Pride Northwest
Pride NW (Pride Northwest) is the name of Portland, Oregon's gay pride festival. Gay pride in Portland has been celebrated since the 1970's. However in 1994, Pride Northwest, Inc. was officially created as an organization. This is a non-profit organization that organizes the Pride Northwest festival every year in Portland, OR.[1] The mission of Pride Northwest, Inc. is to encourage and celebrate the positive diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities, and to assist in the education of all people through the development of activities that showcase the history, accomplishments, and talents of these communities. [2]
Pride Northwest was originally scheduled to run every June to commemorate the stonewall Riots in New York. It was origionally planned to be on the third weekend in June, however it has been switched to Fathers' Day weekend due to Waterfront Park's popularity and maintenace schedule. The actual pride parade is held on the Sunday of Fathers' Day weekend. [4]
Pride Northwest also includes a Dyke March during pride weekend. Women, biological or otherwise are encouraged to march and generally gather in Portland's North Park Blocks on the Saturday before the pride parade. Allies are ecouraged to support the Dyke March from the sidelines.[5]
In Portland, it is not illegal for women to go topless in public, Oregon's indecent exposure law only prohibits nudity intended to induce arousal in public.[6]Women are allowed to be topless at the Pride events. Pride Northwest does encourage all of it's attendees to express themeselves as they choose, and be tolerant of one another. [7]
| Year | Theme | Grand Marshall |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "United We Stand" | Kendall Clawson |
| 2008 | "Pride Bring It" | |
| 2007 | "" | Tina Kotek |
| 2006 | "" | |
| 2005 | "Everyday People" | Vera Katz |
| 2004 | "" | |
| 2003 | "" | |
| 2002 | "" | |
| 2001 | "" | Ann Shepherd |
| 2000 | "" | |
| 1999 | "" | |
| 1998 | "" | |
| 1997 | "" | |
| 1996 | "" | Chastity Bono |
| 1995 | "" | |
| 1994 | "" |
References