Portland Gay Community Center

918 S.W. Yamhill

Years: October 1, 1973 - October 1974*

*however in September 1974 issue of Northwest Gay Review, “community center for three months”.

moved from 258 SW Alder

SECOND LOCATION

Ad from various The Fountain newspapers, this one December 1973.

Also, see Pythian Building under Venues. The Community Center moved into the Pythian Building in September 1973 and opened for business on October 12th. The lease was agreed upon with the Knights of the Pythias to lease the full five floors. Below is a letter in the October 1973 The Fountain newspaper. Above Left: An ad that appeared in The Fountain newspaper at various times.

Controversy erupted per an article in the Northwest Gay Review and Six Under was controlling the space.

By September 1974 though, with many financial woes and mishandlings, the Portland Gay Community Center closed its door. It was stated in the September 1974 issue of the Northwest Gay Review [see both parts below], “Portland’s gay community was just not prepared to handle that big (of) an operation.”

The need to have this type of space was very apparent. A letter to the Fountain said, “I am involved presently in a legal hassle with the State of Oregon Department of Social Services, regarding the sex-reassignment surgery. I have been into this for eight years. I wonder if transsexualism is not the most oppressed of all minorities.” This was a call to begin a Transexual Center. The Fountain, May 1974

citations & references:

o   Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1974 as “Second Foundation Social Club” under Restaurant with notation R – restaurant, D – Dancing located at 258 SW Alder [Location # 1] not at 918 SW Yamhill [Location # 2].

o   Not listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1975 or thereafter