The city of Portland has an active and progressive GLBT community which is a rarity for a city of the size of Portland. Lesbians and Gays in Portland enjoy a freedom that is rarely visible in any other part of USA. To celebrate the Gay freedom and the struggle for gay rights, gay freedom and gay liberation, the Portland Pride Festival is celebrated every year in Portland in mid June. This festival also goes y the name of Pride Northwest after the name of the organization that organizes it. In 2009, the Portland Pride festival was celebrated on the weekends June 13 and June 14.

The events of the festival include a lively festival with a lot of entertainment and a number of brilliant performances. There are vendors for food and crafts items. The festival is celebrated at the Tom McCall Park that overlooks the beautiful Willamette River. The Pride parade starts at the North Park Blocs and passes through Broadway, Taylor Street, and Naito Parkway before finally leading to the Tom McCall Park. The festival gives a chance to the gay community to interact with each other.