LGBTQIA-Friendly 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex and Asexual Travel

The communities of the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region offer an inclusive, fun and welcoming travel experience to LGBTQIA visitors. 

Local LGBTQIA

Eugene strives to be a safe place to celebrate queer culture and visibility. In 2016, the Advocate ranked Eugene twelfth in their compilation of the Queerest Cities in America. Connect with the local LGBTQIA community at events and social hubs around town. 

Eugene Pride Festival stage featuring drag queen hosts

Out On The Town

Meet our community at these lively venues. 

  • Cowfish Dance Club - an alternative venue featuring an eclectic mix of live music, DJs and great drinks.
  • Spectrum - formerly The Wayward Lamb, this space is not just a gay bar. The offerings here are diverse and always fun. 
  • The Barn Light - a casual gathering place in the heart of downtown Eugene with a reputation for being inclusive.
  • Doc's Pad -  a sports bar and taphouse in downtown Eugene.
  • Blairally Vintage Arcade - a classic barcade and bowling alley with themed nights.

Explore

LGBTQIA Community

Eugene became a popular destination for progressive thought and counterculture in the 1960s and has continued to be an example of inclusion and innovation to this day. Today, the city is home to year-round festivals, events and ongoing activism that make for a vibrant and varied place to live and play. 

Eugene is uniquely enriched by the University of Oregon, which at 20,000 students makes a significant contribution to the city. In 2006, the UO was named one of the Top 20 Campuses in the country for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students according to "The Advocate." In 2018, the UO was selected as the top Oregon LGBTQ-friendly campus in the state by BestColleges.com and Campus Pride, which gave the school five out of five stars.

Celebrate Diversity by Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene

Community History

In 1977, the City of Eugene enacted a measure to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, employment and public access. While the measure was subsequently overturned, it was just the beginning of the community's efforts to ensure equal rights and protection for all.

In 1987, Oregon Governor Neil Goldschmidt issued an executive order banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation within state employment. The order was revoked by Ballot Measure 8, which in turn was ruled unconstitutional in 1992. 

Starting in 2002, the domestic partner registry was made available in Eugene, while statewide, public employers were required to offer equal benefits for same-sex domestic partners. 

In 2015, as equality in marriage was ushered in, the State of Oregon banned conversion therapy targeting youth under the age of 18 years. It was signed into law by Governor Kate Brown, the first openly LGBTQIA governor. Today, the City of Eugene continues to include protection of sexual orientation in areas of employment, housing and public accommodation. The City of Eugene, as well as the UO, are both members of the Fair Workplace Project, wherein hundreds of Oregon businesses have pledged to support ALL their employees, including those who are LGBTQIA.