Project Origin

The Portland Gayborhood project is a public history and place-making project that brings Portland's LGBTQIA+ history into the streets where it unfolded.

Developed by Portland State University's Center for Public Interest Design (CPID) in collaboration with Portland Parks and Recreation, the project takes the form of a Queer History scavenger hunt activated during the Portland Winter Lights Festival. Illuminated displays hosted in local storefronts bring Queer History to the forefront of the neighborhood it unfolded in. The project highlights stories, people, and places that have shaped Portland's Queer community which has historically faced erasure through displacement or oppression.

To learn more about the project visit the Portland Gayborhood Website.

Project Description

The project launches at the Portland Winter Light Festival in anticipation of the opening of the Darcelle XV Plaza, meant to honor one of Portland’s most iconic LGBTQIA+ figures, while the project reconnects the surrounding neighborhood to its Queer cultural legacy. 

At its core, the Portland Gayborhood project is about illuminating and celebrating Queer history. By pairing historical research with playful design, the installation invites visitors to engage with Queer history. The project aims to activate downtown storefronts, encourage foot traffic, and to foster community connection through shared place-based storytelling. 

The Portland Gayborhood is about affirming that Queer people have always been here and continue to shape Portland today. Queer history deserves to be visible in the city's future. 

Location

Portland, OR

Partners

Portland Parks and Recreation Partners, Prosper Portland, City of Portland, UnderU4Men, Sera Architects, BRIC Architecture, Matt Swain Photography