Best Transgender Bars and Clubs in Portland
Portland is one of the most trans-populated cities in the United States — the Portland metro area has the second-highest percentage of LGBTQ adults per capita of any large U.S. metro, with about 6% of adults identifying as LGBT. The nightlife scene that serves trans people is almost entirely contained within Portland itself, concentrated in a walkable cluster in Old Town/Chinatown and scattered across Northeast Portland. There is no need to drive to a neighboring metro — the venues trans Portlanders actually use are here, and several of them run programming that is explicitly trans-centered.
The Portland Trans Scene
The Burnside Triangle, also called the Harvey Milk District, is Portland's historic gay nightlife district, centered on SW Harvey Milk Street and stretching into Old Town/Chinatown. The cluster of bars along NW Broadway, NW Davis Street, and NW 3rd Avenue — including CC Slaughters, Stag PDX, Silverado, Badlands, and Darcelle XV — makes this the closest thing Portland has to a traditional gayborhood, and LGBTQ+ nightlife has been concentrated there since the 1940s. Beyond that core, newer venues like Back2Earth in Northeast Portland have broadened where the community gathers. Portland's newest venues join a chorus of voices against an increasingly transphobic national climate, and the programming reflects that — CC Slaughters runs a dedicated trans show weekly, Stag PDX sets aside stage nights specifically for trans performers, and the Queer Social Club calendar tracks pop-up trans events across the city. The scene is not enormous, but it is dense, intentional, and largely walkable on a single night out.
Top Transgender Bars and Clubs for Portland Locals
CC Slaughters
Type: LGBTQ+ dance club with dedicated trans night
Location: 219 NW Davis St, Portland, OR 97209
Features: CC's runs Trans-UHH-Licious every Thursday evening from 9 to 11 p.m. — a night fully dedicated to trans kings and queens and their performances, hosted by Sheniqua Volt. Beyond Thursday, the venue is Portland's premier gay nightclub featuring drag shows, live DJs, live music, and special events every month. The crowd is mixed-LGBTQ+ with a strong trans presence on Thursday nights; the venue is strictly 21 and older.
Website: https://ccslaughterspdx.com
Darcelle XV Showplace
Type: Drag venue / cabaret
Location: 208 NW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Features: Darcelle XV Showplace is a drag venue in Portland opened in 1967, and the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. Darcelle XV is a trip for people of all genders and orientations, with shows on Friday and Saturday evenings plus a Sunday drag brunch. Cover is $32 for main shows; all shows are 21+.
Website: https://darcellexv.com
Badlands Portland
Type: LGBTQ+ video bar and dance club
Location: 110 NW Broadway, Portland, OR 97209
Features: Badlands is the go-to for regular drag performances, pop dance music, Latin nights, and other specialty events, with dozens of screens showcasing music videos and a world-class sound system, offering an inclusive space where everyone can dance, enjoy shows, or meet up with friends. Established in 2024, the bar operates in the space that previously housed Embers Avenue (1969–2017). Open daily from 4 p.m.
Website: https://badlandspdx.com
Stag PDX
Type: LGBTQ+ entertainment venue / strip club with trans-specific programming
Location: NW Broadway at NW Davis St, Portland, OR (Old Town/Chinatown)
Features: Stag PDX is an "unabashedly Pacific Northwest" club that often celebrates bodies that stray from the classic Magic Mike image; drag queen MCs host different music-themed nights as well as a weekly amateur night and a drag brunch. Two nights a month, their stage exclusively features trans dancers of all expressions. Those trans-specific nights make Stag one of the most deliberately trans-inclusive performance venues in the city.
Website: https://stagpdx.com
Back2Earth
Type: Queer cocktail lounge / community bar
Location: 3536 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Portland, OR 97212
Features: Back2Earth features a plant wall, eco-modern design, high-end sound system, and lounge seating; programming rotates weekly with drag artists, karaoke, open mics, game nights with projected video games, and DJ sets. The staff is incredibly inviting and the crowd is friendly, creating a chill and queer atmosphere. A solid option if you want something more low-key