the national suicide and crisis line more than ever. What happens if Trump cuts the line? by Abe Asher In the three years it has existed, the specialized services line for LGBTQ+ youth on the nationwide 988...

The Trash Report: Beloved Trans Ally Pedro Pascal Dons Important T-Shirt

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:56A Elinor Jones

May your June/July be as beautiful as you are, but not as hot, because that would be too hot. by Elinor Jones Hello angels, and welcome to the Trash Report! Summer is heating up, which means that the news is sweatier than a branded mesh t-shirt at...

Be Gay, Do Portland

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:54A Jenna Fletcher

Gal about town Jenna Fletcher shares her favorite queer goings on in our gay little city. by Jenna Fletcher I love this city. Oh sure, I could crow about its changes, its failures, and the complicated nature of what it’s meant to be a queer person...

Iain Mackenzie on Portland's Urban Development and His Dream Pride Parade Float

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:52A HR Smith

Iain Mackenzie conceptualizes the brutalist pride float of your wildest dreams. by HR Smith Any local journalist who writes about urban development has likely felt the sting—when urbanist in-the-know Iain Mackenzie casually tweets out a scoop you...

On the Cover: Pastel Artist Pace Taylor Paints Their Way Toward Paradise

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:50A Martha Daghlian

Last Call at the Rainbow Cafe incorporates shreds of Americana into a decidedly queer aesthetic. by Martha Daghlian Artist Pace Taylor’s studio is surrounded by artifacts of Portland’s early history. It’s on the second floor of an early...

This Vogue Femme Class Teaches Ball Culture Core Elements and History

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:48A Suzette Smith

Teacher Latroy Robinson balances biochemistry by day and ballroom by night. by Suzette Smith Stretch those calves, Latroy Robinson tells us. By day, Robinson is a senior research assistant at OHSU. By night, he is TwoMoods—a performer in the...

Why Rocky Horror Picture Show Still Does the Time Warp at Clinton Street Theater

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:46A L Parker

What's the secret to the weekly screening's enduring relevance? by L Parker The longest-running weekly showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in the world still happens every Saturday night at Clinton Street Theater. 50 years after the campy...

Portland Dancer Allie Hankins on Why Haunting Belongs to Lesbians

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:44A Suzette Smith

Her By My Own Hand: Melody explores onstage manipulation through song. by Suzette Smith “If you’re a performer, manipulation is something you have to do,” says choreographer and dancer Allie Hankins. “I don’t think it’s negative. I’m not doing it...

Chef Dani Morales Is Creating Some of the Most Exciting Food in Portland

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:42A Andrea Damewood

Recently promoted to executive chef of Rep blica, she promises to bring along her visionary De Noche dishes. by Andrea Damewood Dani Morales may not yet be a household name, but she’s already recognized at the place that matters the most to...

At Taqueria Los Puñales, Excellent Tacos Are Served With Queer Joy

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:40A Blair Stenvick

The name, the menu, and the freshly-made tortillas are all deeply intentional. by Blair Stenvick For the co-owners of Taqueria Los Puñales, there’s a lot in the name. For starters: It’s not a restaurant , says owner David Madrigal. It’s a taqueria...

Sixteen Queer-Owned Bars, Restaurants, and Cafes in Portland That We Love

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:38A Julianne Bell

Pride is a great time to support LGBTQ+ businesses and discover some new favorites. by Julianne Bell Happy Pride Month! It's a great time to think about how you can put some of your hard-earned dollars toward supporting local queer-owned...

Battle of the Hexes

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:36A Nolan Parker

Post-punk weirdos Casual Hex hold a black mirror to society on Zig Zag Lady Illusion II . by Nolan Parker Now split between Portland, Seattle, and Tacoma, Casual Hex return with new album Zig Zag Lady Illusion II —the politically charged sonic...

Always Here Bookshop Finally Comes Home

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:30A Taylor Griggs

After two years operating as a pop-up, this queer bookstore has a new, permanent North Portland space. by Taylor Griggs John and Rafael Hart, the couple behind North Portland’s worker-owned, queer-focused Always Here bookstore, are planning to...

Favorite Queer Spots in Portland That Are Not a Gay Bar

Portland Mercury 6/26 12:22A Sarah Shay Mirk

I love gay bars too! But community doesn't need to revolve around drinking! by Sarah Shay Mirk Shay Mirk Shay Mirk Shay Mirk Shay Mirk   Shay Mirk   Shay Mirk Shay Mirk