Debra Porta started as a volunteer in 2006 with Pride Northwest. Twenty years later, as its executive director, Porta has seen her fair share of Pride festivals. She tells Street Roots that the best Pride headlining entertainers are the ones who genuinely connect with the local LGBTQIA2S+ community and treat their peers well backstage. It’s those who remember that the festival is not their exclusive concert, but a way to celebrate the local queer community. Here are the people Porta said have best represented and uplifted the spirit of Portland Pride over the past two decades.
Storm Large: 2007
The beloved bi chanteuse reached national recognition in 2006 as a contestant on CBS’ competitive reality show “Rock Star: Supernova,” but Storm Large and her band, The Balls, had already built a loyal local fanbase. Porta remembers Storm Large and the Balls’ performance as one of Portland’s most well-received during her time with Pride Northwest. “That year stands out to me because with the exception of Jinkx (Monsoon), I don’t remember the stage area being as crowded as it was,” Porta said. “It was just wall-to-wall, and I had to part everyone to get out the way because someone collapsed in the crowd. It was a hot year, and Storm is just an amazing performer.”
Uh Huh Her: 2009
Actress Leisha Hailey is best known for her role on “The L Word” as Alice Pieszecki. She headlined Portland Pride with her band Uh Huh Her, an electropop duo with musician Camila Gray. Uh Huh Her formed in 2007 and went on hiatus in 2016. “That was the probably the closest to a fence-crushing moment that we’ve had at Pride because everyone was so excited for that band because hello, ‘L Word,’” Porta said.
Deborah Cox: 2011
The Great Recession left Portlanders struggling and party rocking, but Cox — true diva that she is — graced the local queer community with her rich powerhouse vocals. “Super sweet lady,” Porta said. “She’s very nice.”
Frenchie Davis: 2012, 2025
Portland’s Pride Festival was one of the “American Idol” favorite’s first as an openly bisexual woman in 2012. Things changed quite a bit culturally between that visit and last year’s return to Portland Pride’s center stage, but Porta commends Davis for her work last year connecting with children over music education and a shared performance. “Not only is Frenchie Davis a super big talent, she’s a teacher,” Porta said. “It’s not just about having Frenchie Davis on our stage, it was this ‘How do we engage all of who Frenchie Davis is and connect her with our community?’”
Andy Bell: 2013
The Erasure vocalist gave a little respect and left a major impact the year he performed at Portland Pride. “Andy Bell always stands out to me,” Porta said. “He was a really nice guy, but also I had so many people come and give me hugs, and they’re crying, and they’re sending me emails because Andy Bell was such a big part of their coming out stories in the ‘90s and he just owned the stage.”
Michelle Clunie: 2014
Porta notes that the Portland-born “Queer as Folk” actress was technically the Portland Pride Parade’s grand marshall — which usually goes to a local LGBTQIA2S+ organization or group of people, like drag artists or queer youth — but counts Clunie’s mainstage remarks as an entertainment highlight. After Clunie’s time onstage, Porta said she later walked into Pride Northwest’s tent and started distributing water. “I was like, ‘Oh my god, I will love you for life,’” Porta said.
Martha Wash: 2015
The pop singer, a patron saint of the gay community and its dancefloor for her landmark anthems like “It’s Raining Men” and “Everybody Dance Now,” headlined the 40th annual Portland Pride Festival. “That was a big year,” Porta said.
Virtual Pride: 2020–21
With pandemic restrictions cancelling in-person gatherings, Pride Northwest celebrated online with activations that included footage of the 1999 Portland Pride Parade and a 360-degree parade video featuring Darcelle XV. “It was so interesting watching that, to see who I see in the parade — which includes people I know who have been in community that long, and also really well-known people who passed away before I had the chance to meet them,” Porta said.
Jinkx Monsoon: 2024
Portland’s drag daughter is widely considered Mother of the House, even before winning two seasons of “Drag Race” and launching her career’s thrilling second act through music and acclaimed Broadway performances. Porta remembers awarding Monsoon a scepter onstage.
“She was a sweetheart,” Porta said. “It was her as a person that appealed to me about having her on our stage. Obviously once her name was in front of me I started following her, listening to her, that kind of stuff, and thought, ‘Okay, here’s the talent.’ But it was the combination of those things, because (Jinkx has) amazing talent, but the way that she carries herself in community really resonated with how we try to carry ourselves in community.”
Landon Cider: 2025
The Los Angeles-based drag king and winner of the third season of “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula” joined Davis, comedian Jason Stuart and indie pop band 76th Street to headline Portland Pride. Cider used his stage time to uplift Portland’s drag king scene. “When we’re putting people on our stage, it’s more than just ‘Who’s the famous person we can get at a decent price point?’” Porta said.
This article appears in June 24, 2026.